Wakefield to York drive: Distance, time & best stops

The best stops on the Wakefield to York drive are Leeds, Bramham Park and Lotherton Hall. The distance from Wakefield to York by car is 38 miles, with a 47 minute driving time.

Planning a Wakefield to York road trip

The drive from Wakefield to York takes you from a surprisingly arty Yorkshire city to one of the most attraction-packed cities in England.

The historic walled city of York is one of the best places in Britain for visitors. Top York experiences include ghost walks, history-based walking tours, hop-on, hop-off bus tickets and chocolate bar-making workshops. For attractions, try the York Dungeon, York Cocoa Works and the Jorvik Viking Centre,

Visitors planning to cram a lot in may be better off investing in a York City Pass, which covers entry to more than 25 attractions.

Wakefield has a cathedral and a ruined castle, but its main attraction is the Hepworth Wakefield, a sculpture gallery named in honour of local artist Barbara Hepworth.

Wakefield to York distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Wakefield to York is 38 miles. That makes for a driving time of around 47 minutes. The quickest route heads along the A650, M1, A1(M) and A64.

The best stops to add to a Wakefield to York road trip itinerary are Leeds, Bramham Park and Lotherton Hall.

Wakefield to York drive: Leeds

Going into Leeds requires a bit of a detour, but it has several attractions worth a look. The Royal Armouries is the big hitter, with several floors of armour, weapons and warcraft. The Leeds City Museum is a thoughtfully presented all-rounder, and the expansive Roundhay Park offers a series of gorgeous gardens.

The best Leeds activities include food tours that visit top local restaurants and Emmerdale filming locations bus tours.

Wakefield to York road trip attractions: Bramham Park

The house at Bramham Park was built in 1698 as the result of Robert Benson going on the Grand Tour and coming back with plenty of ideas. The architecture is a little bit hybrid, reflecting the era between Palladian and Baroque, and tours are available by appointment on weekdays.

Most visitors content themselves with strolling around the impressive gardens, however.

Best stops between Wakefield and York: Lotherton Hall

Lotherton Hall is a grand country house in Aberford, West Yorkshire. The Edwardian Hall has a reasonable collection of art and other treasures inside, but the grounds are the real winner.

If you’re going for a walk, head to the deer park, where Bambi and co will be ambling by.

Lotherton Hall is also home to Wildlife World, a small and not especially fascinating zoo.

York Minster in York, England.
York Minster in York, England. Photo by Northern_Punkie/ Pixabay.

More Wakefield road trips

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