Pictures of Wakefield

in the county of West Yorkshire

Wakefield Pictures
Wakefield Hotels
Submit a history of Wakefield
Wakefield Attractions
Nearby Towns
Submit Pictures
Wakefield Map
Add to favourites

About Wakefield

Wakefield was the capital of Yorkshire's woollen industry for more than 700 years, it was an important weaving and dying centre as far back as the 13th century, and it is this that brought it prosperity, for unlike many other Yorkshire towns, Wakefield did not become highly industrialised. Even in the middle of the 19th century, despite its mining, the town was best known as a centre for grain, and its Corn Exchange, built in 1838 had the reputation of being the finest building in the town, but even this did not save it from 1960's demolition.

The history of Wakefield is rich and varied, and well worth taking time to explore in the city museum where you can learn all about the development of the Wakefield since Roman times, its heritage and social history. Displays depict the life of the city throughout the Yorkshire's various stages of occupations, bringing you right up to present day times. The museum gives you a real "feel" for the warmth and flavour of what is one of Yorkshire's oldest cities.

Wakefield's skyline is dominated by the graceful spire of its 14th century cathedral, at 247 feet this is the tallest in Yorkshire. The cathedral-church of All Saints stands majestically on a green rise in a prominent city centre position where the old streets of Kirkgate, Westgate, Warrengate and Northgate meet. The church, completed in 1329 has a fascinating history, it is believed to have been erected on a spot where a Roman church once stood, was pulled down and rebuilt in the 15th century, shows alterations from the 19th century (its spire is an addition of 1861) and later alterations carried out during the recent past 20th century.

All Saint's is mainly Perpendicular, treasures include a rood screen of 1635, a font of 1660, choir stalls with fine misericords, and an 18th century pulpit and organ case. The church shows many fine monuments, one of the most notable dates from 1714, this is highly carved with figures. There is also a 14th century Chantry Chapel, one of only four in the country. This can be found topping a buttress on a bridge over the River Calder.

Historically, the old town settled on a hill above the lovely Calder Valley, with the river flowing beneath. It is perhaps this hill-side location which gives Wakefield its spectacular sky-line, Wakefield builders have always been fond of towers and turrets!

Today, the face of the city is greatly changed, the mills and clog image has long disappeared, the miners strike of the 1980's finally put an end to the prosperous coal-mining era. The old Victorian slum cottages have been pulled down and replaced with smart new housing estates with shops and good facilities.

The city centre offers traffic free zones for shopping, the wide High Street is made decorative with tubs of flowers and clipped trees; there is a lively indoor market and plenty of individual shops as well as all the usual "High Street" retail stores.

Pugneys Park offers a beautiful place to relax, this is purely a place for leisure and pleasure, you can part-take of a range of activities or simply enjoy the fresh air, autumnal colours and wildlife, including Canadian Geese.

Wakefield has no shortage of cultural attractions, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park arguably houses one of Europe's foremost outdoor collection of sculpture, Sandal Castle, which was to have been the Duke of York's stronghold in the North, the town centre Art Gallery and Museum, and the city is home to England's impressive National Coal Mining Museum.

Numerous sport centres offer activities for all ages. Sport mostly focus's on Rugby League and Racing from nearby Pontefract. There is a choice of theatre and cinema, plenty of pubs, particularly in Westgate, known for the famous "Westgate Run" a popular pub crawl that has its own website.

Recently Wakefield has revived what is known as the Wakefield Cycle, a collection of 14th century mystery plays. These are performed as part of the summertime festivities celebrating the religious festival of Corpus Christi, and have proved to be immensely popular.

From Wakefield there is easy access to Leeds, Bradford, Dewsbury and the Roman City of York.

Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Wakefield

Wakefield Cathedral	(0.4 miles, 0.6 km)	Pictures
Sandal Castle	(1.8 miles, 2.8 km, direction S)	Pictures
Pugneys Country Park	(2.0 miles, 3.2 km, direction S)	Pictures
Newmillerdam Country Park	(3.6 miles, 5.9 km, direction S)	Pictures
Yorkshire Sculpture Park	(5.5 miles, 8.9 km, direction SW)	Pictures
National Coal Mining Museum	(5.6 miles, 9.0 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Dewsbury Museum	(5.8 miles, 9.3 km, direction W)	Pictures
Temple Newsam	(7.3 miles, 11.8 km, direction N)	Pictures
Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds	(7.5 miles, 12.1 km, direction N)	Pictures
Pontefract Castle	(8.3 miles, 13.3 km, direction E)	Pictures
Cannon Hall Country Park	(8.5 miles, 13.7 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Armley Mills Industrial Museum	(8.8 miles, 14.2 km, direction N)	Pictures
Monk Bretton Priory	(9.4 miles, 15.1 km, direction S)	Pictures
Robin Hood's Grave	(9.5 miles, 15.3 km, direction W)	Pictures
Kirklees Priory	(9.6 miles, 15.5 km, direction W)	Pictures

All attractions in Wakefield
All attractions in West Yorkshire
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Wakefield

Featherstone, in the county of West Yorkshire (6.1 miles, 9.9 km, direction E)
Featherstone is a large town lying between Wakefield and Pontefract in West Yorkshire. For the past couple of centuries the town was known chiefly for its coal mines.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Castleford, in the county of West Yorkshire (7.1 miles, 11.5 km, direction NE)
This is a large Northern town with roots stretching back to the Romans and beyond, as proven by the recent finding of a Bronze Age male skeleton and his chariot.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Mirfield, in the county of West Yorkshire (7.8 miles, 12.6 km, direction W)
Mirfield is a residential town situated between Huddersfield and Dewsbury. It has a long history, and associations with Robin...
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Pontefract, a Historic Market Town in the county of West Yorkshire (8.1 miles, 13.1 km, direction E)
Pontefract has a ruined castle which has seen many tragedies, Richard II was murdered there in 1400, and later it was the scene of bitter, bloody battles between Roundheads and Royalists.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Leeds, in the county of West Yorkshire (8.4 miles, 13.4 km, direction N)
In the middle ages Leeds was a wool centre and it flourished. The sheep on the Yorkshire moors providing the wool for the cottage...
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Barnsley, in the county of South Yorkshire (9.1 miles, 14.6 km, direction S)
This is an attractive town laid out along the River Dearne, it is enclosed by spectacular Pennine scenery and is an ideal place from which to discover the limestone hills and fresh green valley's of the Yorkshire Dales.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Almondbury, in the county of West Yorkshire (10.7 miles, 17.2 km, direction W)
Almondbury is one of the oldest and prettiest of the villages dominating the edge of the Pennine moors.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Huddersfield, in the county of West Yorkshire (11.8 miles, 18.9 km, direction W)
Huddersfield is a lively and interesting town that offers a rich cultural experience.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Deanhouse, in the county of West Yorkshire (13.8 miles, 22.1 km, direction SW)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Holmfirth, in the county of West Yorkshire (13.9 miles, 22.3 km, direction SW)
This is a place that will forever be associated with the gentle, romantic comedy "Last of the Summer Wine" which has graced our TV screens for more than a quarter of a century.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Golcar, in the county of West Yorkshire (14.3 miles, 23.0 km, direction W)
Sturdily built of stone, this small hill town is perched north of the River Colne and the now restored Huddersfield Narrow Canal.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Halifax, in the county of West Yorkshire (14.7 miles, 23.7 km, direction W)
Halifax is an industrial city close to the famous Pennines and the route of the Pennine Way in what is known as Yorkshire's "Bronte" country.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Eggborough, in the county of North Yorkshire (14.9 miles, 23.9 km, direction E)
This is a typical Yorkshire village settled close to the meeting point of North and South Yorkshire.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Saltaire, in the county of West Yorkshire (15.6 miles, 25.1 km, direction NW)
This perfectly preserved village originated as an answer to Bradford's 'dark satanic mills', it was the brain-child of...
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Sowerby Bridge, in the county of West Yorkshire (16.8 miles, 27.0 km, direction W)
Surrounded by the dramatic scenery of the South Pennines, with the town's gentle scenery being enhanced by the River Calder and the River Ryburn on which the town stands.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

All towns in West Yorkshire
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Wakefield Westgate Station	(0.2 miles, 0.3 km)
Wakefield Kirkgate Station	(0.8 miles, 1.3 km)
M1 Junction 40	(1.9 miles, 3.1 km, direction W)
M1 Junction 41	(2.5 miles, 4.1 km, direction NW)
Leeds Bradford International Airport	(14.2 miles, 22.8 km, direction NW)
Sheffield City Airport	(20.6 miles, 33.2 km, direction S)
Wakefield to London	(161.2 miles, 259.3 km, direction S)

Hotels & Accommodation in Wakefield

Hotel Name	Approximate distance from Wakefield center
Chasley Hotel	(0.3 miles, 0.5 km)
Stanley View Guest House	(0.9 miles, 1.4 km)
Campanile Hotel Wakefield	(1.3 miles, 2.0 km, direction S)
Days Hotel Wakefield M1 Jct 40	(1.9 miles, 3.0 km, direction W)
Cedar Court Hotel	(2.6 miles, 4.2 km, direction SW)
Hotel St Pierre	(3.1 miles, 5.0 km, direction S)
Best Western Waterton Park Hotel	(3.4 miles, 5.5 km, direction SE)
Stoneleigh Hotel	(3.6 miles, 5.8 km, direction SE)
Heath Cottage Hotel Limited	(4.2 miles, 6.8 km, direction W)
De Vere Oulton Hall	(4.7 miles, 7.5 km, direction NE)
All hotels in Wakefield