West Yorkshire
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
Wakefield Trinity Museum
Wakefield Museum
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.
Wakefield Council - Wakefield Museum 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.
Wakefield Council - Sandal Castle Find on map: 
Sandal Castle
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.
The Hepworth Find on map: The Hepworth, Wakefield
The Hepworth, Wakefield National Coal Mining Museum for England
The National Coal Mining Museum for England is mid-way between Wakefield and Huddersfield , about 6 miles from each, on the main
More details at the
National Coal Mining Museum Yorkshire Sculpture Park
West Bretton
The Yorkshire Sculpture Park is the UK's leading open-air sculpture gallery, situated at More information at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park website.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park Find on map: Yorkshire Sculpture Park
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.
National Trust - Nostell 
Travel
Wakefield Westgate station Mulberry Way
⇆ 2 - trains reverse at Leeds if continuing to Harrogate, Bradford or Skipton (Trains per day on each route also shown),
Station managed by: LNER. Operator/s: CROSS COUNTRY, LNER, NORTHERN.
NATIONAL RAIL - Departure and station infoExternal link to National Rail live departure board for services at this station (opens in new tab).
Wakefield Kirkgate station Monk Street
Station managed by: NORTHERN. Operator/s: NORTHERN, GRAND CENTRAL.
NATIONAL RAIL - Departure and station infoExternal link to National Rail live departure board for services at this station (opens in new tab).
Wakefield bus station Union Street
Metro - Wakefield Bus Station
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 West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust 
Local government
Metropolitan district council
Wakefield CouncilWakefield 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 ,
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:
63 members
Link to Wakefield Council website .
Wakefield Council County strategic authority
West Yorkshire Combined AuthorityCovers some combined services of the five metropolitan district councils of
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:
West Yorkshire Combined Authority Police and Crime Commissioner
The Police and Crime Commissioner for West YorkshireThis role has become one of the many responsibilities of the West Yorkshire elected mayor since May 2021.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority National government region
Yorkshire and the HumberFire Authority
West Yorkshire Fire AuthorityThe 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 New parliamentary constituency
Wakefield and RothwellElected MP:
National government region
Yorkshire and the HumberCeremonial county
West YorkshireHistoric
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
Also in Yorkshire.guide
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