At one end of the Market Square is the peculiar looking Shipley Clock Tower, standing proud and dominating over the centre of town. At the top of the tower is a metal man that hits a metal bell, and under the clock-face there is a spiral staircase on the inside. It also has different led lights that change colour on a night-time, while beneath the tower is the Shipley indoor market hall. On warm s
unny days, the Market Square gets busy and local workers take there lunch outside onto the many benches that are present. And in the midst of spring and summer the raised stone planters dotted about the area bloom with different colours from various flowers. Shopping in Shipley is like many other towns of its size, with one large supermarket, and many smaller budget and convenience stores. The Market Square itself is surrounded by rows of shops, that include many charity shops too, and at one end of the Square is the Arndale Shopping Centre, opposite the clock tower. Just around the corner from the Square is a library, a post office, and of course the large supermarket, Asda. Looking outwards from Shipley you are blessed with the sight of large hillsides that are adjacent to the town, where row after row of houses look down upon you. There is a wooded ridge on the other side of the River Aire called Shipley Glen, a popular beauty spot, and in 1895 the Shipley Glen Tramway was built, carrying visitors to the top. The tramway still exists to this day, making it the oldest working cable tramway in Britain, and subject to availability of volunteers, it opens every Sunday, Noon until 4:30pm. Shipley is positioned on one of the main routes that lead out of the City of Bradford, and it is used by many commuters, making the roads very busy in many areas, especially around peak-times. However, don’t let that put you off from stopping by in this quaint little town the next time you are in the area. With its plethora of character and local history, Shipley is one of those towns you need to visit in your lifetime, at least once.
