Nursing in Bradford: Studying, working, and living guide
Find out about nursing in Bradford - where nurses can find jobs, the hospitals they might work in, colleges & universities to study in, plus living information.
Bradford is a city located in West Yorkshire, England on the eastern foothills of the Pennines and on the banks of the river Bradford Beck.
Originally known for its textile industry, it later became the wool capital of the world. These days finance, tourism and the media are its focus. It was the first UNESCO City of Film and will be the UK City of Culture for 2025.
Quieter than nearby Leeds, it has undergone much redevelopment in recent years and offers a lively city life for nurses to live and work in.
This guide looks at everything the area has to offer for nursing students thinking about studying here, or qualified Nurses thinking about relocating.
Where do nurses work in Bradford?
Working or training at any of the NHS hospitals in Bradford would provide brilliant opportunities for nurses. However, there are several other community healthcare settings for nurses to find roles at, as well as private sector positions.
Employers of nurses within Bradford include:
Bradford Royal Infirmary
St Luke’s Hospital
Eccleshill Community Hospital
Shipley Community Hospital
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is responsible for providing healthcare services for the people of Bradford and other communities across Yorkshire. The Trust is at the forefront of education and development in healthcare and is one of the leading centres in conducting applied research across the country.
Services are in high demand, meaning there are no shortages of vacancies in the area, whether you’re new to the role or vastly experienced.
Where can aspiring nurses study in Bradford?
Anyone wishing to train to become a nurse in Bradford can study at the University of Bradford. This university in Bradford offers five nursing programmes: Adult Nursing, Child Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, Nursing Associate Apprenticeships and MNurse (Adult/ Mental Health) – for further specialised research.
The university has two campuses in Bradford. The main city campus is found on Richmond Road and the School of Management is found at Emm Lane.
The City Campus is easy to reach from the city centre by public transport or on foot. Courses start in January and September.
Find our nursing university guide here.
According to Zoopla, the average monthly rental costs for students in Bradford is £575 for a studio flat per month. That makes it more affordable than much of the UK, and on par with most other cities in the North of England.
Where do nurses live in Bradford?
Nurses live all over Bradford and surrounding areas, but some of the most popular locations are:
City Centre
Popular for students for obvious reasons
Great Horton
Which has proximity to the university and many shops and restaurants throughout the area
Frizinghall
Popular with students and families due to the various shops and the award-winning Lister Park
Little Germany
Popular area with real history and iconic architecture
But Bradford is a city with communities of nurses and Student Nurses found in every corner. After all, there are hospitals, GP surgeries, care homes and health centres all over.
What are the living costs for Nurses in Bradford?
Overall, Bradford is one of the more affordable places for nurses to live and study in the UK.
The average price for a home in Bradford is currently £176,000 – much lower than the national average of £293,000.
The average rental price for a property in Bradford is £700 per month for a two-bedroom property. But if you’re only looking to rent a room in a shared house, the average cost is about £360.
The average Council tax cost in Bradford for a typical Band B property is £1445.
Shopping and utility costs are similar to any other Northern city overall.
However, eating out and entertainment is probably slightly cheaper than most of the UK – making it a great city to be a Student Nurses.
Is travel easy in Bradford?
Bradford connects to the national road network via the M606 and a spur of the M62 motorway.
Bradford Interchange Station provides train access to Leeds and York for onward travel to London, Manchester and beyond.
And Leeds Bradford Airport is located approximately 6 miles from the city centre.
So overall, it’s very well located and connected.
What to do in Bradford: walks, culture, nightlife and eating out
There is plenty to do and see in Bradford, from museums and galleries to theatres and a choice of shopping centres.
Culture and attractions
Bradford is home to the Bradford Industrial Museum, which celebrates the city’s industrial past. There is also the renowned National Science and Media Museum, the most visited museum outside London.
The National Science and Media Museum is a great place to visit, and free for nurses. It is committed to the science and culture of light and sound technologies. The museum is filled with educational exhibits, including the ultramodern Wonder Lab gallery, three cinema screens (showing animation, retro TV and film), and various special events.
The Alhambra Theatre is perfect for a night of comedy, dance or shows and is one of four theatres in the city, while St George’s Hall is the oldest surviving concert hall in the country – and has recently undergone a multi-million-pound refurbishment.
Cartwright Hall Art Gallery is set in the Green Flag Awarded grounds of Lister Park and is the perfect place to visit while exploring a collection of Victorian and Edwardian artwork. Lister Park itself has a boating lake, adventure playground and Mughal Gardens.
Bradford offers a wide range of shopping centres including The Broadway, Kirkgate Centre and Forster Square Shopping Park.
As for sport, Bradford City Football club and its home ground at the Utilita Energy Stadium (also known as Valley Parade) is located one mile away from the city centre. Bradford Bulldogs are the city’s professional ice hockey team and play their home games at the Bradford Ice Arena.
Meanwhile Bradford Bulls, one of the most successful rugby league clubs in the world, play at the Grattan Stadium, Odsal.
Nightlife and eating out
Bradford offers a wealth of options for nightlife, with more bars and clubs than you would ever need while every possible option for eating out is within reach too.
Highlights include:
Rabbit Hole – a great place for a night out to relax and socialise with friends
Al's Dime Bar – local American-style cocktail bar and live music
La Caverna Pizzeria – rated number one on TripAdvisor
The Manor House Bradford – known for its friendly staff, great food and atmosphere
But in a city like Bradford this is a tiny selection – there is something for everyone.
What are the school options in Bradford?
In Bradford there are 201 primary schools and 59 secondary schools.
There are state, SENs, independent and private options across the city.
It also has 30 Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ schools and colleges.
Like most UK cities, there is some variance in the quality of schools but there is no shortage of choice.
Population and demographics in Bradford
Here are some of the stand-out population and demographic facts in Bradford:
Bradford has a population of over 530,000
Over 21% of the city population is aged under 15 - the fourth highest percentage in the age range in England
Bradford is the fifth largest local authority in England in terms of population
Its population density is almost 1500 people per square miles – the highest rate in the county.
In summary: Is Bradford a good place to be a nurse?
Bradford boasts a wide range of culture and diversity with lots to do whether you’re a student or an experienced nursing professional.
And across Bradford you have easy access to stunning natural spaces, great art and culture and buzzing nightlife.
Travel is relatively easy, and there is plenty of work on offer. You can easily reach other towns and cities by car or train.
And perhaps most importantly, this is an affordable city – meaning you can live centrally and enjoy the city on foot.
If you’re keen to give Bradford a go, check out our latest roles in the city to see what’s on offer, and where.
With an average salary of around £29,000 Nurses in Bradford do earn marginally below the national average. But with overall living costs lower than in many parts of the UK, your salary as a Nurse goes much further.
Here are a couple of examples:
As a newly qualified Nurse on an NHS Band 5 salary, if you rented a room in a shared house you’d still have the best part of £1000 left a month. That’s a very healthy disposable income when compared to much of the UK
As a Band 6 Nurse, you’d be able to borrow enough money alone to buy a flat in the city. That simply wouldn’t be possible in many other parts of the UK
Bradford is an affordable, up-and-coming city, with many otions for nurses of any level looking to work or study there.
