Every year thousands of people flock to far corners of the globe, seeking out the iconic seven wonders of the world.
And for a residents of West Yorkshire, they’ll be happy to know that one has landed smack bang in their backyard.
Bradford Pennines Gateway, a national nature reserve in England, has been named in Condé Nast Traveler’s official Seven Wonders of the World for 2026.
Home to just over 370,000 people, Bradford made its mark in British history in 2025 after the new reserve was formed as part of King Charles’ Series of 25 National Nature Reserves (NNRs).
Spanning 3,148 acres, it links eight existing nature sites within the Bradford & South Pennines area and includes Penistone Country Park in Haworth.
Both Bradford council and public body Natural England have stated that the reserve will play a crucial role in ‘ensuring these sites are protected and accessible for everyone in our district and beyond.’
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‘Unique and breathtaking scenery’
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, from Bradford Council told Metro: ‘We are delighted to be included in such a prestigious list of locations around the world. The Bradford Pennine Gateway includes world-famous locations such as Haworth and Ilkley Moor, but also shines a light on some of our other amazing places like St Ives estate and Shipley Glen.’
‘We’re looking forward to welcoming more people across the district in 2026 and building on our National Nature Reserve designation and the legacy of UK City of Culture.’
The councillor also reiterated this enthusiasm to the BBC following the reserve’s unveiling, noting how ‘around two thirds of our district is rural, and we boast unique and breathtaking scenery.’
How to get to Bradford Pennines Gateway
If you’re planning a trip to the Bradford Pennines Gateway reserve the first step will be to get to Bradford.
It takes approximately two and a half hours to travel from London to Bradford. Fares can be pricey so make sure to buy any train tickets well in advance. A return trip from London Euston can cost anywhere from £60 to £100.
By bus, the journey should take around four and a half hours, leaving from Victoria- however tickets are much cheaper, costing around £10 – £20.
Once you arrive in Bradford, there are multiple bus routes and taxi options available to reach the reserve’s eight key sites.
For example, Penistone Hill Country Park (one of the primary spots) is about 12 miles from Bradford city centre – taking approximately 30 minutes via car.
Tasked with protecting England’s nature and landscape, executive non-departmental public body Natural England worked with the council to bring these plans to fruition.
Chartered by King Charles, the Bradford Pennines Gateway represents just the first step in a rather ambitious scheme to protect these landscapes.
In fact, Natural England have stated that 25 new reserves are currently planned to be up and running by 2027.
First unveiled in May 2025, the vast reserve in Bradford covers land across Ilkley Moor, Penistone Hill Country Park, Harden Moor and Bingley North Bog.
Chairman of the group, Tony Juniper, told the BBC: ‘Reversing the historic declines in nature and moving toward ecological recovery requires bigger, better, and more joined up areas for nature to thrive.’
‘The opening of this reserve is an important moment in this journey, marking a significant achievement in our efforts to protect and enhance the natural environment.’
Things to do in West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is already incredibly popular among tourists, welcoming 73 million visitors in 2024, a 3% increase on the previous year.
One of the reasons for this is the area’s stunning countryside, with the Pennine hills famously known as Brontë county — due to the fact that the literary sisters family lived in the small village of Haworth.
It’s said that Emily Brontë based the ferocious and beautiful moors mentioned in Wuthering Heights on Top Withens (or Top Withins), a ruined farmhouse in the area.
But, if you’re not sold on the idea of trekking through the nature reserve, West Yorkshire has a lot of other things to offer visitors.
Alongside Haworth, this area is home to some of the most quaint and picturesque towns in all of England.
You could take a day trip to Holmfirth, a ‘picture-postcard town’ that boasts some incredible independent shops and has attracted numerous tourists who’ve fancied taking a peak at the filming location for ‘Last of the Summer Wine’.
And no trip to West Yorkshire is complete without a stop in Hebden Bridge – a town so charming, you won’t be able to shake its sense of charisma after you leave.
A market town with incredible vintage shops, eateries, and larger than life locals, I’d urge anyone visiting the area to spend a day walking along the canal and checking out the colourful boats and ceramic shops that are dotted along the waterfront.
Hebden Bridge also happens to have a selection of top notch pubs at their disposal. The Old Gate and the Fox & Goose both offer great local produce and cosy interiors.
So whether it’s a day out perusing the shops you fancy or a cinematic stroll across the Bradford Pennines Gateway, it’s safe to say that Bradford train station might be about to get a whole lot busier.
