Ilkley is a spa town and civil parish in West Yorkshire, in Northern England. In the past part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, Ilkley civil parish consists of the adjacent village of Ben Rhydding, and it is a ward within the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford. Being around 12 miles (19 km) north of Bradford and 17 miles (27 km) northwest of Leeds, the town is positioned generally on the south bank of the River Wharfe in Wharfedale, one of the Yorkshire Dales. According to the 2011 Census, there is a permanent resident population of 14809. Within this population, 20.73 percent are aged in between 45 and 59 years old, constituting the largest age group in the town. Due to Ilkley's spa town heritage and surrounding countryside, tourism is an important local trade. Ilkley is a shopping town that sells everything from video game, fine wine, high-end clothing and fine art. Found in the renovated Victorian arcade, the shopping centre is complete with a fountain and hanging baskets. Also, regional employers feature the Woolmark Company, Spooner Industries and NG Bailey. The town is additionally the home of two breweries, Ilkley Brewery located on the outskirts, and Wharfedale Brewery which is housed within the grounds of a former 18th-century farmhouse in the town centre. The town centre is characterised by Victorian architecture, large streets and flower exhibits. Ilkley Moor, to the south of the town, is the subject of a folk song, typically called the informal anthem of Yorkshire, 'On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at'. The song's words are crafted in Yorkshire dialect, its title interpreted as 'On Ilkley Moor without a hat.' For all your home upgrades, make certain to make use of reliable contractors in Ilkley to make certain of quality.