A Weekend in Wakefield

Staying a little longer than a day? Let’s get out of the city and into the countryside...

Yorkshire Sculpture Park

The Weston at Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Courtesy Feilden Fowles and YSP. Photo © Peter Cook

Underground at National Coal Mining Museum

Ossett Brewery Taproom

Ego at The Bull's Head

Day One

Start your itinerary at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. With stunning contemporary sculpture spread over more than 500 acres of rolling parkland, it’s easy to spend an entire day here, let alone a morning.

For lunch, head to YSP’s on-site restaurant, The Weston, for a seasonal, locally-sourced menu and a Scandi-chic interior.

In the afternoon, pay a visit to the National Coal Mining Museum. Uncover the nation’s mining heritage through hands-on displays and fascinating Underground Tours.

Speaking of tours, make sure you time your visit to coincide with one of Ossett Brewery’s tours – look behind the scenes and find out more about this progressive, independent cask brewery (and try some of their freshest possible beer, of course!).

As evening falls, head into Horbury. This cute little village has more than its fair share of delightful places to eat and drink. Try Ego at the Bulls Head for a delicious way to end the day.

Xscape Yorkshire

Snozone, Xscape

Junction 32 Yorkshire Outlet Shopping

Farmer Copleys ©Tatiana Hepplewhite

Pugneys Country Park with Sandal Castle

The Three Houses

The Three Houses

The Castle Wakefield

Day Two

Something completely different, today – a trip to Xscape Yorkshire in Castleford. This huge site features a real-snow indoor ski slope, escape rooms, laser quest, bowling, adventure golf, trampolining, and so much more. Head next door to Junction 32 Yorkshire Outlet Shopping to bag yourself a bargain (or several).

Lunch is served at Farmer Copleys’ Moo Cafe. This is farm-to-fork at its freshest, with 95% of the ingredients on the menu coming from Copleys Farm Shop.

Time for a little exercise to walk off your lunch. Wakefield’s full of country parks, and today’s visit is to Pugneys. Make your way around the beautiful central lake, then climb the hill to the atmospheric ruins of Sandal Castle and drink in the breath-taking views across the Calder Valley.

Sandal itself is a great choice for dinner at a traditional Yorkshire pub. Settle down in front of a cosy fire and enjoy a crisp cask ale and some fabulous food at somewhere like The Three Houses or The Castle.

You’ll need a base for your two day stay in the district, check out our suggestions below.