Top 15 Attractions in Wakefield, Yorkshire: A Complete Guide

Up to the 1980s, coal mining served as the backbone of this city in West Yorkshire.

The landscape has been excavated since the 15th century, around the time Wakefield experienced a pivotal battle during the Wars of the Roses.

The open-cast collieries that once scarred the countryside have been repurposed into nature reserves and parks, while the Caphouse Colliery is now recognized as England’s National Coal Mining Museum.

Notably, two of England’s eminent artists, Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore, were born in the vicinity of Wakefield within a few years of one another.

You can admire their Modernist sculptures at the impressive Hepworth gallery and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Let us delve into the best attractions in Wakefield:

1. The Hepworth

Inaugurated on the River Calder in 2011, this esteemed art gallery was crafted by David Chipperfield and earned the title of UK Museum of the Year in 2017. The Hepworth exhibits Wakefield’s superb art collection, featuring masterpieces by Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth, whose family entrusted 44 aluminium and plaster working models to the gallery.

Other notable British artists are also included, such as Paul Nash, Walter Sickert, Anthony Caro, and Ben Nicholson.

The Hepworth regularly hosts up to seven temporary exhibitions, most of which are complimentary to visitors.

In 2018, highlights included the surrealist photography of Lee Miller, alongside a showcase for the contemporary Dutch artist Viviane Sassen.

2. National Coal Mining Museum for England

Following the closure of the Caphouse Colliery in 1985, it was transformed into a museum dedicated to the history of mining in England.

This mine, established in the 1770s, was the last deep coal mine to operate in the country when it closed.

Structures and machinery such as the coal screening plant, boiler house, steam winding house, and pit head baths remain intact.

Under the guidance of a former miner, enriched with intriguing stories, visitors don hard hats and descend 140 meters underground. They also experience a ride on a paddy train and observe the ponies bred for mining work.

As a national museum, it features exhibitions that explore the industrial and social history of coal mining across England within its visitor center.

3. Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Located on the grounds of Bretton Hall, this world-class exhibition showcases modern and contemporary sculpture.

Advertising itself as the UK’s premier outdoor gallery, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s collection comprises works that were part of temporary exhibitions in London parks from the 1940s to the 1970s.

This includes several sculptures by Henry Moore, contributing to one of Europe’s most extensive collections of his bronzes.

Other prominent artists featured include Barbara Hepworth, Ai Weiwei, Jaume Plensa, Joan Miró, alongside short-term exhibitions that focus on individual 20th-century sculptors such as Eduardo Paolozzi, Lynn Chadwick, and Phillip King.

The park contains fine 18th-century monuments, while also offering indoor exhibits at the modern Longside Gallery and the restored St Bartholomew’s Chapel from 1744.

4. Nostell Priory and Parkland

Constructed on the site of a dissolved Medieval priory, this opulent Palladian house was crafted by James Paine and Robert Adam as a testament to the Winn family’s affluence.

The initial construction began in 1733 and was further enhanced by subsequent family generations, each aiming to convey their power and social standing.

This has culminated in a remarkable National Trust property, boasting breathtaking Rococo and Neoclassical plasterwork, Chippendale furniture, and artwork by Pieter Breughel the Younger, Hans Holbein the Younger, and Hugh Douglas Hamilton.

Additionally, it houses a distinguished longcase clock crafted by the era-defining 18th-century inventor John Harrison.

Surrounding the estate, 300 acres of parkland are interlaced with trails around lakes and meadows, complemented by monuments such as the Obelisk Lodge and Druid’s Bridge.

In Robert Adam’s stable block, you will find the estate’s visitor center and Courtyard Cafe.

5. Wakefield Cathedral

At 75 meters, Wakefield Cathedral’s spire is the highest in Yorkshire.

Built atop a Saxon church, the cathedral embodies significant Medieval design elements ranging from Norman to Perpendicular Gothic.

Between 1858 and 1874, the esteemed Victorian master restorer George Gilbert Scott and his son John Oldrid Scott rejuvenated the structure after over a century of neglect.

Identifying the oldest sections is straightforward: the wall of the north aisle dates back to the mid-12th century, aligning with the piers in the nave that support Gothic arches from the 13th century.

Above, take note of the wooden coffered 15th-century ceiling, adorned with intricately carved bosses.

The choir stalls, also from the 15th century, feature 11 misericords embellished with fantastical mythical creatures and a Green Man.

6. Chantry Chapel of St Mary the Virgin

Regarded as the oldest and finest of the four remaining bridge chapels in England, this remarkable monument dates back to 1356. The chapel is constructed from sandstone on a small island on the Calder, accessible via a nine-arched bridge built in the same year.

The principal facade features five intricately carved panels that portray the Annunciation, Nativity, Resurrection, Ascension, and the Descent of the Holy Ghost.

Access to the interior is limited to special open days, yet for those fortunate enough to enter, the stained glass windows restored in 1847 can be admired, along with a spiral staircase leading to the sacristy and crypt.

7. Wakefield Museum

In 2013, the town museum relocated to the newly developed Wakefield One, officially inaugurated by Sir David Attenborough.

The exhibitions encompass various aspects of the city’s heritage, including the War of the Roses in the 15th century, the local Rugby League club Wakefield Trinity, and the 420-year history of Wakefield Prison.

A dedicated section pays tribute to the Victorian naturalist Charles Waterton, featuring his collection of taxidermied animals, including a caiman he allegedly rode ashore in South America.

Noteworthy artifacts include the oldest post box in the country, dating back to 1805, a 15th-century posy ring from Sandal Castle, and the boots of Don Fox, who was a star player for Wakefield Trinity during the club’s most successful period in the 1960s.

8. Theatre Royal

Opened in 1894, Theatre Royal serves as Wakefield’s primary performing arts venue.

The structure was designed by Frank Matcham, a notable architect responsible for the construction of numerous theatres throughout the country during this era.

The Theatre Royal features the smallest auditorium of Matcham’s existing theatres and incorporates elements from an earlier theatre building.

This venue acts as both a producing and receiving theatre, showcasing its own pantomimes during the Advent season and operated under the creative direction of John Godber, an acclaimed director with numerous awards.

With a varied lineup that includes musicals, plays, comedy acts, and live music, it is advisable to consult the schedule prior to your visit to Wakefield.

9. Newmillerdam Country Park

An idyllic setting for lakeside strolls, Newmillerdam Country Park is situated a short distance south of Wakefield’s city center.

For centuries, Newmillerdam functioned as a noble estate controlled by the Pilkington family.

Although their residence was ultimately razed due to subsidence in the 1960s, several structures throughout the park continue to stand.

Among these are two lodges constructed for gamekeepers in the 19th century to impede poachers, alongside a whimsical Gothic Revival boathouse by the lake.

Visiting in spring presents an excellent opportunity to observe great crested grebes partaking in their courtship display, provided one remains quiet and fortunate.

10. Pontefract Castle

Located slightly east, yet still within Wakefield’s boundaries, Pontefract Castle was notorious throughout Medieval times.

In 1649, during the Civil War, the castle was severely damaged as it was a Royalist stronghold that endured multiple sieges.

However, significant portions of the curtain wall remain standing, alongside the lower sections of the multi-lobed keep and the tower’s basement where Richard II was imprisoned at the end of the 14th century, following his capture by his successor, Henry Bollingbroke.

It is believed that Richard met his demise here in 1400, likely by starvation.

11. Pugneys Country Park

In 1985, the 300-acre expanse of a former open cast coalmine and quarry in southern Wakefield was revitalized and transformed into a country park.

The park features two scenic lakes, with the larger one serving as a watersports center, offering opportunities for canoeing, windsurfing, or sailing, with equipment available for rent.

The smaller lake functions as a 24-acre nature reserve, celebrated for its vast population of swans, with approximately 100 commonly sighted at any given time.

Bikes can be rented by the hour, and there are facilities for barbecues and picnic areas available during the summer.

Additionally, Pugneys features a miniature railway that operates around the banks of the larger lake on weekends, catering to young visitors.

12. Sandal Castle

The crumbling remains of this Medieval castle dominate the eastern edge of Pugneys Country Park.

Sandal Castle was established at the onset of the 12th century as a Norman motte and bailey.

The remaining stonework dates to the 15th century, the period during which the castle experienced its most tumultuous events amid the Wars of the Roses.

In 1460, Richard Plantagenet, the pretender to the English throne, was slain nearby during the Battle of Wakefield.

Shakespeare’s play, Henry VI part 3, is set at Sandal Castle during this historic time.

Richard Plantagenet’s son, Richard III, selected Sandal Castle as his northern stronghold shortly before his eventual demise at Bosworth Field in 1485. Following Richard III’s death, the castle fell into disrepair, and its stone was subsequently quarried.

The ruins present a picturesque view and offer sweeping panoramas of the West Yorkshire countryside.

13. Waterton Countryside Discovery Centre

Located four miles southeast of Wakefield’s city center, this Green Flag country park encompasses a large lake.

Waterton was formerly the site of the country’s deepest open cast coalmine, which descends 76 meters.

Adjacent to the lake, visitors can explore woodlands, meadows, and wetlands.

The Discovery Centre offers bike rentals, information about the region, and refreshments available at the café.

The trails are equipped with bird hides for observing goldeneyes and widgeons that frequent the lake in autumn.

14. Wakefield Trinity

Rugby League, in contrast to Rugby Union, represents the second most popular sport in Northern England.

The majority of teams competing in the Super League, Rugby League’s premier division, are situated in this region.

In aspects of play, Rugby League shares certain similarities with American Football, one being the requirement to relinquish the ball to the opposing team after six tackles without scoring.

The local team, Wakefield Trinity, nicknamed the Dreadnoughts, competes at the Belle Vue stadium, which has a capacity of 9,333.

Trinity was prominent in the 1960s, particularly during Don Fox’s tenure, winning numerous league and Challenge Cup titles.

Despite limited financial resources, they are known for their achievements, finishing fifth in the Super League in 2017.

15. Food, Drink & Rhubarb Festival

On the last weekend of February, the streets of the city center brim with street food vendors and vibrant market stalls showcasing specialty food and drink.

This celebration pays homage to forced rhubarb, for which Wakefield is recognized as the capital within a region of West Yorkshire designated the Rhubarb Triangle.

Farmers cultivating early forced rhubarb in this area have achieved European Union PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) status.

Within the main marquee, cooking demonstrations highlight various culinary uses for rhubarb, while local cafes feature rhubarb pie, cake, and pudding on their menus during the festival.