Top 8 free activities for Wakefield families this spring
If you’re looking for a fun day out with your family this summer, the Wakefield district has got you covered.
By Leanne Clarke
Published 23rd Mar 2022, 10:44 BST
Updated 23rd Mar 2022, 11:12 BST
From outdoor walks and sports, to history and heritage, these top eight free activities will ensure your spring is packed full to the brim.
Coun Michael Graham, Cabinet Member or Culture. Leisure and Sport at Wakefield Council, said: “Our district is a great place and has lots of free places to visit, which is great for families at weekends and over the holidays.”
The Hepworth Wakefield Garden, designed by internationally acclaimed landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith, is a beautifully landscaped garden free for all to enjoy. As well as Stuart-Smith’s distinctive planting, there are outdoor sculptures by Sir Michael Craig-Martin and Barbara Hepworth. Two of Hepworth’s first public commissions have been reunited for the first time in 70 years in The Hepworth Wakefield Garden and The Hepworth Wakefield Garden Café is also now open daily 11am – 3pm, serving take away hot and cold drinks, fresh cakes and snacks.
The Art House provides time, space and support for artists, makers and creative businesses to develop their practice. It is a place where artists and audiences of all kinds are welcome to engage with the creative process through a year-round programme of exhibitions and events. From 30 March to 5 June, explore Mohammad Barrangi’s Dreamland exhibition most comprehensive solo exhibition featuring his large-scale murals as well as revealing his first-ever sculptural works, using pioneering 3D-printing technology. Then from 25 May - 17 July, Sam Metz, known for their highly engaging and profound projects that raise awareness of important issues surrounding disabled bodies and societal restrictions, will share their recent project which translates and shares the experiences of being a disabled neurodivergent performer.
For over 1,000 years people have gathered in this holy place to offer their prayers and praise. A historic gem is located in the heart of the city. Not only is the Cathedral one of the UK’s most magnificent churches, it also has the tallest spire in Yorkshire – stretching up some 247ft (even higher than York Minster) it dominates our city’s skyline. As impressive as it is on the outside, Wakefield Cathedral (or the Cathedral Church of All Saints) also reveals an awe-inspiring interior, perfect for an afternoon of wandering and marvelling with little ones. Inside a colossal space is filled with historic artifacts. It also boasts the world’s most complete collection of stained glass by the renowned designer Charles Kempe. An oasis in the bustling city, Wakefield Cathedral offers a space of peace and tranquillity. It also hosts a programme of events and concerts throughout the year. Photo: Wakefield Council
Located in the historic market town of Pontefract, from its construction in 1070 to its demise following the Civil Wars, this once-fearsome fortress dominated Yorkshire and beyond, bearing witness to some of England’s most momentous historical events earning itself the name of the Key to the North! Today, the castle is a place of family-friendly adventure, with wide open spaces to explore and play, and fascinating ruins to investigate. Ignite your imagination as you explore the pathways and take in some of the imposing stonework. Climb to the top of the keep and see the surrounding Yorkshire countryside, and visit the castle gift shop for a colourful range of souvenirs, gifts, books and ice creams.
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