This might come as something of a surprise, but one of the most popular local numbers out there is the Bradford number, 01274. Why? It is not one of the big cities like London, Birmingham, Liverpool or Manchester. In fact, it is only the 14th most populated place in the UK, with a population of around 300,000. Less than 10 miles from Leeds, it sits at the foot of the Pennines in West Yorkshire, and although Bradford was a major player in the 19th century, when it was considered the “wool capital of the world”, it is not now the major player it was during the Industrial Revolution, with the wool industry having declined in the 20th century.
However, it is part of the Leeds-Bradford Larger Urban Zone (LUZ), which is the third largest area in the UK behind London and Manchester. It is presumably this alliance that leads to the number being so popular. It has also now become a tourist destination. It became the world’s first UNESCO City of Film in June 2009, being home to the National Media Museum, the Alhambra Theatre, Cartwright Hall and the Alhambra Theatre.
