Tucked Next To Leeds Is England's Ex-Mining City With Historic Charm, Tasty Eats, And Scenic Parks

Like most of Great Britain, Wakefield is awash with ancient history like preserved medieval buildings, beautiful parkland to explore, and delicious food, from pub grub to upscale dining. Its roots stretch back to prehistoric times with ancient barrows (ancient burial mounds), through the industrial age with coal mining remnants that can be seen about the city, and into the modern age with the ubiquitous neighborhood Nando's.

Locals from Leeds can drive south for less than half an hour to reach this charming, historic city. Those arriving from further afield can arrive by train at Wakefield Kirkgate Station or Wakefield Westgate Station. International visitors can land at Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) and then do the 40-minute drive or grab a connecting bus or taxi to the train station and take the train to Wakefield, with views of bucolic hedgerows and farms along the way.

Wakefield's industrial mining history goes back to the late 1700s, but local coal use itself dates back to the days of Roman settlement, according to Wakefield Education Services, which also states that 13th-century monks mined it for their uses. Just outside the city is the National Coal Mining Museum, which covers the most recent 180 years of coal mining in Wakefield and the whole of the United Kingdom. It's surprisingly intriguing, with a local Google guide sharing that it has excellently constructed displays, good hospitality and a brilliant trip 450 feet (140 meters) below the surface. (Note that underground tours on on pause at the moment, so make sure you have one booked before showing up.)

Wakefield has historic buildings almost everywhere you look, like the 1,000-year-old Wakefield Cathedral. Locals on the nearby A61 motorway often drive right by the Chantry Chapel during their daily commute, which, according to Experience Wakefield, is one of the last three chantry chapels — small enclosures donors would buy so the priests could sing daily Masses for the founder's soul — still standing in England. Residents fiercely protect their city's historic charm, with the BBC reporting that one of Wakefield's oldest buildings, The Old Vicarage, was saved from demolition due to local protest, and the Wakefield Civic Society regularly reviews planning documents filed with the city to ensure a new development idea doesn't interfere with its architectural heritage. And if that's the part of Wakefield you enjoy, you should take a jaunt to the UNESCO-designated treasure Saltaire less than an hour away. 

If it weren't for such passion, one might be forgiven for thinking locals take their historic buildings for granted as they casually nosh on tasty eats at places like the comparatively new Holmfield Arms Hotel. Once an 1800s estate, it offers modern rooms and a wide variety of comfort food at quite reasonable prices. The restaurant's food and service receives glowing reviews. One customer on Tripadvisor even raved, "Food was lovely. Good timing and overall experience was lovely. Ellis our server was brilliant and had so much time for us!"

And if you've never tried Eritrean or Abyssinian cuisine, Corarima would be a delightful introduction. It caters to various dietary needs and has a 5-star rating with over 400 reviews. For something more upscale, Iris Restaurant has a Wednesday steak menu as well as beautifully crafted desserts, though it does require reservations. The quality comes at affordable prices, too, with a Google reviewer stating that the "food is incredible and the set 3 course meal at £32 is incredible value for money." (Note that prices and menu options may be different when you visit, though.)

Gorgeous scenic parks are scattered all over Wakefield, with Castle Grove Park being within walking distance of the ruins of Sandal Castle. Any day or time, you can stroll tree-lined paths or enjoy the playgrounds. When you're done, traipse over to the castle, a place the University of Leeds says was a focal point of the Wars of the Roses, during which Richard of York fell. Its ease of access and educational tidbits were much appreciated by one Tripadvisor reviewer, who advised it was "Easy to park close by and free to enter. Easy to walk around and good signage to explain [what] you're seeing." Castle lovers would also enjoy the much more intact Skipton Castle in the Yorkshire market town of Skipton, an hour away.

A short distance from these castle ruins lies Pugney's Country Park, which is also free to enter. Its calm, idyllic lake is perfect to stroll next to after a treat at the park's Boat House Café or a weekend ride on Pugney's Light Railway, a passenger-carrying mini train for the whole family.

For a truly scenic park, the Walton Colliery Nature Park will have you strolling along paths, winding through tall grasses and wooded areas and around calm ponds, where ducks frolic and swim. It's hard to believe that this beautiful protected area was once a coal-mining site! Like the other parks, it is always open and is free to visit. For an even larger park full of natural beauty, see the breathtaking vistas at Yorkshire Dales National Park a little over an hour north of Wakefield.