Attractions in West Yorkshire

Polly Checkland Harding Last Updated 24 May 2023

Encompassing Wakefield, Huddersfield, Halifax and Hebden Bridge, the county of West Yorkshire has not shortage of stand-out attractions, from National Trust properties Hardcastle Crags and Nostell Priory to landmark cultural venues such as £35m art museum The Hepworth and the recently reinvented Piece Hall. Community-focused ventures such as the Trades Club music venue and Picture House cinema can be found in Hebden Bridge, while Halifax‘s attractions span Eureka! The National Children’s Museum and magnificent historic house Shibden Hall. Huddersfield boasts an award-winning literature festival, while Wakefield‘s cultural hotspots spill out from the Cathedral and Theatre Royal in the city centre to Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Sandal Castle and the National Coal Mining Museum for England in the surrounding landscape. Read on to discover more.

Hardcastle Crags

Hardcastle Crags, Gibson Mill, Midgehole Road, Hebden Bridge, HX7 7AW - Visit now

Hardcastle Crags is a spectacular wooded valley with 19th-century Gibson Mill at its heart, once known as the ‘Switzerland of Yorkshire’.

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The Hepworth Wakefield

The Hepworth Wakefield, Gallery Walk, Wakefield, Yorkshire, WF1 5AW - Visit now

Winner of the world’s biggest museum prize, the 2017 Art Fund Museum of the Year Award, The Hepworth in Wakefield is a cultural highlight in West Yorkshire.

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Wakefield Cathedral

Wakefield Cathedral, Northgate, Wakefield, WF1 1HG - Visit now

Wakefield Cathedral is set in the heart of the city and strives to offer a warm welcome to all who live in Wakefield and beyond.

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The Piece Hall

The Piece Hall, The Piece Hall, Blackledge, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX1 1RE - Visit now

Think Somerset House meets one of the great historic squares of Europe for the North. The Piece Hall is the beating heart of Halifax.

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Shibden Hall

Shibden Hall, Lister's Road, Halifax, HX3 6XG - Visit now

Nestled within the picturesque Shibden Valley, Shibden Hall is a magnificent historic house dating back to 1420.

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Shibden Hall in Halifax — Image courtesy of Calderdale Museums/ Calderdale Council.

Hebden Bridge Picture House

Hebden Bridge Picture House, New Road, Hebden Bridge, HX7 8AD - Visit now

Hebden Bridge Picture House is a thriving, independent, not-for-profit cinema operated by Hebden Royd Town Council.

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Image courtesy HebdenBridge.org. Credit: Sarah Mason Photography.

Eureka! The National Children’s Museum

Eureka! The National Children’s Museum, Discovery Road, Halifax, HX1 2NE - Visit now

Eureka! is the UK’s only national children’s museum with a more immersive and interactive approach to traditional museums.

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The Victoria Theatre, Halifax

The Victoria Theatre, Halifax, Fountain Street, Halifax, HX1 1BP - Visit now

The Victoria Theatre sits within the Victorian architecture of Halifax town centre on the corner of Fountain Street and Commercial Street.

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Image courtesy of The Victoria Theatre, Halifax.

Hebden Bridge Market

Hebden Bridge Market, St. George's Square Car Park, Hebden Bridge, HX7 7BZ - Visit now

Hebden Bridge Market is open four days a week selling a medley of new goods, second-hand antiques, arts and crafts and local produce.

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Nostell Priory and Parkland

Nostell Priory and Parkland, Doncaster Road, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF4 1QE - Visit now

Nostell Priory and Parkland is an 18th-century architectural masterpiece surrounded by 300 acres of landscaped gardens and parkland.

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The Viaduct Theatre

The Viaduct Theatre, Dean Clough Mills, Dean Clough, Halifax, HX3 5AX - Visit now

Nestled deep underground beneath the Dean Clough Mills, The Viaduct Theatre is home to acclaimed theatre company Northern Broadsides.

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National Coal Mining Museum for England

National Coal Mining Museum for England, Caphouse Colliery, New Road, Overton, Wakefield, WF4 4RH - Visit now

National Coal Mining Museum for England keeps stories of coal mining alive with underground tours and thought-provoking exhibitions.

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Sandal Castle

Sandal Castle, Manygates Lane, Sandal, West Yorkshire, WF2 7DS - Visit now

The setting for one of Shakespeare’s plays, the ruins of Sandal Castle stand in a commanding position overlooking the Yorkshire countryside.

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The Art House, Wakefield

The Art House, Wakefield, Drury Lane, Wakefield, WF2 9DS - Visit now

With exhibition spaces, meeting rooms and a cafe, The Art House is a visual arts development agency and registered charity in Wakefield.

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The Art House, Wakefield — Courtesy of The Art House. Photo by Jules Lister

The Chantry Chapel of St Mary the Virgin

The Chantry Chapel of St Mary the Virgin, 3 Calder Vale Rd, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 5DL - Visit now

One of only three surviving bridge chapels in England, the Chantry Chapel of St Mary the Virgin is a fascinating Grade I listed building.

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Hebden Bridge Little Theatre

Hebden Bridge Little Theatre, Holme Street, Hebden Bridge, HX7 8EE - Visit now

Hebden Bridge Little Theatre is a small, dynamic and welcoming theatre group producing a programme of five plays annually.

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The Mental Health Museum

The Mental Health Museum, Fieldhead Hospital
Ouchthorpe Lane, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 3SP - Visit now

The Mental Health Museum in Wakefield is home to a variety of mental health–related artefacts from the 19th century to the present day.

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Pontefract Castle

Pontefract Castle, Castle Garth, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF8 1QH - Visit now

A valuable heritage site, the ruins of Pontefract Castle occupy a commanding position overlooking the historic market town of Pontefract.

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Wakefield Museum

Wakefield Museum, Burton Street, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 2EB - Visit now

The Wakefield Museum, situated in the Wakefield One building, is packed with local treasures and stories of people’s lives through history.

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Theatre Royal Wakefield

Theatre Royal Wakefield, 12 Drury Lane, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 2TE - Visit now

Hosting a mix of music, drama and comedy, The Theatre Royal Wakefield is a Victorian theatre with an important architectural heritage.

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Where to go in West Yorkshire

Huddersfield

Gallery

Huddersfield Art Gallery

Based in the town centre and easily accessible, Huddersfield Art Gallery is home to an extensive and stunning collection of paintings, drawings and sculptures.

West Yorkshire

Bar or Pub

The Blind Pig, Sowerby Bridge

This live-music speakeasy makes it own tradition. A cosy prohibition bar with cocktail teapots and vinyl DJs…

West Yorkshire

Gallery

Hope Gallery

Independent gallery based in Hebden Bridge.

West Yorkshire

Museum

Calderdale Industrial Museum

This engrossing Museum houses a four-floor collection of industrial machinery and artefacts, some of which are the only authentic models in the country.

West Yorkshire

Museum

Bankfield Museum

Situated in the beautiful gardens of Akroyd Park, Bankfield Museum is a grand Victorian villa with permanent exhibitions of textiles and costume, as well as varying temporary exhibitions also.

West Yorkshire

Theatre

Halifax Playhouse

One of West Yorkshire’s leading venues for live theatre.

West Yorkshire

Gallery

Open Gallery

A beautiful and varied collection of contemporary art from across the UK. Their regular exhibitions are both seasonal and thematic and always worth visiting…

Huddersfield

Restaurant

Smile Bar & Venue

Smile Bar & Venue lives up to its name as a lively ‘jack of all trades’ in Huddersfield.

Huddersfield

Gallery

AC Gallery

What was once, in the 1950s, a family ran art shop, has since evolved through the generations into a successful series of galleries across the north.

Huddersfield

Theatre

Chol Theatre and Arts

Chol Theatre are a powerfully creative company based in Huddersfield Yorkshire, but take their work all across the UK.

Wakefield

Music venue

Jock’s Cavern

High quality cocktails and vibrant live music is what makes Jocks Cavern so popular. This underground bar offers an intimate and effervescent atmosphere to indulge in their well-stocked bar.

Wakefield

Bar or Pub

Now Serving

In the heart of Wakefield this basement bar, ‘high end, low brow’ by their own description, remains a popular watering hole.

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West Yorkshire Visitor Guides

Hotels in West Yorkshire

Here’s our guide to the best hotels in the North East of England, including Hedben Bridge, Halifax, Huddersfield and Wakefield.

Walks in Huddersfield

Surrounded by the Yorkshire countryside, Huddersfield is steeped in history and holds its own when it comes to arts and culture. Our Walks in Huddersfield Guide takes in many of the sites plus some glorious green spaces and parks.

Walks in Wakefield

A round-up of the best walks in Wakefield, including the town centre, official tours and the surrounding area by Creative Tourist.

Walks in Halifax

A round-up of the best walks in Halifax – including the cultural sites, parks and surrounding countryside by Creative Tourist.

Walks in Hebden Bridge

A round-up of the best walks in Hebden Bridge, including the town centre, official tours and the surrounding area by Creative Tourist.

Shopping in West Yorkshire

Our guide to the best shops in West Yorkshire, including independents and markets in Hebden Bridge, Huddersfield, Halifax and Wakefield.

Food and Drink in West Yorkshire

Our guide to the best food and drink in West Yorkshire, featuring restaurants and bars in Huddersfield, Halifax, Hebden Bridge and Wakefield.

West Yorkshire District Guides

Things to do in Hebden Bridge

A selection of curated spots showcasing the best local attractions, shops and tourism on offer in beautiful Hebden Bridge.

Things to do in Wakefield

As well as being a great starting point for exploring West Yorkshire, Wakefield city centre is a cultural hot spot in its own right.

Things to do in Huddersfield

Surrounded by the Yorkshire countryside, Huddersfield is steeped in history and more than holds its own when it comes to arts and culture.

Things to do in Halifax

A destination for foodies, music-lovers and culture-seekers, Halifax is also home to some of the North’s best-preserved Georgian and Victorian buildings.