Best Museums in Wakefield

"The National Railway Museum is a world class museum dedicated to the glory days of Britain's railways. Opened in 1975 the museum is housed in a former steam locomotive depot within walking distance of York Station. The free museum displays over 100 locomotives and nearly 200 other items of rolling stock and presents the history of the railway from the early 19th century to the present day."

"Step inside the only bullet train outside of Japan, peer into royal carriages, and watch model trains chug around a small-scale landscape at the National Railway Museum. With over one million pieces of railway memorabilia—including steam locomotives and vintage posters—the museum provides an immersive insight into the British rail industry."

"As we detailed above the National Railway is a free display of Rail history for both England and the world. * While it is a free exhibition you are encouraged to make a donation towards the upkeep of the museum"

"The Jorvik Viking Centre is a historical visitor attraction in York displaying a reconstructed Viking city as it would have looked in approximately 975 AD. It features a selection of 40,000 well-preserved Viking items found by archaeologists between 1979 and 1981, and the remains of their city, once known as Jorvik. Excavations were undertaken by the York Archaeological Trust across the area now occupied by the Viking centre, and uncovered a wealth of information about the settlement that used to be there."

"First stop was probably the best-known attraction in York, the Jorvik Viking Centre. York was ruled by the Vikings for around a century, between the Roman and Norman periods, and evidence of their civilization is still being dug up to this day. A visit to the Jorvik Centre and memories of its authentically smelly mock-up village have been a rite of passage for British schoolchildren for years."

"Set on the site of a major Viking settlement, Jorvik Viking Centre whisks visitors back in time to ninth-century England. Glass floors reveal remnants of the original village uncovered by archaeologists in the 1970s, while a train ride takes passengers past detailed diorama-style displays that recreate typical scenes from Viking life—complete with animatronic figures, a soundtrack, and more."

"Part of the Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle, tie in a visit to the Henry Moore Institute with a walk around Leeds Art Gallery. The gallery is currently undergoing repairs to the roof and will reopen in October this year, when visitors will be treated to a series of interesting exhibits."

"The images in the Britain from the Air exhibition offer an exhilarating perspective of some of the UK’s most breathtaking and thought provoking landscapes and…"

"Offering a fascinating look into the everyday life of the English over the ages is the superb York Castle Museum. Built on the same site where the original York Castle once stood, the museum is in the south of the city center and has countless artifacts and exhibits to explore. While the museum was founded in 1938, its colossal collection is housed in various buildings that used to serve as a prison."

"York Castle, the city walls, and York Minster are some of the most popular destinations that will transport you to the past. At the end of the day, take a train westward to Liverpool."

"The Tetley is a gallery like no other as a former brewery that’s now become three floors of art and workshops. They showcase emerging artists and show their work to a wider audience, from cool prints to boundary-pushing, immersive installations. Over the years, they’ve presented work by the likes of Jonathan Trayte, Joseph Buckley and Dora García, as well as big shows that sees local artists come together to collaborate."

"Tetley Brewery's defunct 1930s offices have been converted into a contemporary-arts venue with a restaurant and pub on the ground floor, spilling out onto an outdoor terrace. Upstairs the old meeting rooms have..."

"Barley Hall is a timber framed medieval townhouse lying behind Stonegate, accessed by a narrow snicket. The 14th century house was concealed under the framework of a more modern building and was only discovered during renovation work in the 1980’s. Barley Hall, particularly its recreated banqueting hall, will provide visitors with an accurate experience of what life was like in medieval York."

"Barley Hall is a (somewhat controversial) restored medieval townhouse and hospice dating from 1386. The building was built by the monks of Nostell Priory and was once home to the Lord Mayor of York. The house is decorated to recall the late 15th century home of William Snawsell."

"Dominating the city centre is Trinity Leeds, an almost labyrinthine collection of the biggest shopping brands Leeds has to offer. The shopping centre opened in 2013, bringing the former Trinity and Buton Arcades under one shiny glass roof and redeveloping the Leeds Shopping Plaza into Trinity West. The is also home to the Everyman Cinema and a range of restaurants, plus Trinity Kitchen, a street-food-style food court with regular pop-up eateries and a proescco bar."

"Trinity Leeds is a big shopping centre located in the heart of Leeds. Available from Mondays to Sundays, they are open to cater to the different needs of all shoppers across the town. With over 120 shops, you would certainly have an enjoyable time shopping for clothes, shoes, accessories and other articles that are good for men, women and children."

"A Leeds fixture for decades, St Johns has three entrances, two levels and is home to the Post Office and Poundland. Step inside and you’ll find over thirty eateries and shops, the location making it an ideal spot to pick up some essentials or something to eat during your lunch break if you work nearby. Get your nails refreshed at Magic Nails, your eyebrows threaded at Browline and grab a culture fix at the branch of HMV on the lower floor."

"Though it is not creating as much loud as other shopping centres in Leeds, St Johns Centre has been serving its regular segment of customers for many generations. It established in the year 1985 and now possesses more than 30 stores spread across two floors. St Johns Centre features few of the famous brands like Poundland, Card Factory, Stampede and Taco Bell."

"There’s good reason why Bradfordians are so welcoming of the building site currently taking up the eastern side of the city centre. After much of the area was razed to the ground several years ago to make way for a new development, the proposed shopping centre was abandoned amid the recession. With the loss of the city’s nerve centre and the subsequent proliferation of pound shops, the derelict site poignantly become known as “the hole in the heart”."

"A few minutes’ walk away from the museum is Bradford’s newest shopping centre, with 70 shops and eateries under one roof. Visit the Broadway Bradford website"

"One of Leeds’ most recent retail parks, everything at The Springs in Thorpe Park feels shiny and new. Get your shop on at Boots, The Range and EE, while there’s an M&S Foodhall too. H&M, JD, Card Factory, The Works, The Entertainer, Mountain Warehouse, Next, TK Maxx – it’s a place that covers a lot of ground."

"When to go: When you fancy something quick, casual and can’t decide so visit more than one. What to have: The buttermilk fried chicken burgers from Clucking Oinks are unbeatable. Wash one down with an ice-cold can of craft beer from resident bar Piccadilly Tap."

"Community project and social destination supporting independent businesses. Inside you’ll find street food vendors, bars, retailers, beauty, holistic therapy, a co-working hub, arts studio and events space. We are family friendly and dogs are welcome."

"Spark:York is proud to always offer an eclectic mix of food and drink from around the world. Showcasing a fantastic range of local and independent businesses. Enjoy a deliciously fruity peach bellini served by the piano at Bohemian Bar."