Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Open-air sculpture park of about 500 acres in West Yorkshire with galleries, a chapel gallery, woodland, lakes and sculpture by leading modern artists.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Yorkshire Sculpture Park was founded in 1977 by Peter Murray and was the first sculpture park in the United Kingdom. It grew out of the idea of showing sculpture outdoors in a landscape setting, and it now covers about 500 acres of the former Bretton Hall estate at West Bretton near Wakefield. The historic parkland, lakes and woods give the artworks a setting that changes with the seasons.
Sculpture is shown across the park alongside indoor exhibition spaces. The Weston is the main visitor building, with a gallery, a restaurant and a shop. Other galleries include the Longside Gallery, which overlooks the park and shows exhibitions in partnership with the Arts Council Collection, and an underground gallery in the Bothy garden. St Bartholomew's Chapel, a listed building, has been restored as a gallery. The park also holds a James Turrell installation in a converted deer shelter.
The park shows work by internationally known artists, including Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth. Alongside its exhibitions the park runs learning programmes for schools and communities, family activities and a free digital guide.
Highlights
- About 500 acres of historic parkland with lakes and woodland
- Outdoor sculpture by leading modern and contemporary artists
- The Weston gallery, restaurant and shop (free to enter)
- Longside Gallery and the underground gallery in the Bothy garden
- James Turrell installation in a converted deer shelter
- Little Wild Wood natural play space for children
Permanent exhibitions
- Sculpture in the landscape – Long-term sculptures by modern and contemporary artists are placed across the parkland, lakes and woods.
- Deer Shelter Skyspace – A James Turrell installation in a converted deer shelter for watching the sky.
- Founded
- 1977
- Operated by
- Yorkshire Sculpture Park
- Director
- Joe Hill
- Visitors per year
- approx. 300,000
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £7Holders of Universal Credit or Pension Credit, ages 19 to 25 and full-time students (proof required) |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Under-18s enter free. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · An essential companion of a visitor with access needs is admitted free. |
| Students & apprentices | £7Ages 19 to 25 or in full-time education. |
| Groups | –Group and school bookings are made through YSP Learning. |
| Entry with donation | £12Includes a voluntary donation; Gift Aid lets the park claim an extra 25%. |
| Gate ticket after 3pm | £4Tickets bought at the gate after 3pm. |
A ticket is required for everyone arriving by car, bicycle or on foot, and online booking is recommended; tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable. Parking is free with every ticket, including free tickets. Free entry also applies to holders of YSP Friend and Patron cards, the Art Fund pass, MAX Card, Resident's Pass and Yorkshire's Great Houses, Castles and Gardens passes. The Weston gallery, restaurant and shop can be visited without a ticket, with free parking at the eastern entrance.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The Visitor Centre has flat access and lifts to the cafe, Upper Space and Peter Murray Gallery; The Weston has smooth floors and power-assisted doors. Paths are mostly compacted stone, but some slopes are steep and muddy in wet weather. Four free off-road mobility scooters can be hired (reserve ahead) and manual wheelchairs can be borrowed for galleries. The Chapel entrance has steps or a grass ramp. The main car park has 11 Blue Badge spaces and The Weston has 8. Accessible toilets are at the Visitor Centre, YSP Learning, The Weston and the Bothy, and YSP Learning has a Changing Places toilet opened with a RADAR key. Ear defenders can be borrowed, the Living Room is a calm space, and large print and braille are available in the galleries. All audio-visual content is subtitled and at least one BSL-interpreted tour is held each year. Assistance dogs are welcome everywhere, including indoors.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
- Playground / play area
Little Wild Wood is a natural creative play space. Talking and drawing cards and sensory bags are available in the galleries, a sculpture and nature hunt sheet can be downloaded, and The Studio has books and drawing and building materials. The Living Room in the Visitor Centre is a quiet space for resting and feeding. Under-18s visit free and the paths are suitable for buggies.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bus 96 runs daily between Wakefield and Barnsley and stops regularly at the park. Wakefield Westgate is the nearest railway station, about seven miles away.
By car
Free parking
Free parking is included with every ticket, including free tickets. The main car park (satnav WF4 4JX) has 11 Blue Badge spaces; The Weston has its own car park at the eastern entrance with 8 Blue Badge spaces.
- Accessible parking
The park is about 7 miles outside Wakefield, between Leeds and Sheffield and one mile from junction 38 of the M1. Leave the M1 at junction 38, take the A637 towards Huddersfield and follow the brown signs. Coaches booked through YSP Learning use the Park Lane entrance. Bike racks are at the Visitor Centre and The Weston.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant
- Museum shop
Kitchen Cafe in the Visitor Centre, Coffee Shop and Cafe at YSP Learning (limited days), and The Weston restaurant with a terrace; shops in the Visitor Centre and at The Weston. Picnics are welcome in designated areas.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | A free digital guide (Bloomberg Connects) offers information on the artworks, walking routes and tours, and each artwork has a lookup number and QR code. Dogs on a short lead are welcome in the grounds, except near Upper Lake and Menagerie Wood, and in parts of the cafes, but not in the galleries. Bicycles may not be ridden in the grounds. |
