Culture Guides
Destination Guides
Seasonal Guides
West Yorkshire is a northern county particularly packed with cultural attractions, from the award-winning market town of Hebden Bridge on its western edge, to the incredible Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle in the east of the area. There’s so much going on in West Yorkshire, in fact, that we’ve dedicated two separate guides to Bradford in the north – including Ilkley and Saltaire – and to the wonderful city of Leeds. Here, though, we explore the siren call of Hebden Bridge, Halifax, Huddersfield and Wakefield, all of which call this great county their home.
Discover the thriving cultural scene in Hebden Bridge, driven by a tight-knit community and spanning the legendary Trades Club, Picture House, bustling market and annual arts festival. Explore Halifax, the former heart of the English wool trade, where the oldest remaining cloth hall in Europe has been transformed into a hub for heritage, shopping and culinary delights – or Shibden Hall, filming location for BBC One series Gentleman Jack. Or perhaps Huddersfield takes your fancy: why not, when the town is home to the UK’s largest international festival of contemporary music, an award-winning literature festival and the UK’s first eco spa. For more of the best things to do in West Yorkshire, including Wakefield‘s £35m art museum The Hepworth, and the outstanding locations in the surrounding area, read on.
The much-loved sculptor Jaume Plensa’s drawings are on display at Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s Weston Gallery and 18th century chapel, revealing his preoccupation with the human condition, and community.
A major exhibition of Robert Indiana’s sculptures and two-dimensional work will adorn the rolling hills and Underground Gallery of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
The West Riding Stonecarving Association is dedicated to keeping the art of hand-carving stone alive and bringing it to the general public.
This September, The Hepworth Wakefield is giving audiences the opportunity to experience the wonderfully colourful world of Jadé Fadojutimi.
The Hepworth Wakefield presents the work of Sheila Hicks, one of the world’s foremost artists working with textiles, fibre, colour and form.
Stop and spend an hour or two with this special creation, nestled within a stand of birch trees beside Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s Upper Lake.
Experience YBA artist Damien Hirst’s towering and provocative outdoor sculptures at Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
Table to Tide: A Yorkshire Conversation is Janine Burrows’ very intimate exhibition created especially for Yorkshire Sculpture park.
Emii Alrai will present a new commission at The Hepworth Wakefield that imitates archaeological artefacts and intertwines Iraqi oral histories and mythologies from the Middle East.
One of the most most important privately-owned collection of British Surrealism has found a permanent home at The Hepworth Wakefield.
A selection of curated spots showcasing the best local attractions, shops and tourism on offer in beautiful Hebden Bridge.
As well as being a great starting point for exploring West Yorkshire, Wakefield city centre is a cultural hot spot in its own right. Discover the best places to visit in our guide.
Surrounded by the Yorkshire countryside, Huddersfield is steeped in history and more than holds its own when it comes to arts and culture.
A destination for foodies, music-lovers and culture-seekers, Halifax is also home to some of the best-preserved Georgian and Victorian buildings in the North.