Bingley & District

Bingley has grown up at this historic crossing point of the river Aire, along with the surrounding villages of Gilstead, Crossflatts, Eldwick and Micklethwaite, and the area of moorland to the north known as Bingley Moor.

This is a popular area in which to live thanks to the excellent rail connections, and property prices continue to rise.

Recent years have seen a huge growth in new-build properties plus mill conversions to apartments in not only Bingley but also surrounding villages such as Eldwick, Gilstead, Cottingley, East Morton, Harden and Wilsden.

In years gone by Bingley was blighted by the huge amount of traffic passing through its narrow Main Street.

That is all now history thanks to the Bingley Relief Road, which opened in 2003 after a battle stretching back tens of years.

As a result of the reduction in traffic there has been a revival in the town's retail market, with new shops opening on Main Street and in Chapel Lane.

There are plenty of recreational opportunities, with clubs for virtually every sport. Sailing takes place at Doe Park, Ogden Water is a popular haunt with families and there are plenty of sports to be sampled at Nab Wood Sports Centre, while the town boasts a very successful rugby union team - Bradford & Bingley (nicknamed The Bees) - who play at Wagon Lane.

Bingley is a mix of old and new with many buildings dating back to the 16th Century. Notable features include the famous Five Rive Locks on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, which opened in 1774.

Bingley Arts Centre and Bingley Little Theatre offer a variety of exhibitions and entertainment, and there are a number of excellent pubs, restaurants and takeaways.

Bingley also has an immensely popular annual agricultural show, the largest one-day show in the county, which attracts hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of visitors every year.