Wakefield

West Yorkshire

Wakefield is one of the three cities of West Yorkshire and is its county town.

County Hall, WakefieldWakefieldBull Ring and Cross Square, WakefieldThe city is 9 miles south south east of Leeds, 12 miles east-north-east of the larger West Yorkshire town of Huddersfield and about 9 miles north of Barnsley in South Yorkshire. It is 26 miles south-west of York.

The County Hall was initially the seat of the West Riding County Council and from 1974 the West Yorkshire county, the council for which was abolished in 1986 as collective responsibilities were spread to district authorities. County Hall is now used by the Wakefield metropolitan district authority. Wakefield still has the headquarters of West Yorkshire Police and also the Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

Bull Ring, WakefieldThe Wakefield metropolitan district also covers the five towns to the east of the city, Castleford , Featherstone, Normanton , Pontefract and Knottingley , along with Ossett to the west and many other small towns and villages. Metropolitan districts in Yorkshire typically cover three times the area of metropolitan districts in other parts of England and six times the average area of a London borough.

Wakefield became a crossing point of the River Calder from at least Roman times, when it was part of a route between Pontefract and Manchester. The area experienced a period of growth under Viking influence, later continuing to serve as an inland port via the River Calder, River Aire, River Ouse and River Humber to the North Sea. Wakefield developed a market in the early 13th century.

Chantry Bridge, WakefieldIn the mid 14th century a new stone bridge replaced an earlier wooden one across the River Calder and on it was built the St Mary the Virgin chantry chapel. The chapel remains the earliest and grandest of only three surviving places of worship built upon bridges in England, another being at Rotherham in South Yorkshire.

Wakefield's river link along the River Calder was enhanced by the Aire and Calder Navigation from the start of the 18th century.

Wakefield became an important market for grain but grew with a diverse economy during the industrial revolution, influenced by its position between areas dominated by the woollen textile industry, coal mining and agriculture and also the engineering associated with these.

Sandal CastleTwo miles south of the city centre at Sandal Magna can be found the remains of Sandal Castle. The castle dates from the early 12th century, although its development as a stone castle came through rebuilding in the 13th century.

On December 30, 1460, during the War of the Roses, the Battle of Wakefield was fought below Sandal Castle. It resulted in fatal injuries to Richard of York, the third Duke of York. Richard, a great-grandson of King Edward III, had been Lord Protector of England during the mental illness of King Henry VI. Two months before the battle his demands to be the king's successor had been recognised in parliament by an accord. While Richard never became king, two of his sons became King Edward IV and King Richard III, the latter ordering investment in Sandal Castle during his short-lived two-year reign.

The Castle is near to the Pugneys Country Park, one of a number of country parks to be enjoyed in and around the Wakefield area.

Not far from the centre of the city is Wakefield Prison, the country's largest high security prison, which traces its history back to a House of Correction of the late 16th century. However, the prison was modernised in Victorian times and most of its present buildings date from this period.

Wakefield is one corner of the Rhubarb Triangle, the major growing area of early forced rhubarb which is grown in forcing sheds by candlelight. Tribute is paid at an annual Rhubarb Festival in the city to Yorkshire's favourite vegetable, which is usually used like fruit.

City features

Trinity Walk, Wakefield

City centre shopping includes a wide selection of shops in the city streets and at The Ridings and Trinity Walk shopping centres. There are also several out-of-town shopping warehouses, mainly situated around the Ings Road area, and a choice of supermarkets in and around the city.

The Wakefield main post office is at the Trinity Walk Shopping Centre, there are also a number of branches in and around the city and its districts.

There are many pharmacies in and around Wakefield.

Most banks and some building societies have a branch in Wakefield.

Wakefield has always offered a vibrant nightlife at its city centre pubs, bars and nightclubs, while there are still plenty of quieter locals to be found in its surrounding districts and villages.

Wakefield has a selection of cafes and coffee shops.

The city has plenty of choice among its range of places to eat.

Wakefield Library is at Wakefield One in Burton Street.

Wakefield Museum is also in the Wakefield One building in Burton Street. More details below.

There are many schools and colleges in and around Wakefield.

Wakefield is on the River Calder.

The Aire and Calder Navigation links Wakefield towards the River Humber and North Sea.
The Calder and Hebble Navigation links Wakefield to Dewsbury, the Huddersfield Broad Canal, Brighouse, Elland and the Rochdale Canal at Sowerby Bridge.

Places of worship: Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, United Reformed, Islamic, Jewish, Buddhist, other.

Wakefield Cathedral
Kirkgate
Wakefield CathedralThe cathedral is on the site of a Saxon church, but there have been a number of rebuilds, extensions and alterations in its history. Although it has more recent extensions, most of the current appearance reflects a Victorian restoration between 1858 and 1874 of what was then All Saints Church. It also retains some building work from 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th centures. At 75 metres, its spire is the tallest in Yorkshire. The church became the cathedral of the Diocese of Wakefield in 1888. Since 2014, it has become one of three anglican cathedrals in a combined Diocese. The diocese was formed in 2014 from the dioceses of Ripon, Bradford and Wakefield and was named the Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales to gain public trust across its entire area, before it was later ordered to use what had actually been registered as its official name of the Diocese of Leeds.

Theatre Royal Wakefield

Entertainment

Theatre Royal Wakefield

Drury Lane

Close to the city centre, the Theatre Royal Wakefield offers drama, musicals, dance shows, talented entertainers and bands within the experience of a small Victorian theatre.

Sport

Wakefield Trinity

Wakefield Trinity play rugby league at Belle Vue.

Official website: Wakefield Trinity

Museum

Wakefield Museum

The Wakefield One building

Burton Street

Situated in the Wakefield One building in the heart of the city, the museum allows visitors to engage with the history of Wakefield.

More information at Wakefield Council - Wakefield Museum web page.

Places to Visit

Sandal Castle

Manygates Lane, Sandal Magna, near Wakefield, West Yorkshire

About two miles south of the city centre, the ruins of the medieval motte and bailey castle are freely open to the public and overlook the River Calder and the city. Some walkways at the castle, including steps to the keep, have recently been undergoing renovation and repairs following a £700,000 investment by Wakefield Council. The castle stood just above the site of the War of the Roses Battle of Wakefield in December 1460. Its damage, however, was ordered by Parliamentarians after the surrender of a Royalist garrison there in October 1645 during the English Civil Wars.

More information at the Wakefield Council - Sandal Castle web pages.

Find on map: Sandal Castle

The Hepworth, Wakefield

Gallery Walk, Wakefield

A modern building next to the River Calder in Wakefield provides purpose-built gallery space for a collection donated by the family of Wakefield-born artist and sculptor Dame Barbara Hepworth, who died in 1975, together with visiting contemporary art exhibitions.

Find out more at The Hepworth website.

Find on map: The Hepworth, Wakefield

National Coal Mining Museum for England

National Coal Mining Museum for EnglandNational Coal Mining MuseumWakefield Road, Overton
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is mid-way between Wakefield and Huddersfield, about 6 miles from each, on the main A642 road at Overton. It is also around 10 miles from Barnsley and just under 5 miles from Dewsbury. The former Caphouse Colliery has exhibits showing the history of mining in the Yorkshire coalfield and beyond. The museum also offers the chance to don a miner's helmet to take an underground tour down the mine. The tour takes about an hour and shows the changes in mining and conditions in the pit through its history. There's also chance to meet pit ponies, to take a trip on a colliery railway, to walk its nature trail or relax with food or a drink in its cafe.
More details at the

National Coal Mining Museum website.

Yorkshire Sculpture Park

West Bretton

The Yorkshire Sculpture Park is the UK's leading open-air sculpture gallery, situated at West Bretton, between Barnsley, Huddersfield and Wakefield. Set in around 500 acres of beautiful parkland within the Bretton Estate adjoining Bretton Hall, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park offers what is probably the finest outdoor exhibition space in the country for modern and contemporary sculpture, attracting regional, national and international exhibits. The museum also has indoor exhibition spaces, cafes and shops. The museum car parks are accessed off the A637 Huddersfield Road between West Bretton and junction 38 of the M1. From 2020, the Yorkshire Sculpture Pak has introduced an admission charge with advance booking required. Parking is included in the admission fee.

More information at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park website.

Find on map: Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Nostell

off Doncaster Road, Wragby, near Wakefield

The site of a medieval priory, Nostell features a mid-18th century Palladian-style house which has been described as an architectural masterpiece. It includes interiors added by Robert Adam and furniture by Yorkshire-born furniture designer Thomas Chippendale. The house, 6 miles south-east of Wakefield and 5 miles south-west of Pontefract, is set in more than 120 hectares of parkland, including lakeside walks. Feature gardens include a kitchen garden with many varieties of rhubarb and vegetables typical of those grown in the 18th and 19th centuries and also the Menagerie Garden, created in 1743 and once the home of several exotic species. Nostell is managed by the National Trust.

More information can be found on the National Trust - Nostell web pages.

Travel

Wakefield Westgate Station

Wakefield Westgate station Mulberry Way

Wakefield Westgate is a modern staffed station with a range of facilities including food outlets. There are regular trains to Leeds, Sheffield, Doncaster and inter-city services towards London and Scotland and to Birmingham through to the South-West. There are also other services available at Kirkgate station for journeys to Leeds and Sheffield, at certain times towards Doncaster and to other local towns not served from Westgate (see below).

1 Towards Doncaster or Sheffield
Sandal & Agbrigg 4 - Fitzwilliam 11 - South Elmsall 16 - Adwick le Street 21 - Bentley 26 - Doncaster 31
Doncaster 17 - Retford 32 - Newark 43 - Grantham 50 - Peterborough 1hr 10min - Stevenage 1hr 35min - London Kings Cross 1hr 58min
Sandal & Agbrigg 4 - Fitzwilliam 11 - Moorthorpe 17 - Thurnscoe 23 - Goldthorpe 26 - Bolton upon Dearne 29 - Swinton 33 - Rotherham 41 - Meadowhall 47 - Sheffield 57
Sheffield 33 - Derby 1hr 8min - Tamworth 1hr 27min - Birmingham New Street 1hr 49min - Cheltenham Spa 2hr 29min - Bristol Parkway 2hr 58min - Bristol Temple Meads 3hr 22min - Taunton 3hr 54min - Tiverton Parkway 4hr 7min - Exeter St Davids 4hr 25min - Newton Abbot 5hr 16min - Totnes 5hr 56min - Plymouth 6hr 24min - Penzance 8hr 24min -1 Towards Wakefield Kirkgate and Knottingley
Wakefield Westgate 3 - Streethouse 12 - Featherstone 16 - Pontefract Tanshelf 20 - Pontefract Monkhill 23 - Knottingley 29 -⇆ Knottingley (dep) 34 - Pontefract Monkhill 39 - Glasshoughton 44 - Castleford 51 ⇆ - Woodlesford 1hr 1min - Leeds 1hr 12min2 Towards Leeds ♣
Leeds 15
Outwood 4 - Leeds 16
Leeds 13 -⇆ 6 Leeds (dep) 21 - Horsforth 29 - Harrogate 52⇆ 2 Leeds (dep) 21 - Shipley 37 - Bradford Forster Square 49⇆ 1 Leeds (dep) 21 - Keighley 53 - - Skipton 1hr 11min
Leeds 20 - York 44 - Darlington 1hr 13min - Durham 1hr 30min - Newcastle 1hr 45min - Morpeth 1hr 57min - Alnmouth 2hr 11min - Berwick-upon-Tweed 2hr 30min - Dunbar 2hr 54min - Edinburgh 3hr 14min - Haymarket 3hr 29min - ( Motherwell 4hr 9min - Glasgow Central 4hr 25min ) -or- ( Dundee 4hr 46min - Aberdeen 5hr 59min )
16 - typical fastest journey times in minutes.
Red - stations in West Yorkshire ticket area.
⇆ - trains reverse at Castleford.
⇆ - trains reverse at Knottingley, usually returning to Leeds via Glasshoughton and Castleford (and vice-versa).
⇆ 2 - trains reverse at Leeds if continuing to Harrogate, Bradford or Skipton (Trains per day on each route also shown),
♣ - train not calling at Outwood.

Station managed by: LNER. Operator/s: CROSS COUNTRY, LNER, NORTHERN.

NATIONAL RAIL - Departure and station info

External link to National Rail live departure board for services at this station (opens in new tab).

Wakefield Kirkgate Station

Wakefield Kirkgate station Monk Street

The station has had some refurbishment in recent years after decades of decay but, while offering journeys in some different directions, does not offer the same facilities as Westgate station. The station subway has been brightened up with Ashley Jackson artwork and recorded brass band music. Whilst being the only Wakefield station capable of offering east-west as well as north-south journeys, east-west journeys have been lacking in recent years but have recently been enhanced with TransPennine Express journeys via Mirfield and Huddersfield to Manchester Piccadilly and in the opposite direction via Normanton and Castleford to York. For journeys to Leeds, Sheffield or Doncaster, there are regular services also available at Westgate station.

1 Towards Leeds or Castleford and York
Leeds 16 ∮
Normanton 4 - Castleford 10 - York 33
Normanton 6 - Castleford 16 ⇆ - Woodlesford 21 - Leeds 352 3 Towards Sheffield or Huddersfield or Bradford
Barnsley 16 - Meadowhall 32 - Sheffield 39 - Dronfield 52 - Chesterfield 58 - Alfreton 1hr 8min - Langley Mill 1hr 15min - Ilkeston 1hr 20min - Nottingham 1hr 33min ∮ ♠
Barnsley 16 - Meadowhall 32 - Sheffield 39 - Darnall 48 - Woodhouse 54 - Kiveton Bridge 1hr 1min - Kiveton Park 1hr 4min - Shireoaks 1hr 11min - Worksop 1hr 15min - Retford 1hr 25min - Gainsborough 1hr 40min - Saxilby 1hr 51min - Lincoln 2hr 4min -
Darton 11 - Barnsley 18 - Wombwell 24 - Elsecar 28 - Chapeltown 33 - Meadowhall 40 - Sheffield 48 ∮
Mirfield 9 - Deighton 14 - Huddersfield 18 - Slaithwaite 25 - Marsden 29 - Greenfield 36 - Mossley 40 - Stalybridge 45 - Manchester Piccadilly 1hr 1min ⁗ 4 (Afternoon and evening)
Mirfield 13 - Brighouse 21 - Halifax 32 - Low Moor 39 - Bradford 463 Towards Leeds via Wakefield Westgate ♣
Wakefield Westgate 4 - Leeds 193 Towards Knottingley or Doncaster & London
Streethouse 9 - Featherstone 13 - Pontefract Tanshelf 17 - Pontefract Monkhill 20 - Knottingley 26 -⇆ Knottingley (dep) 31 - Pontefract Monkhill 36 - Glasshoughton 41 - Castleford 48 ⇆ - Woodlesford 58 - Leeds 1hr 9min⁗ 4 (Morning and mid-afternoon)
Pontefract Monkhill 19 - Doncaster 34 - 46 - London Kings Cross 2hr 28min
16 - typical fastest journey times in minutes.
Red - stations in West Yorkshire ticket area.
⇆ - trains reverse at Castleford.
⇆ - trains reverse at Knottingley, usually returning to Leeds via Glasshoughton and Castleford (and vice-versa).
♣ - train not calling at Outwood.
∮ - no Sunday service.
♠ - train does not operate via Wakefield on Sundays. Services to Lincoln available from Barnsley.

Station managed by: NORTHERN. Operator/s: NORTHERN, GRAND CENTRAL.

NATIONAL RAIL - Departure and station info

External link to National Rail live departure board for services at this station (opens in new tab).

Wakefield bus station

Wakefield bus station Union Street

Inter-town bus services operate through city streets and into the bus station in Union Street, which is to the north of the city centre and not far from the Trinity Walk shopping centre. The bus station is a 10 minute walk from Wakefield Westgate railway station and about 15 minutes walk from Wakefield Kirkgate, although both the railway stations have street bus stops near to them.

Bus station managed by ARRIVA - a Deutsche Bahn company.

Destinations include Normanton 20, Ossett 24, Featherstone 26, Castleford 35, Morley 32, Leeds 36, Dewsbury 42, Pontefract 45, Garforth 53, Hemsworth 54, South Elmsall 55, Barnsley 59, Holmfirth 1hr 7min, Knottingley 1hr 8min, Bradford 1hr 12min, Huddersfield 1hr 15min36 - typical fastest journey times in minutes. Some routes may take longer.
Red - places in West Yorkshire ticket area.

Metro - Wakefield Bus Station

Link to Metro - external web page with details of services and buses at this bus station.

Road travel

Wakefield is particularly well connected to many parts of the Yorkshire region being just 2.5 miles from the north to south M1 motorway and about 10 miles from the east to west M62 motorway.

Emergency services

West Yorkshire Police

West Yorkshire Police website.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service website.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust website.

Local government

Metropolitan district council

Wakefield Council
Wakefield Council covers an area extending many miles beyond the city of Wakefield itself. The area includes many separate small towns and villages, among them Castleford, Featherstone, Hemsworth, Horbury, Knottingley, Normanton , Ossett, Pontefract, South Elmsall and Stanley.

The council is made up of 63 councillors elected 3 per ward across 21 wards. Elections held in 3 in every 4 years elect one councillor per ward for 4-year terms.

Political composition after May 2024 election:

563 3 1
63 members

Link to Wakefield Council website .

County strategic authority

West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Covers some combined services of the five metropolitan district councils of West Yorkshire - Bradford, Calderdale, Leeds, Kirklees and Wakefield — which were at one time provided by a West Yorkshire metropolitan county council, with the addition of the non-contiguous unitary authority area of the City of York council as well as the unelected Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership. Since 2021 it has operated with an elected mayor as chairman and decision-maker for some responsibilities. These include transport, housing and planning and finance powers. The responsibilities also include those of Police and Crime Commissioner, a role substantially delegated to an appointee deputy mayor.

Elected mayor: ❚ Tracy Brabin Labour & Cooperative

West Yorkshire Combined Authority website.

Police and Crime Commissioner

The Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire
This role has become one of the many responsibilities of the West Yorkshire elected mayor since May 2021.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority website.

National government region

Yorkshire and the Humber

Fire Authority

West Yorkshire Fire Authority
The fire authority is made up of elected members of each of the five metropolitan district councils of West Yorkshire - Bradford, Calderdale, Leeds, Kirklees and Wakefield.

West Yorkshire Fire Authority web pages.

New parliamentary constituency

Wakefield and Rothwell
Elected MP: ❚ Simon Lightwood Labour & Cooperative

National government region

Yorkshire and the Humber

Ceremonial county

West Yorkshire

Historic

Municipal borough 1848-
West Riding County Council headquarters 1889-
County borough 1913-1974 (within the West Riding of Yorkshire)
City charter from 1888, granted upon elevation of Wakefield to a Diocese

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