'''Wakefield''' is a city in West Yorkshire, England

Understand

'''Location, Location'''

Wakefield's location at the heart of England and at the centre of the UK's communications network offers unsurpassed transport links, providing fast connections by road, rail, and air.

At the intersection between the M1 and M62 and with the A1 at its eastern boundary, the district is well placed to access other regional centres such as Leeds, Sheffield and York.

Ease of commuting extends beyond the region with Wakefield Westgate, the city's mainline station situated on the high speed east coast mainline, offering excellent connections to key UK destinations. Direct half-hourly services operate to London throughout the day with the quickest journey taking under 2 hours. Sheffield, York, Manchester, Liverpool, and Newcastle are also within easy reach.

Several airports offering domestic and international flights are nearby, including Leeds Bradford, Robin Hood Airport, Manchester and East Midlands. Leeds Bradford, Manchester and East Midlands all provide direct flights to London and Brussels.

The district has emerged from over a century of reliance on coal mining to become a thriving manufacturing, shopping and distribution centre, taking full advantage of its place at the heart of the region's transport network.

Future Vision Wakefield is a district with a proud heritage and a buoyant future, whose people are represented by forward-looking Wakefield Council that has a vision for the future:-

"in ten years time, Wakefield will be a distinctive, vibrant city at the heart of the district's economy with a skilled workforce, making a real contribution to the prosperity and diversity of the Yorkshire and Humber region.

The city will be a place for people, with a strong public transport system allowing quick and convenient access to and around the city and surrounding neighbourhoods.

Wakefield will be a thriving commercial centre presenting distinctive retail areas, modern office accommodation, a range of quality residential opportunities and a mix of excellent leisure opportunities."

The City Wakefield city is a historic seat of regional government in Yorkshire and for two centuries provided the county headquarters of the West Riding of Yorkshire. Today the city retains its strong tradition of public service employment with the headquarters of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, the Yorkshire and Humber regional assembly and the West Yorkshire Police located at its heart within the civic quarter.

Public sector presence extends to the health service including the headquarters of the West Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

The District Wakefield district covers some 350 square kilometres and is home to 315,000 people in a diverse range of city, urban and rural communities, and an amalgam of what were previously 14 different local authorities.

The north west includes Horbury, Ossett, Wrenthorpe, Stanley and Altofts, while Normanton, Castleford, Pontefract, Knottingley, Featherstone and a host of smaller settlements make up the five towns. In the south east, there are the towns of Hemsworth, South Kirkby and South Elmsall as well as other communities. Image:WakefieldCathedral_small-1-.jpg

Some 70 per cent of the rural communities of the district is designated as green belt. Dotted about the rolling countryside are villages like Middlestown, Crigglestone, Crofton, Woolley and Ackworth.

Wakefield Council and its partner organisations in the Wakefield District Partnership are making great strides in bringing new life to the old mining communities of the south east. Major achievements have already been made in reclaiming former colliery sites for both leisure and industrial use.

Wakefield has a lot to offer. It has a rich industrial heritage which visitors can experience at the National Coal Mining museum. It is known for its lively nightlife. The District itself is made up of the City and it's Five Towns, Castleford, Horbury, Normanton, Ossett and Pontefract.

Get in

By air

There are three airports that are general seen as accessible from Wakefield, [http://www.robinhoodairport.com Doncaster/Sheffield Airport] ; [http://www.lbia.co.uk Leeds Bradford International Airport]and [http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk Manchester Airport] which is the best airport for non-european flights. However, access to London by train means that Wakefield is accessible from all of the major London airports.

By rail

Wakefield is served by the East Coast Mainline through Wakefield Westgate & a second station Wakefield Kirkgate is also accessible from Leeds, Sheffield and Barnsley.

[http://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com/ National Express East Coast]

[http://www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk/ East Midland Trains]

[http://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/ Arriva Cross Country Trains]

[http://www.northernrail.org Northern Rail]

By coach

Wakefield is served extensively by [http://www.nationalexpress.com National Express].

By ferry

Wakefield is accessible from Rotterdam and Zeebrugge and is approximately 1hr travel time by car from the UK point of arrival at Kingston Upon Hull, the service is operated by [http://www.poferries.com P&O Ferries]. If travelling by coach change in Leeds. If travelling by train change in Doncaster or Leeds.

Get around

Local bus services are provided by [http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/ Arriva] and [http://www.stagecoachbus.com/yorkshire/ Stagecoach].

'''Wakefield Free City Bus'''

A free city bus service provided by Metro and the Council is available in the city centre.

The bus operates throughout the day on a circular route linking the two train stations, the bus station and the main shopping areas:-

Bus Station > The Springs > Kirkgate Station > Ings Road Retail Park > Westgate Retail Park > Westgate Station > Westgate > Bus Station

More information (including a downloadable route map) is available at the Metro website (see Related Link)

(http://www.wymetro.com/BusTravel/070207.htm)

See

  • '''The Cathedral'''. One of the best buildings to see in the city.
  • '''Nostell Priory''', [http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-nostellpriory]. 18th Century Stately House.
  • '''Sandal Castle''', [http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/CultureAndLeisure/HistoricWakefield/Highlights/Castles/Sandal/default.htm]. The castle grounds are open from dawn until dusk. The Visitor Centre's opening hours are: Summer - M-Su 11AM - 4.30PM, Winter - 11AM-4PM, Sa,Su only.
  • '''Pontefract Castle''', [http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/CultureAndLeisure/HistoricWakefield/Highlights/Castles/PontefractCastle/default.htm]. Open from M-F 8.30AM-dusk, Sa,Su 10.30AM-dusk.
  • '''The Orangery''', [http://www.beam.uk.net/]. The Exhibition & Resource Areas are open to the public, Monday-Friday, 10AM?4PM.
  • ''' National Coal Mining Museum ''', [http://www.ncm.org.uk/museum_history.asp].
  • ''' The Yorkshire Sculpture Park ''', [http://www.ysp.co.uk/view.asp?id=1].
  • ''' Wakefield Art Gallery''', [http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/CultureAndLeisure/Galleries/WakefieldArtGallery/Default.htm].
  • Theatre & Comedy

  • ''' Wakefield Theatre Royal''', [http://www.wakefieldtheatre.co.uk].
  • ''' Cineworld located in both Wakefield and Castleford''', [http://www.cineworld.co.uk/jahia/Jahia/pid/1].
  • Do

    '''Westgate run''' Famous in the north of England for its weekend nightlife with numerous late night bars, fast food jounts and a number of nightclubs all within 400 metres to the city centre. The 'Westgate Run' is a pub crawl commencing at 'The Redoubt' pub, and finishing in the town centre having taken in perhaps a dozen pubs along the way.

    Parks & Countryside

  • ''' Pugney's Country Park''', [http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/CultureAndLeisure/ParksAndNatureConservation/Parks/PugneysCountryPark/default.htm].
  • '''The Heronry & Anglers Country Park''', [http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/CultureAndLeisure/ParksAndNatureConservation/Parks/Anglers/default.htm]
  • ''' Newmillerdam Country Park''', [http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/CultureAndLeisure/ParksAndNatureConservation/Parks/Newmillerdam/default.htm].
  • ''' Pontefract Park''', [http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/CultureAndLeisure/ParksAndNatureConservation/Parks/PontefractPark/default.htm].
  • ''' Thornes Park''', [http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/CultureAndLeisure/ParksAndNatureConservation/Parks/ThornesPark/default.htm].
  • Sport

    Wakefield prides itself on the game of rugby, especially Rugby League, with three teams in the five towns area.

  • ''' Wakefield FC(Football}''', [http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/wakefieldfc/].
  • ''' Castleford Tigers (Rugby League}''', [http://www.castigers.com].
  • ''' Featherstone Rover {Rugby League}''', [http://www.featherstonerovers.net].
  • ''' Wakefield Wildcats (Rugby League}''', [http://www.wildcatsrl.com].
  • Buy

  • [http://www.ridingscentre.com Ridings Shopping Centre]: Great shopping mall for almost everything you need!
  • [http://www.iwestyorkshire.co.uk/profile/80388/Wakefield/HMV-UK-Ltd/ HMV]: for CDs & DVDs
  • Eat

  • The Harewood Arms. 01 Kirkgate. 1924 201321. ood served Mon - Sat 11:30 - 14:30 Sunday 12:00 - 15.00. heharewoodarms@googlemail.com.

    The Harewood Arms quietly prides itself on being one of the best, in both quality, quantity and value, home cooked traditional "pub grub" venues in Wakefield. The regular menu covers all the usuals and check the special boards for fabulous "home cooked" tasty meals. Sundays can get especially busy but believe me it's worth it!!!

    '''Prego Pizzaria''' url="http://www.pregopizzeria.co.uk/"></eat>

    '''Applebees''' 15 Commons Corner Way South Kingstown RI 02879 phone 4017824578

  • Brewed Awakenings. 60 South County Commons Way, Wakefield RI 2879 phone"4017830496

  • Lickety Splits 366 South County Commons Way Unity C4 South Kingstown Ri 02879 4017894035

  • Shogun II, Japanese Restaurant 59 South County Commons Plaza Wakefield Ri 02879 4012841309 www.shogunri.com

    Drink

  • The Harewood Arms. 01 Kirkgate, Wakefield, WF1 1JG. 1924 201321. heharewoodarms@googlemail.com.

    Sleep

    Budget

  • Days Hotel. ryers Way. ust of M1, Jct. 40. ttp://www.dayshotelwakefield.co.uk/.

  • Express by Holiday Inn. enby Dale Road. ct.39. 4-1924-257555. bhi_wakefield@btinternet.com. 4-1924-249888. ttp://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ex/925/en/hd/wkeuk.

  • Premier Travel Inn - Wakefield Central. enby Dale Road. 8701 977 257. 1924 373620. ttp://www.premiertravelinn.com/pti/hotelInformation.do?hotelId=24002.

  • Premier Travel Inn - Wakefield City North. erriot Way. aragon Business Park. 870 850 6302. 870 850 6303. ttp://www.premiertravelinn.com/pti/hotelInformation.do?hotelId=24849.

    Mid range

  • Best Western Waterton Hall Hotel. ttp://www.bestwestern.co.uk/content/hotel-details-leisure.aspx?hotel=83388.

    Splurge

    Get out