The cathedral city of Wakefield comprises the best of old and new in Yorkshire. Made up of over 40 towns and villages, Wakefield covers an area of some 336 sq km, boasting some of the north’s most scenic countryside.

As a shopping destination, the Wakefield district offers the award winning Ridings Shopping Centre, providing indoor pedestrian malls with over 90 shops. Nearby Leeds also provides the north of England’s finest shopping destinations with many specialist retailers including the famed Harvey Nicholls, first “out of London” department store.

Meadowhall Shopping Centre and Europe’s largest shopping village at Glasshoughton are also within easy driving distance.

Housing

Wakefield offers a variety of housing at highly competitive prices, ranging from Georgian terraces to stone built country cottages and detached period residences in charming villages. Exclusive new housing developments are being constructed throughout the district, offering some of Yorkshire’s best housing stock.

Education

The Education Service in nearby Wakefield supports over 49,000 pupils and students in full time attendance and the District has several independent fee paying schools. There are also a high number of nearby further education colleges and universities and further information on education provision can be found here.

Attractions and Places of Interest

Wakefield offers the visitor a unique combination of art, history and culture with a wealth of interesting places to visit.

Standing guard since the 13th century over the southern approaches to Wakefield is Sandal Castle, although demolished after the siege in 1645 on the orders of Oliver Cromwell, the remains of the castle still attract over 70,000 visitors each year.

At nearby Pontefract, the ruins of an important medieval castle that witnessed many sieges during the Civil War, attract a wealth of interest. In its heyday the castle held many political prisoners including Thomas of Lancaster and Richard II who both died at Pontefract.

Other attractions within the District worth highlighting are: the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, an open air gallery situated within the grounds of Bretton Park exhibiting works of many famous artists including Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore (both born in the Wakefield District) and attracting over 200,000 people each year: the National Coal Mining Museum for England offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience an underground tour of a former working colliery with the added thrill of riding the cage 137 metres underground: and the 500 seater Wakefield Theatre Royal and Opera House, a fine example of Victorian Architecture and one of the last creations of Frank Matcham a renowned Edwardian theatre designer.

A little further afield famous attractions abound including The Royal Armouries, Tetley's Brewery in Leeds, Harewood House, Bolton Abbey and Fountains Abbey.

Sport and Leisure

Wakefield plays host to many sporting activities. Those with a real passion for sport can witness the fierce rivalry between the three professional rugby league teams based at Castleford, Featherstone and Wakefield or alternatively experience the thrill of a flutter at Europe’s longest continuous flat circular racecourse at Pontefract.

For those looking for something a little more energetic Pugney’s Country Park (just a stone's throw from Calder Park) provides one of the best lakes in England for windsurfing, sailing and canoeing, whilst for the golf enthusiast several excellent golf courses are available to tee off from, including a championship size course at Darrington.

If relaxing is more your sport then you’ll find no shortage of country parks to stroll around and enjoy. Take time out to visit Bretton Country Park, Newmillerdam Country Park, Anglers Country Park, and Hemsworth Water Park and you won't be disappointed.

Still on the walking theme, a series of walks entitled the SESKU Ringway provide a
thirteen mile network of footpaths, cycleways and other tracks which link the villages
of South Elmsall, South Kirkby and Upton with numerous sites of historical, cultural
and wildlife interest.