Car Hire Wakefield - Mini guide to Wakefield

The Cathedral City of Wakefield, with its combination of old and new, has a colourful history shaping much of the city and its surroundings.

The Cathedral Church of all saints dominants the skyline, with the tallest spire in Yorkshire and the fourth highest in England. First built in the 15th century, there is some high quality Victorian glass by Kempe and a memorial to Bishop Walsham Howe, who was the first Bishop of Wakefield.

The famous National Coal Mining Museum tells the history of Coal mining, including a one-hour tour of the original workings 137 metres underground. The Wakefield Museum has interesting exhibits, looking at the Wakefield’s history.

Wakefield City centre is compact and predominantly pedestrianised and is a paradise for shopping enthusiasts. There is an open-air traditional market for good bargains and the indoor Ridings Shopping Centre. Museums and galleries abound such as the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, which is set in the beautiful landscape of the Bretton Estate, and Sandal Castles. Wakefield Theatre features world premieres, community performances and the traditional Pantomime. There are plenty of sports facilities with Pugneys Country Park offering water sports.

Wakefield lies at the heart of the UK motorway network making it an ideal base for visiting the region. Visit the larger towns of Castleford and Pontefract and many small and very picturesque villages. Newmillerdam Country Park is situated on the A61 near the pretty village of Newmillerdam, 3 miles south of Wakefield. It offers lovely woodland and lakeside walks with plenty of bird watching and coarse fishing.

By road there is direct access from the M1, M62 and A1. Trains leave from Westgate Station reaching London Kings Cross in under two hours. Wakefield also has its own airport with flights to most UK cities.

The major suburbs in Wakefield are: Airedale, Horbury, Outwood, Sandal and Stanley.