Bradford is set to be the City of Culture 2025 in the UK, so it’s no surprise that it’s been ranked one of the best cities for creatives too, according to new data by Adobe Express.

From the Alhambra Theatre to the Impressions Gallery – there’s plenty for budding artists to get involved with, whether it’s taking part in a production or exhibition.

Commenting on their latest findings, experts at the online content creation tool explained: “The UK’s art scene is booming, with over 2.3 million people employed in creative industries alone. Fortunately, there are ample opportunities to thrive as a creative, and the UK boasts a diverse range of cities which serve as hotspots for the artistically inclined!

“So, whether you’re hoping to secure a job in a creative field, attend an art school, or simply nurture your creative spirit at a music, comedy, or literary festival, there are copious opportunities for you to do so in the UK.

“With this in mind, we wanted to identify the best UK cities for creatives. To do so, we focused on six different factors: the number of museums, art galleries, and theatres per 100,000 people in each city, as well as the number of art schools, events (such as comedy, dance, and literary festivals) and creative job listings on offer.”

You can see all the top 25 UK cities for creatives plus the full data table and methodology here.

What makes Bradford one of the best UK cities for creatives?

Adobe Express, who ranked Bradford in 10th place, said: “Last but not least is Bradford, another northern powerhouse with a score of 1.425.

“Whilst Bradford has the lowest number of art schools on the list, it has 436 creative jobs available, as well as 804 artistic events and festivals!

“A highly popular event for creatives is the Bradford Literature Festival, where authors and literature lovers congregate annually.

“This event is often thought of as one of the most diverse literary festivals in England!”

The city was also given a score of 4.77 for ‘most museums’, 3.07 for ‘most galleries” and 2.39 for ‘most theatres’.

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UK’s best 10 cities for creatives

  1. Brighton and Hove
  2. London
  3. Edinburgh
  4. Manchester
  5. Leicester
  6. Coventry
  7. Derby
  8. Bournemouth
  9. Belfast
  10. Bradford

Adobe Express added: “So, if you’re a budding creative looking to immerse yourself in a new inspiring environment, why not head to one of these destinations?

“Whether you’re hoping to enrol in an art school, secure yourself a job in a creative industry, or simply spend your weekends absorbing art, you’re sure to benefit from the thriving creative scenes these cities offer.”