Where is the Yorkshire Sculpture Park?
It’s in West Yorkshire, 20 miles south of Leeds and seven miles from Wakefield. Car parking is free. There are bus services from Wakefield and Barnsley.
How much is it?
Entry is £9.50 per person. Visitors under 25 are free (2026). Please check this before you go.
What is there to see?
There are 500 acres to explore with over 90 installations. Indoors, there’s always an exhibition on, a shop, visitor centre and a couple of cafés. Outside are picnic tables too. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a short lead.
When is it open?
Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm in the summer.
Our visit
We decided to visit on a chilly day in March. If it’s been raining, it may be muddy underfoot, so come prepared. It’s also somewhat exposed and the tempting shortcuts across the grass can be uneven, so stick to the paths if you are not sure-footed.
Cafe
Firstly, we visited the shop and then the café upstairs. It was a Sunday, and people in the know were already queueing for Sunday lunch, which did look good. But I opted for tea and cake instead, which was very nice.
Shop
Later in the shop, I was tempted by this little sheep. Since I have just done some Swedish death de-cluttering (and bitterly regret letting my silver egg and spoon race medal and christening cup go), P wisely said we didn’t have any room.
Indoor exhibition
Next, we checked out the indoor exhibition. I enjoyed the works by Bharti Kher, but I could sense P was getting a bit restless, so finally, we braved the March winds and went for a long walk outside.
The grounds and the main event
The visitor centre supplies a map. There is a lot to see, and you won’t see everything in a day, unless you are really committed. We started near the walled garden and saw a few pieces by Daniel Arsham and then made our way past an ornate bridge.
Near here, was our first Damien Hirst. It’s hard to miss, the tallest sculpture in the park. Although it’s a bronze, Hirst likes to trick us, and it looks like plastic.
We crossed some grassy scrub and found a Henry Moore or two and then came across another Damien Hirst. It was a bronze display but made to look like wood. It was so realistic, I decided it was made of wood, until I saw the description label. Hopefully, this has whetted your appetite and you will come to see for yourself.
By now, we had been wandering around for two hours, which I felt was about the right length of time, as we were feeling weary.
Conclusion
It’s a nice place to bring children in the finer weather, as there is lots of space for them to run around and grassy spots for picnics. And the earlier children learn about art, the better in my book.
It’s a great place for anyone else, too. As a charity, ploughing all its money back into the enterprise, I don’t begrudge the entrance fee at all. For a half day of entertainment, it was well worth it, and I felt represented good value. My Yorkshire mum would have approved.
Find out more Yorkshire Sculpture Park.