[1] The etymology of Idle can be traced back to the Old English word for "Idel", meaning "Empty Space".

Roman coins were historically unearthed by quarrymen setting up business at Catstones Quarry located on Idle moor in the 19th century.

No permanent Roman settlement has been unearthed, with no plans for excavation near the old Idle Moor quarry sites.

Some prehistoric flints found on alluvium deposits of the River Aire have also highlighted even earlier human activity in the region.

[6]The first documented record of human settlement in Idle is from the 12th century, where Nigel de Plumpton, a local landowner, gave a portion of land to nuns living in Esholt.

[7][8] The name is thought to be a corruption of Idlawe meaning Ide's Hill, where Ida is supposed to be an Anglo Saxon settler.

[9] Idle was once part of the parish of Calverley but in 1584 a chapel of ease was built on Town Lane and later in 1630 rebuilt on the same site.

In 1890 the foundations were laid for the present Idle Citadel Salvation Army Worship Hall on Walter Street: the builders were Messrs Obank & sons of Thackley.

[11][12] The Idle Spiritualist Church was established on Highfield Road in the former premises of the White Hart Inn.

[19][20] The factory was demolished after International Harvester closed it, and the site is now occupied by Enterprise 5, a retail complex largely consisting of independent units, McDonald's and a Morrisons supermarket.

Circa 1930 sound was installed and in 1955 a wide screen, but it closed in 1959 to reopen as a Bingo hall but the building was demolished in 1970/71.

To the extreme west of the village, immediately on the border with the area of Wrose, is the mostly rural Idle Moor.

This is a particularly hilly area of the village and provides views over the River Aire valley towards Shipley and Baildon.

Leading down to the village from Highfield Road is the main High Street, with businesses and pubs, a medical centre[34][35] and dental practice.

The unique name has acquired the club a cult status around the world, with many clamouring for an official 'Idle Working Men's Pass'.

[36][37] The membership exceeds 1,000,[38] a large number considering the decline of similar working men's clubs throughout the north of England.

[44][45] Many of the houses and buildings in Idle village date back almost a century, and provide a significant remnant of Bradford's expansion during the Industrial Revolution.

[69] The village was home to several cricket pitches which hosted a number of teams, including Hepworth & Idle CC.

Home of ocean rowing pair, Chris Nicholl and James Tordoff, of Team “Hell Oar High Water” who completed the 2019 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge in a time of 44 days 21 hours and 58 minutes.

[73][74] The club's honorary members include Mohammad Al Fayed, Paul Gascoigne and Michael Jackson.

Stage 84 was founded in 1984 and has produced shows for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, St. George's Hall and the Alhambra Theatre.

[76] The school is also an approved examination centre for performers working to gain qualifications from LAMDA, Trinity College London and IDTA.

Additionally, the school has trained famous performers including Jack P. Shepherd, Kimberley Walsh and Nikki Patel.