Spotlight On SEKSU

South Elmsall, South Kirkby and Upton are three towns in the Wakefield district that are collectively known as SESKU. Former mining towns and villages, at first glance, you might think of SESKU as a quiet, tranquil place, but there’s far more to this little corner of the district than meets the eye…

Did you know dolphins were once trained in South Elmsall? Despite being about as landlocked as it’s possible to be, a disused swimming baths on South Elmsall’s Westfield Lane was the unlikely location of a dolphin training facility. Find out more about this and other colourful characters at Faces of South Elmsall.

And the nautical theme continues with the surprising discovery of an unusually complete patch of ancient coral reef at the former South Elmsall quarry.

Like the rest of the district, SESKU has strong links to culture. Upton is the birthplace of legendary Yorkshire playwright John Godber, currently the creative director of Theatre Royal Wakefield and is also the location of Production Park, one of the north’s leading creative spaces – where global tours are staged, film comes to life, and the virtual becomes reality.

Plus, with a number of great places to eat and drink, some fantastic shops and things to do, we’ve rounded up the best that SESKU has to offer in the second of our Spotlight guides. Keep reading to find out more.

Things To Do In SESKU

So what can you get up to in the SESKU area? Discover more about the local history at the Museum Hub at South Elmsall Library and find our more about some of the Faces of South Elmsall, jump in your 4×4 and go off-roading at the Frickley 4×4 Offroad Centre or enjoy a gentler pace of life on a stroll around Frickley Country Park or Bullcarr Mires.

If you’re in the area in the summer don’t miss Wakefield Council’s big summer festival on tour, A Grand Day Out, which will be bringing all the fun of the sun, and get ready to celebrate the local LGBTQ+ community with SESKU Pride.

Want more outdoor options? Head to Upton Country Park where you can experience a world of colourful wild flowers brought to life by the belt of magnesium limestone that runs underneath it, or give the kids the chance to go on a dinosaur safari with the free Love Exploring app. If you’d like something with a bit more structure, why not try Walk 9 or 10 of the Wakefield Way or give Nordic walking a go:

• Walk 9: Thorpe Audlin to South Elmsall, 5.3 miles
• Walk 10: South Elmsall to Hemsworth, 7.14 miles
• Nordic Walking: Meet at Upton Library (WF9 1JS) on a Thursday at 10am

Where To Eat & Drink In SESKU

There’s a whole variety of places to eat and drink in the SESKU area. If you want to treat your tastebuds to something from far-flung lands, you can’t go wrong with classic Indian cuisine from Spice Garden or American-style Moonshine Shack.

For those who would rather some great drink options, you’ll be spoilt for choice at The Coffee Club and Upton Arms (who both also serve up some smashing food).

Shopping In SESKU

While it may not be the first place that comes to mind when you want to get a retail therapy fix, the SESKU area can still pack a punch for shopping. If you’re a fashionista (or have a lady in your life that is) then you’ll be satisfied with the range of clothing on offer at Mode Boutique and Parade Clothing, both in South Elmsall.

And with South Elmsall being a market town, we can’t fail to mention South Elmsall Market! The outdoor market and units are open three days a week and are popular with shoppers of all ages and background; and with goods ranging from carpets to potpourri, to clothing and the must have butcher, along with fresh fish, and fruit and veg stalls it’s easy to see why!

Getting Here

Want to visit SESKU yourself? Here’s how you can get there.

South Elmsall is close to the A1 and drivers from the North or South need to exit at junction 38 and head West. If you’re coming from the West, take the A628 and exit at either the Hague Hall Roundabout towards the B6422 or the roundabout towards the A6201.

Council run car parks can be found here. There are electric vehicle charging point in the Aldi car park off Barnsley Road, WF9 2AA and in the Asda car park also on Barnsley Road, WF9 2AD.

If you’d rather take public transport, South Elmsall has a train station, served by Northern Rail, with regular trains to Leeds and Doncaster, and a bus station with services run by Arriva.