Wakefield Central

Wakefield Central sits at the heart of Wakefield on the north bank of the River Calder. The centre is anchored by Wakefield Westgate station and the Ridings Shopping Centre, with Wakefield Market and a network of streets such as Westgate and Kirkgate linking retail and civic uses. Municipal buildings including Wakefield One and County Hall are within walking distance of the cathedral precinct. Cathedral Street leads to Wakefield Cathedral and the cathedral yard, where regular markets and community events take place and where pedestrian routes meet public transport hubs.

The riverside shapes much of the central area. The Hepworth Wakefield gallery occupies a converted industrial site on the south bank of the Calder and is named after sculptor Barbara Hepworth; large-scale works and rotating exhibitions draw visitors across the river. The Theatre Royal and smaller live-music venues host performances through the year. Towpaths along the Calder and the Calder and Hebble Navigation provide moorings and walks that connect parks, civic spaces and shopping streets, giving the centre a clear riverside grain and a mix of cultural, retail and municipal activity.