Experience Wakefield Again – Home of iconic art and sculpture, captivating history and heritage and mouth-watering food and drink
Picturesque vales, secluded woods and vibrant towns and cities, the vivid, varied landscapes of Wakefield have inspired artists for centuries. The birthplace of world-renowned sculptors Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth is home to a thriving artist community today. Be wowed at multi-award-winning venues Yorkshire Sculpture Park and The Hepworth Wakefield as you discover magnificent works of art, and use their settings as space for personal reflection.
And there’s so much more, too. Defying gravity or whizzing down real snow slopes at Xscape. Taking in the panto in the splendid surrounds of Theatre Royal Wakefield . Exploring the nature trail at Newmillerdam Country Park and so much more.
So what the ‘eck are you waiting for? Come and visit! You never know what you’ll discover when you experience Wakefield.
Table of Contents
Accommodation in Wakefield
See also our hotels in Wakefield page and Wakefield bed and breakfast page.
Kilby Coach House
Kilby Coach House, 2A Kilby Street, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 2RB, United Kingdom
1 St. Johns North Apartments
1 St. Johns North Apartments, 16 St. Johns North, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 3QA, United Kingdom8, St John’s North Apartments
8, St John’s North Apartments, 18 St. John’s North, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 3QA, United Kingdom3, St John’s North Apartments
3, St John’s North Apartments, 16 St. Johns North, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 3QA, United Kingdom2, St John’s North Apartments
2, St John’s North Apartments, 16 St. Johns North, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 3QA, United Kingdom5, St John’s North Apartments
5, St John’s North Apartments, 18 St. Johns North, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 3QA, United Kingdom7 St. Johns North Apartments
7 St. Johns North Apartments, 18 St. Johns North, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF13QA, United Kingdom6 St. Johns North Apartments
6 St. Johns North Apartments, 18 St. Johns North, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 3QA, United Kingdom9, St John’s North Apartments
9, St John’s North Apartments, 18 St. Johns North, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 3QA, United Kingdom11, St. John’s North Apartments
11, St. John’s North Apartments, 18 St. Johns North, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF13QA, United Kingdom
The Coach House, 4, St John’s North Apartments
The Coach House, 4, St John’s North Apartments, 16 St. Johns North, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF13QA, United Kingdom10, St John’s North Apartments
10, St John’s North Apartments, 18 St. Johns North, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF13QA, United Kingdom
Wakefield Town House
24 Saint John’s North, Wakefield, WF1 3QA, United Kingdom
Kilby Lodge
Kilby Lodge, 2 Kilby Street, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 2RB, United Kingdom
Waterton Park Hotel
Walton Hall, Walton, Wakefield, WF2 6PW, United Kingdom
The Mews Hotel
77 Dale Street, Wakefield, WF5 9HN, United Kingdom
Best Western Wakefield Hotel St Pierre
733 Barnsley Rd, Wakefield, WF2 6QG, United Kingdom
Wakefield Limes Lodge
188 Leeds Road, Lofthouse, Wakefield , Wakefield, WF3 3LS, United Kingdom
Holiday Inn Leeds-Wakefield M1 Jct40, an IHG Hotel
Queens Drive, Wakefield, WF5 9BE, United Kingdom
Dimple Well Lodge Hotel
35 The Green Ossett, Wakefield, WF5 8JX, United Kingdom
Central, Stylish 2-bed Apartment, with allocated parking
43 Delamere Gardens, Wakefield, WF1 4LJ, United Kingdom
Holiday Inn Express Wakefield, an IHG Hotel
Queen Street, Wakefield, Wakefield, WF1 1JU, United Kingdom
Sunnydale Serviced Apartments – Central location, with allocated parking
49 Delamere Gardens, Wakefield, WF1 4LJ, United Kingdom
St Johns North Apartments Wakefield
16 Saint John’s North, Wakefield, WF1 3QA, United Kingdom
1 St Johns North Apartments
Wakefield, WF1 3QA, United Kingdom
11, St John’s North Apartments
Wakefield, WF1 3QA, United Kingdom
The Coach House, 4, St John’s North Apartments
Wakefield, WF1 3QA, United Kingdom
Redbeck Motel
Doncaster Road, Wakefield, WF4 1RR, United Kingdom
Kilby Lodge
Wakefield, WF1 2RB, United Kingdom
Kilby Coach House
Wakefield, WF1 2RB, United Kingdom
9, St John’s North Apartments
Wakefield, WF1 3QA, United Kingdom
8, St John’s North Apartments
Wakefield, WF1 3QA, United Kingdom
7 St Johns North Apartments
Wakefield, WF1 3QA, United Kingdom
6 St Johns North Apartments
Wakefield, WF1 3QA, United Kingdom
5, St John’s North Apartments
Wakefield, WF1 3QA, United Kingdom
3, St John’s North Apartments
Wakefield, WF1 3QA, United KingdomThings to do in Wakefield
Hilarity Bites Comedy Club Feat. Eddy Brimson, Tony Cowards, the Halls at The Cluntergate Centre, Wakefield
Cluntergate, Wakefield, WF4 5DA
Exhibition Highlight Tour – Robert Indiana: Sculpture 1958- 2018
Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Bretton, WF4 4LG, United Kingdom
Hannah Starkey
The Hepworth Wakefield, Gallery Walk, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 5AWWakefield Food
Wakefield loves good food. Whether you’re after afternoon tea in cosy cafes, exciting fusion and innovative city center cuisine, or the wholesome flavours of field to fork, we’ve got it in spades. The city also hosts the legendary Rhubarb Festival each February. A tribute to Wakefield’s history in the Rhubarb Triangle, it’s packed full of delicious local produce, cooking workshops and demos, as well as a full programme of live entertainment.
Beer lovers rejoice: we’re proud to have a commitment to real ale, with small, local breweries producing show-stopping flavours to suit every palate.
Wakefield on the Map
You will find Wakefield is very centrally located for travel from North, South, East or West. Both the A1 and the M1 pass close by, as does the M62 Manchester to Hull motorway.
Wakefield lies just south of Leeds and north of Barnsley. Immediately to the west you’ll find Dewsbury and to the east, Pontefract.
Wakefield History
The Wakefield district has a history stretching back thousands of years. From the Roman settlement of Lagentium – present-day Castleford – to the story of medieval might at Pontefract Castle, the Palladian grandeur of National Trust Nostell, the world’s first nature reserve (thanks to Victorian conservationist Charles Waterton) at Anglers Country Park and Haw Park Woods and above all, coal mining.
The toil for “coyl” is in the very fabric of the district. Come and experience the fascinating stories of the work which became a way of life at The National Coal Mining Museum. But that’s not the only legacy of the many mines across the district. Spend a long, lazy day at RSPB Fairburn Ings or Pugneys Country Park and experience the beauty of these man-made lakes, carved out of the earth by local mining activity and now home to myriad plants, insects and birds.
Wakefield FAQs
What is Wakefield best known for?
Wakefield was the birthplace of world-renowned sculptors Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth. Wakefield is also famous for its coal mining heritage, cathedral, and rhubarb.
The city of Wakefield is also home to the largest high security prison in Western Europe.
Where Next?
Wakefield is home to many attractions in West Yorkshire, but also nearby and well worth a visit are the towns of Pontefract and Castleford. You’ve also got Leeds just 9 miles to the north, and Barnsley a little further away, to the south.
Wakefield Fact Pack
- Wakefield is a city located in the county of West Yorkshire, in the north of England.
- The city has a population of approximately 110,000 people.
- Wakefield is situated on the River Calder and the River Aire.
- The city was originally a Saxon settlement, and has a rich history dating back to the medieval period.
- Wakefield is known for its historic buildings, including Wakefield Cathedral, Wakefield Museum and Chantry Chapel.
- The city is home to a number of parks and green spaces, including Thornes Park and Clarence Park.
- Wakefield is famous for its rhubarb, and hosts an annual Rhubarb Festival.
- The city is also known for its sculpture park, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, which is located just outside Wakefield.
- Wakefield has a thriving arts and culture scene, with a number of galleries, theatres, and music venues.
- The city is home to Wakefield Trinity Rugby League Club, which was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest rugby league clubs in the world.
- Wakefield is also home to Wakefield AFC, a football club that was founded in 2019 and plays in the Northern Premier League.
- The city has a number of historic markets, including Wakefield Market and Kirkgate Market.
- Wakefield is located near to the M1 and M62 motorways, making it easy to travel to other parts of the country.
- The city has a number of excellent schools, including Queen Elizabeth Grammar School and Wakefield Girls’ High School.
- Wakefield is known for its beautiful countryside, including the Wakefield Country Way, a 70-mile circular walk that takes in some of the area’s most stunning scenery.
- The city is home to the Hepworth Wakefield, a gallery dedicated to the work of Barbara Hepworth and other modern and contemporary artists.
- Wakefield is served by two railway stations, Wakefield Westgate and Wakefield Kirkgate, which provide connections to other major cities including Leeds and London.
- The city has a number of excellent restaurants, serving cuisine from around the world.
- Wakefield has a strong economy, with a number of major employers in sectors such as retail, healthcare, and manufacturing.
- The city has a number of historic pubs, including the Black Horse and the Old Halfway House.
- Wakefield is home to the Wakefield Jazz Club, which hosts regular jazz concerts featuring some of the world’s best jazz musicians.
- The city is a vibrant and dynamic place to live, with a strong sense of community and a rich cultural heritage.