A Wiltshire town known as the ‘West Country’s best kept secret’ has submitted a bid to be the UK’s town of culture.
Bradford on Avon Town Council has submitted an expression of interest for the town of culture competition, kickstarting a process that could see the town get one step closer to the coveted title.
The submission comes following a survey of residents’ views and priorities into the running to be named the UK Town of Culture for 2028.
On March 31, a spokesperson for the town council said: “We’ve now submitted our expression of interest for the Town of Culture competition.
“The next step is for all submissions to be reviewed by an expert panel, after which we’ll find out if we’ve been shortlisted.
“We’d also like to say a big thank you to everyone who took the time to complete our survey – your input has really helped shape this stage of the application for Bradford on Avon.”
As previously reported, the competition was launched by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, aiming to find the best small, medium and large towns with “a vibrant cultural programme.”
Applications for the UK Town of Culture competition will be open until March 31. Three finalists – a small town, a medium town, and a large town – will be chosen, with the winner handed £3 million in prize money. The two runners-up will each receive £250,000 to deliver elements of their bid.
Bradford on Avon Town Council's survey asks residents if they think a bid would be a good idea, and to identify the cultural themes represents the story of the town, and what they see as the local needs that a bid for the competition could address.
The town could be in with a fair chance for strong consideration, with the bid window coming just weeks after the riverside town received its latest round of praise in an international publication.
Earlier in February, upmarket magazine Conde Nast Traveller praised Bradford on Avon for its blend of managing to be crowd-free and while also being “peppered with excellent restaurants and hotels” and “gloriously friendly, welcoming, unpretentious."
The article offered insights into the many gems the town has in store for curious visitors, whether they are interested in shopping, local wildlife, or the town’s rich sense of history.
The author provides a sweeping look at the town’s leisure offerings, starting with the town’s “rich tapestry” of architectural marvels, moving onto its “atmospheric” historical spots.
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