Wakefield is a cathedral city which is the centre of a Metropolitan District of over 320,000 people. The city and district have undergone significant regeneration in recent years. In 2011, 'The Hepworth Gallery' was opened, celebrating the life and work of Barbara Hepworth, who was brought up in Wakefield (and who attended Wakefield Girls' High School herself).
Wakefield is at the centre of excellent road (near M1/A1/M62) and rail networks (East Coast Mainline to London). The other major cities of the North of England - namely Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield and Newcastle and the Yorkshire countryside are easily accessible. Major cultural attractions such as Nostell Priory, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and the National Coal Mining Museum for England are within the District boundary.