Wakefield sits in the Calder Valley in West Yorkshire, with the River Calder running through its centre and the ruins of Sandal Castle nearby, the scene of the 1460 Battle of Wakefield. Historically it grew as a market town and an industrial centre for wool and coal, and you can still see that heritage in former mill buildings and mining communities around the district.
Today Wakefield has been reinventing itself with cultural draws like Hepworth Wakefield and Wakefield Cathedral, a lively theatre scene and a strong rugby league presence, while its economy has shifted towards services, retail and creative industries. Good rail and road links make commuting to Leeds and York easy, so the city mixes urban regeneration with the character of former industrial neighbourhoods.
Postcode districts covering Wakefield
Most populated places nearby
- Sheffield 21.3 miles
- Leeds 8.6 miles
- Bradford 12.9 miles
- Huddersfield 11.9 miles
- Rotherham 18.2 miles
- Doncaster 19.6 miles
- Harrogate 21.6 miles
- Halifax 15.4 miles
- Barnsley 8.4 miles
- Castleford 7.2 miles
- Morley 6.2 miles
- Dewsbury 5 miles
Neighbouring places
- Wakefield North Ward 0.6 miles
- Wakefield West Ward 0.8 miles
- Wakefield East Ward 1 mile
- Wrenthorpe and Outwood West Ward 1.7 miles
- Wakefield South Ward 1.8 miles
- Heath Built-up area 1.9 miles
- Kirkhamgate Built-up area 2.2 miles
- Horbury and South Ossett Ward 2.3 miles
- Warmfield cum Heath Parish 2.4 miles
- Horbury Built-up area 2.5 miles
- Stanley and Outwood East Ward 2.6 miles
- Crigglestone and Durkar Built-up area 2.6 miles
Example postcodes in Wakefield
WF2 9FE, WF3 4JN, WF1 9UP, WF2 7QA, WF1 5QN, WF1 5AY, WF3 3TH, WF3 4HF, WF1 1RF … See all
Transport links
- Leeds Bradford International Airport 14.2 miles
- Doncaster Sheffield Airport 24.8 miles
- Wakefield Westgate Railway Station 0.2 miles
- Wakefield Kirkgate Railway Station 0.8 miles
Hotels in Wakefield Ad
- Holiday Inn Express Wakefield 3
- Holiday Inn Leeds-Wakefield M1 Jct40 4
- Ramada by Wyndham Wakefield 3
- Marygate by Deuce Hotels Ltd
- York House Hotel 3
- Holmfield Arms
- Holmfield Arms
- Elephant and Castle
- Wakefield South (M1, Jct39) 3
- Premier Inn Wakefield South 3
Schools in Wakefield
- Alverthorpe St Paul's C of E (VA) School 3-11yrs Primary
- English Martyrs Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy Primary
- Hall Cliffe Primary School Independent - special
- Heart of Yorkshire Education Group Further education
- Jerry Clay Academy Primary
- Kettlethorpe High School Secondary
- Meadowcroft School Independent - special
- Newton Hill Community School Primary
- Outwood Academy City Fields Secondary
- Outwood Grange Academy Secondary
- Outwood Primary Academy Ledger Lane Primary
- Outwood Primary Academy Lofthouse Gate Primary
- Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Independent - all ages
- Rooks Nest Academy Primary
- Sandal Magna Community Academy Primary
- St Austin's Catholic Primary School Primary
- Stanley Grove Primary and Nursery Academy Primary
- Stanley St Peters C of E Voluntary Controlled Primary School Primary
- The Mount Junior Infant & Nursery School Primary
- … See all
Local points of interest
- Pugneys Country Park Nature reserve 1.7 miles
- Outwood Library Library 1.8 miles
- Stanley Library Library 2.6 miles
- Nostell Priory Country house 5.2 miles
- Elland Road Stadium 7.2 miles
- Pontefract Racecourse Recreation 7.3 miles
- Trinity Leeds Shopping centre 8.2 miles
- Oakwell Stadium 9 miles
- Fairnurn Ings Nature reserve 9.3 miles
- Kirklees Priory Historic site 9.4 miles
- Gotts Park Mansion Country house 9.4 miles
- Galpharm Stadium Stadium 10.8 miles