The ruins of Sandal Castle and its visitor centre are open to the public, overlooking the Pugneys Country Park.

The Theatre Royal Wakefield on Westgate, designed by architect Frank Matcham opened in 1894 as the Opera House, and currently presents a programme of entertainment including musicals, drama, live music, stand up comedy and dance.

Wakefield's two central libraries moved into the £31 million Wakefield One in October 2012.
The new library was officially opened by singer Jarvis Cocker on 10 November 2012.
Wakefield Museum moved from the former Mechanics' Institute on Wood Street to Wakefield One at the same time.
The museum was officially opened by Sir David Attenborough on 9 March 2013.

Balne Lane library managed a regional collection of more than 500,000 items of music and 90,000 copies of plays for Yorkshire Libraries & Information (YLI).
The Yorkshire Music and Drama Library at Balne Lane closed on 31 March 2012 when the music section moved to Huddersfield and the drama section to Leeds.

In May 2011  the Hepworth Wakefield gallery opened on the south bank of the River Calder near Wakefield Bridge, displaying work by local artists Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore and other British and international artists.
The gallery is thought to be the largest purpose-built gallery to open in the United Kingdom since 1968.

Wakefield's three adjoining parks have a history dating back to 1893 when Clarence Park opened on land near Lawe Hill.
The adjacent Holmefield Estate was acquired in 1919, followed by Thornes House in 1924, becoming Holmefield Park and Thornes Park respectively.
The three parks form Wakefield Park to the south west of the city.
Clarence Park Music Festival is held annually in Clarence Park, promoting local bands.

Wakefield's newspaper, the Wakefield Express, was founded in 1852.
Another newspaper, the Wakefield Guardian was established in 2007, but has ceased publishing.
Wakefield's radio station, Ridings FM, was founded in 1999.

Two children's nursery rhymes with Wakefield connections are "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush" which may have been sung by women inmates at Wakefield prison.
and
"The Grand Old Duke of York" which may allude to the Battle of Wakefield in 1460, referring to Richard Plantagenet, the 3rd Duke of York.
 The lyrics of the popular hymn "Onward Christian Soldiers" were written at St Peter's Church in nearby Horbury.

Wakefield is known as the capital of the Rhubarb Triangle, an area notable for growing early forced rhubarb.
In July 2005 a sculpture was erected to celebrate this facet of Wakefield, and there is an annual 'Wakefield Festival of Food, Drink and Rhubarb" which takes place over the last weekend in February.

The West Riding Registry of Deeds on Newstead Road is the headquarters of the West Yorkshire Archive Service, housing records from the former West Riding and West Yorkshire counties, and is the record office for the Wakefield Metropolitan District.

In 1913 Albert Winstanley opened the Picture House cinema in Westgate.
Shortly after opening it was renamed the Playhouse, and by 1972 it was part of the Classic cinema chain.
It is now a nightclub.
In 1935 Associated British Cinemas (ABC) opened the Regal Cinema in Kirkgate.
The Art Deco building was renamed the ABC in 1962 and became a Cannon in 1986.
Cineworld's first purpose-built multiplex in Britain opened in Wakefield in December 1996.
The ABC closed in 1997 and has remained derelict, but there have been successive proposals to redevelop or demolish it.

The National Coal Mining Museum for England (an Anchor Point of ERIH, The European Route of Industrial Heritage), the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Nostell Priory are within the Wakefield metropolitan area, as is Walton Hall, a Georgian mansion set in what was the world's first nature reserve, created by the explorer Charles Waterton; the house is now a hotel.

A small part of the 1977 BBC film The Price of Coal was filmed in Wakefield with the Mines Rescue Team based in the city.
 The end credits of the film give special thanks to the team.

The city is also supposed to b
The ruins of Sandal Castle and its visitor centre are open to the public, overlooking the Pugneys Country Park. 
The Theatre Royal Wakefield on Westgate, designed by architect Frank Matcham opened in 1894 as the Opera House, and currently presents a programme of entertainment including musicals, drama, live music, stand up comedy and dance.
Wakefield's two central libraries moved into the £31 million Wakefield One in October 2012. The new library was officially opened by singer Jarvis Cocker on 10 November 2012. Wakefield Museum moved from the former Mechanics' Institute on Wood Street to Wakefield One at the same time. The museum was officially opened by Sir David Attenborough on 9 March 2013.
Balne Lane library managed a regional collection of more than 500,000 items of music and 90,000 copies of plays for Yorkshire Libraries & Information (YLI). The Yorkshire Music and Drama Library at Balne Lane closed on 31 March 2012 when the music section moved to Huddersfield and the drama section to Leeds.
In May 2011  the Hepworth Wakefield gallery opened on the south bank of the River Calder near Wakefield Bridge, displaying work by local artists Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore and other British and international artists. The gallery is thought to be the largest purpose-built gallery to open in the United Kingdom since 1968.
Wakefield's three adjoining parks have a history dating back to 1893 when Clarence Park opened on land near Lawe Hill. The adjacent Holmefield Estate was acquired in 1919, followed by Thornes House in 1924, becoming Holmefield Park and Thornes Park respectively. The three parks form Wakefield Park to the south west of the city. Clarence Park Music Festival is held annually in Clarence Park, promoting local bands.
Wakefield's newspaper, the Wakefield Express, was founded in 1852. Another newspaper, the Wakefield Guardian was established in 2007, but has ceased publishing. Wakefield's radio station, Ridings FM, was founded in 1999.
Two children's nursery rhymes with Wakefield connections are "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush" which may have been sung by women inmates at Wakefield prison. and
"The Grand Old Duke of York" which may allude to the Battle of Wakefield in 1460, referring to Richard Plantagenet, the 3rd Duke of York.  The lyrics of the popular hymn "Onward Christian Soldiers" were written at St Peter's Church in nearby Horbury.
Wakefield is known as the capital of the Rhubarb Triangle, an area notable for growing early forced rhubarb. In July 2005 a sculpture was erected to celebrate this facet of Wakefield, and there is an annual 'Wakefield Festival of Food, Drink and Rhubarb" which takes place over the last weekend in February.
The West Riding Registry of Deeds on Newstead Road is the headquarters of the West Yorkshire Archive Service, housing records from the former West Riding and West Yorkshire counties, and is the record office for the Wakefield Metropolitan District.
In 1913 Albert Winstanley opened the Picture House cinema in Westgate. Shortly after opening it was renamed the Playhouse, and by 1972 it was part of the Classic cinema chain. It is now a nightclub. In 1935 Associated British Cinemas (ABC) opened the Regal Cinema in Kirkgate. The Art Deco building was renamed the ABC in 1962 and became a Cannon in 1986. Cineworld's first purpose-built multiplex in Britain opened in Wakefield in December 1996. The ABC closed in 1997 and has remained derelict, but there have been successive proposals to redevelop or demolish it.
The National Coal Mining Museum for England (an Anchor Point of ERIH, The European Route of Industrial Heritage), the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Nostell Priory are within the Wakefield metropolitan area, as is Walton Hall, a Georgian mansion set in what was the world's first nature reserve, created by the explorer Charles Waterton; the house is now a hotel.
A small part of the 1977 BBC film The Price of Coal was filmed in Wakefield with the Mines Rescue Team based in the city.  The end credits of the film give special thanks to the team.
The city is also supposed to b
Wakefield