What is this cliche I see before me?

Now I'm not a great believer in the cliched 'it's grim oop North' stuff.

On the other hand, here in Bradford, it's a bit chilly, it's dark and it's raining. The shops seemingly all closed at 5.30 and it all feels a bit desperate. There are a whole bunch of dead shops in the city centre, which can't help. Nice branch of Waterstones though, with a statue of Cobden in it.

It'll be much nicer in daylight, with the sun shining, won't it...