Great Victoria Hotel

Designer-style and a decent restaurant

Before I lived in Bradford, I stayed at the Great Victoria Hotel overnight for a conference. It had been refurbished and has a good, sleek designer-style about it without being too "cool". Now I live in the city, and I know the place a bit better, it is where I recommend to anyone who comes to visit.

If you come to Bradford as a tourist, and you fancy a designer-style hotel in an old building, it is definitely where you will want to stay, as the other hotels are either bland and corporate, or more old-fashioned inside.

It isn't the cheapest place to stay, but the rates are about the same as the other major chain hotels in the city, and the Victoria is nicer. I would advise that you shop around the websites for a good rate at this hotel. I got a much better rate (almost half price) from LateRooms than was publicized on the Bradford tourism website.

Unique Quality: The hotel has a nice reception area and bar (although the wine prices by the glass can be a bit steep). The local daily newspaper offices are just opposite the hotel, and the editor's team occasionally drops in for a drink if it's been a tough day!

The real plus is the restaurant. Quite a few local people use it, as the food is good and well-priced. The restaurant scene in Bradford is dominated by curry houses - which is great - but the Victoria is good for a change.

Another good thing if you come to Bradford by car (which I would recommend, so that you can get out into the countryside) is that there is quite a bit of parking next to the hotel - quite a bonus considering you are right in the city centre.