Wakefield

Wakefield has a very large range of cultural attractions: one of Europe's foremost sculpture parks, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, what was to have been the Duke of York's stronghold in the North, Sandal Castle, the nearby National Coal Mining Museum for England, a town-centre art gallery and a museum.

The Yorkshire Sculpture Park is an open-air art organisation on 500 acres and shows work by UK and international artists. Opening times are seasonal but typically the grounds are open 10:00 to 17:00 with indoor galleries open 11:00 to 15:00 during exhibitions. It is a beautiful place to walk and enjoy the outdoors. Bring the children and the dog, as both are welcome in the outside parks.

Sandal Castle is a ruins on the edge of town. It was first built in the 12th century and finished in the 13th century. It has fallen into decay since the 14th century, but is worthy of a visit to see the museum displays at Sandal Castle Visitor Centre and Wakefield Museum about the history and artifacts found on the site. There is a vast area to let the children run and you can see a beautiful view of the town from the castle's site.

One place not to be missed is the National Coal Mining Museum for England. The National Coal Mining Museum for England on the site of the old Caphouse Colliery, a mine worked from at least 1789 until the seam was exhausted in 1985. The museum offers guided underground tours where visitors can see the conditions miners worked in and the tools and machines they used as the industry and the mine developed through the years. Visitors are able to travel 140 metres underground down one of Britain 's oldest working mines. As this is a real coal mine warm clothes and sensible flat shoes are recommended, and all children must be accompanied by an adult. For children under 5, there is an indoor play area. The underground tour of the mine has models and machinery to show methods used and conditions endured by the miners from the early 1800's to the present. Each visitor is provided with a hat, belt and battery to go down in to the mine. The underground tour truly makes you respect what these early miners did. The museum also features a gallery to show visitors what the home life of the miners was like as well as to feature the lives of the staff who stayed on the surface and provided support to the miners. The museum features many interactive displays to teach adults and children about these hardworking people. Children can feed and pet the pit ponys who are of the same type used in the mines many years ago. Admission is completely free and hours are from 10AM to 17.00 and is open all days except December 24th, 25th, 26th and January 1.

www.flickr.com

See a Map of Wakefield