Pontefract is a historic market town in the metropolitan borough of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England, famous for its centuries‑old liquorice industry and the eponymous "Pontefract cakes" – small, soft liquorice sweets once made from locally grown root. The town is dominated by the dramatic ruins of Pontefract Castle, a once‑formidable medieval fortress linked to the imprisonment and death of Richard II and to several sieges during the Civil War, and it also hosts the well‑regarded Pontefract Racecourse.
Traditionally a market and coal‑mining centre, Pontefract has evolved into a mixed economy with retail, light industry and commuter links; it still runs a lively market and local events. Transport is notable for having three local stations – Pontefract Monkhill, Pontefract Tanshelf and Pontefract Baghill – giving convenient rail connections into the wider West Yorkshire and beyond.
Postcode districts covering Pontefract
Most populated places nearby
- Sheffield 22.7 miles
- Leeds 12.5 miles
- Bradford 19.9 miles
- York 20.5 miles
- Huddersfield 20.2 miles
- Rotherham 18.2 miles
- Doncaster 14.1 miles
- Wakefield 8.3 miles
- Harrogate 22.9 miles
- Halifax 23.4 miles
- Barnsley 11 miles
- Castleford 2.7 miles
Neighbouring places
- Pontefract North Ward 0.4 miles
- Pontefract South Ward 1.6 miles
- Darrington Built-up area 2 miles
- Featherstone Built-up area 2.1 miles
- Holmfield Built-up area 2.3 miles
- Airedale and Ferry Fryston Ward 2.4 miles
- Knottingley Built-up area 2.5 miles
- Castleford Central and Glasshoughton Ward 2.5 miles
- East Hardwick Parish 2.5 miles
- High Ackworth Built-up area 2.6 miles
- Castleford Built-up area 2.7 miles
- Brotherton Built-up area 2.9 miles
Example postcodes in Pontefract
WF8 4LW, WF8 2LZ, WF8 2QF, WF8 2DS, WF8 2WQ, WF8 1NE, WF8 2UP, WF8 2EG, WF8 4EW … See all
Transport links
- Leeds Bradford International Airport 18.8 miles
- Doncaster Sheffield Airport 19 miles
- Pontefract Baghill Railway Station 0.2 miles
- Pontefract Tanshelf Railway Station 0.5 miles
Hotels near Pontefract Ad
- Kings Croft Hotel 1 mile
- Premier Inn Pontefract North 3 1.6 miles
- Premier Inn Castleford Xscape 3 1.9 miles
- Wentbridge House Hotel 4 3.3 miles
- ibis Wakefield East-Castleford 3 3.6 miles
- Host & Stay | Joffre Avenue 2.4 miles
- The Darrington 3 2.3 miles
- Rogerthorpe Manor Hotel 4 4.1 miles
- Oulton Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort 4 7.2 miles
- Waterton Park Hotel 4 6.9 miles
Schools in Pontefract
- Carleton High School Secondary
- Carleton Park Junior and Infant School Primary
- De Lacy Primary School Primary
- Halfpenny Lane Junior Infant and Nursery School Primary
- Holy Family and St Michael's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy Primary
- Larks Hill Junior and Infant School Primary
- New College Pontefract Further education
- Orchard Head Junior and Infant and Nursery School Primary
- St Giles C of E Academy Primary
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract Primary
- The King's School Secondary
- The Rookeries Carleton Junior and Infant School Primary
Local points of interest
- Pontefract Racecourse Recreation 1.2 miles
- Fairnurn Ings Nature reserve 3.7 miles
- Nostell Priory Country house 4.3 miles
- Stanley Library Library 7.1 miles
- Hampole Priory Historic site 7.7 miles
- Outwood Library Library 8.2 miles
- Pugneys Country Park Nature reserve 8.4 miles
- Oakwell Stadium 11.6 miles
- Saw Wood Forest 11.7 miles
- Trinity Leeds Shopping centre 12.2 miles
- Elland Road Stadium 12.4 miles
- Cusworth Hall Museum Museum 12.4 miles