
City Library Bradford
City Library Bradford
Ages
All ages
Price
Free
Opening hours
Contact
City Library Bradford is a spacious, modern library in the heart of Bradford with plenty of natural light and well-maintained facilities. It's the central library for the city, so you'll find books across a wide range of subjects including crafts, history and sports, alongside fiction. There are computers available to use, a bookable meeting room, and self-service kiosks for issuing and returning books. Staff are on hand to help with book recommendations, information queries and IT support.
The library runs regular events and activities throughout the week. Younger children can enjoy Rhyme Times on Wednesday mornings and Story Times on Saturday mornings, while there's a Duplo session on Friday mornings. If you're interested in reading challenges, they run the Gadgeteers book challenge during the school holidays. There are also sessions for adults, including a Work Club on Thursday mornings and various creative and discussion groups.
The library is wheelchair accessible with accessible parking available. Opening hours are 9am to 5pm Monday and Friday, 9am to 7pm Tuesday to Thursday, and 10am to 5pm on Saturday. It's closed on Sundays. You can contact them on 01274 433600 or email city.library@bradford.gov.uk for more information about specific events or to book the meeting room.



Facilities
What to bring
- Library card or ID
- Notebook and pen
- Reusable water bottle
- Comfortable walking shoes
Top tips
- Arrive after 10am on Saturdays, as the library opens at 10:00 AM not 9:00 AM despite online confusion.
- Check the extended opening hours on Tuesday to Thursday (until 7pm) if you need evening access for after-school visits.
- Use the self-service kiosks to issue and return books quickly without waiting for staff assistance.
- Explore the specialist collections in crafts, history and sports rather than expecting a large fiction section at this central library.
- Attend free events like Story Times on Saturday mornings at 11am or Rhyme Times on Wednesday mornings at 10am for young children.
Practical details
All ages
Rhyme Times and Story Times for young children; Chess for All (over 6+); various adult programs including bereavement discussion and creative writing.
Accessibility
Tags
Location
Centenary Square, 9 Aldermanbury, Bradford BD1 1SD