Quick answer
Wakefield Library is a free council library in the Wakefield One building, with a children’s library and free Storytime for under 5s. It is indoors, so it suits a rainy day. Joining is free, there are no fines, and children can have a card from birth. It is closed on Sundays. On 13 November 2026 the events page listed Storytime on Tuesdays and Fridays, and a Relaxed Storytime on Mondays that needs booking.
Is it right for my child?
- Babies and toddlers: Storytime is listed for under 5s, with stories and rhymes in the Children’s Library.
- Children and teenagers: the library page describes a children’s section from toddler to teenager. The floor plan shows separate children’s and teenage book areas.
- Lego and coding: a free Saturday Lego session and a term-time Code Club are listed for children.
- Noise: the library’s autism friendly guide says the library is usually quiet, but sometimes it might be noisy. You can talk to a librarian if it is.
Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist
- Check the day. The library is closed on Sundays and closes at 5pm on Tuesdays and Fridays.
- Pick a session. On 13 November the events page listed Storytime on Tuesdays at 10am and 1.30pm and on Fridays at 10am.
- Book Relaxed Storytime. Its listing says booking is required but gives no booking link, so call the library on 01924 305 376.
- Check booking for other sessions. The library page says weekly sessions are to be booked in advance, but the Storytime and Lego listings say booking is not required. A quick call settles it.
- Bring ID if you join with a child. The joining page says a parent or carer joining with an under 16 brings one form of identification.
Prices and tickets
The library is free to use and free to join. Wakefield Libraries says it is fine free, and that anyone who lives, works, studies or visits the district can join.
- Children’s sessions: the Storytime, Relaxed Storytime, Lego, Home Education Club and Code Club listings all say free.
- Library cards: the children’s services page says you can have a library card at any age from birth onwards.
- Computers: the autism friendly guide says the computers are free to use, and you only pay for anything you print.
ID rules differ between pages. The library page says you do not need ID. The joining page says no proof of identification is needed from 1 October 2020. It adds that a parent or carer joining with an under 16 brings one form. The autism friendly guide describes showing identification. Take one form of ID to be safe.
Pushchairs, babies and toilets
- Toilets and baby changing: the library page lists toilets and baby change in the Wakefield One building, plus a lift to all floors.
- Pushchairs: Wakefield Museum’s families page says all areas of the museum and the Wakefield One building are accessible for pushchairs and wheelchairs.
- Accessible toilets: the museum’s pages say the public toilets in Wakefield One include accessible toilets with baby changing, and they do not need a radar key.
- Changing Places: the museum’s pages say there is no Changing Places toilet. They name the nearest one in Trinity Walk shopping centre, WF1 1QR, 0.6 miles away.
- Feeding: the children’s services page says libraries are breastfeeding friendly.
Food and drink
The library pages do not mention a café. The museum’s pages say Create Café is inside the Wakefield One building, opposite the museum entrance.
Café hours differ on the museum’s page. One section says Create Café is usually open 8.45am to 2pm on Mondays and 8.45am to 3pm Tuesday to Thursday. The facilities list gives Tuesday to Thursday only. The families page says Create Café is shut on Saturdays, and to call 01924 223330 to check hours.
Getting there and parking
Address: Wakefield Library, Wakefield One, Burton Street, Wakefield. The library page gives the postcode WF1 2DD. The council’s library services address and the museum’s sat-nav advice use WF1 2EB.
- Train: the museum’s plan your visit page says Wakefield One is 0.1 miles from Wakefield Westgate station and 0.9 miles from Wakefield Kirkgate.
- Bus: the same page says Wakefield Bus Station is 0.4 miles away. A free city bus links the bus station, Wakefield One and Kirkgate station every 10 minutes.
- Parking: the library page says there is parking nearby around the city centre. The museum’s page names Merchant Gate car park, WF1 2QN, at 90p per hour for up to 5 hours.
- Blue Badge: the museum’s access page lists space for up to four cars on Burton Street and one space off Cliffe Lane. Merchant Gate has 45 disabled bays.
When to visit
Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 9am to 7pm. Tuesday and Friday 9am to 5pm. Saturday 9am to 4pm. Closed Sundays.
On 13 November 2026 the events page listed these free weekly sessions at Wakefield One Library and Museum, with dates through to February 2027:
- Storytime (under 5s): Tuesdays 10am to 10.30am and 1.30pm to 2pm, and Fridays 10am to 10.30am, in the Children’s Library. Booking is not required.
- Relaxed Storytime: Mondays 10.15am to 10.45am, in the Children’s Library on the ground floor. Booking is required.
- Lego: Saturdays 10am to 1pm, in the Children’s Library. Booking is not required.
- Home Education Club: Wednesdays 10am to 11.30am, a social meet-up for home educating adults and their children. Booking is not required.
- Code Club: Thursdays 4pm to 5pm, term time only, for children learning Scratch, Python and HTML. Booking is required.
The Wakefield One Storytime listings do not say term time only, although some other libraries’ storytimes on the same page do. Check before a school-holiday visit.
Christmas and New Year: the library pages saved on 13 November 2026 do not give Christmas or New Year opening times. Check before you travel in December.
Additional needs and disability support
Wakefield Library runs a Relaxed Storytime and publishes an autism friendly guide.
- Relaxed Storytime: the listing describes a relaxed, calmer and quieter session for customers with neuro-diverse needs and autism, and their family and carers. Mondays 10.15am to 10.45am, booking required.
- Autism friendly guide: a guide called “I’m going to the library”, linked from the library page, explains joining, borrowing and using the computers.
- Ask first, or ask for a tour: the guide says a nervous visitor can call 01924 305376 with questions and ask for a tour of the library.
- Access: the library page lists a lift to all floors, accessible facilities and an induction loop. Registered assistance dogs are welcome in all libraries.
- Fire alarm test: the museum’s families page says the fire alarms in Wakefield One are tested at 11am on Thursdays. It says the museum has ear defenders to borrow.
- The museum’s pages say there is no Changing Places toilet in the building. The library pages do not mention sensory bags or ear defenders to borrow at the library.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wakefield Library free?
Yes. It is free to join and fine free, and the children’s sessions listed on 13 November 2026 were all free.
When is Storytime at Wakefield Library?
On 13 November 2026 the events page listed Storytime for under 5s on Tuesdays at 10am and 1.30pm and on Fridays at 10am. Each session lasts 30 minutes.
Can my baby join Wakefield Library?
Yes. Wakefield Libraries says you can have a library card at any age from birth onwards.
Is Wakefield Library open on Sundays?
No. It is closed on Sundays. On Saturdays it is open from 9am to 4pm.
Is Wakefield Library good for autistic children?
It runs a bookable Relaxed Storytime on Monday mornings and publishes an autism friendly guide. You can call ahead and ask for a tour.
Is Wakefield Library open at Christmas?
The library pages saved on 13 November 2026 do not give Christmas or New Year opening times. Check with the library before you travel in December.
Checked on 13 November 2026 against the official Wakefield Council pages for Wakefield Library, library events, joining the library, children’s services and accessibility, plus the Wakefield Museums and Castles plan your visit page for the shared Wakefield One building. Prices and times can change, so check before you travel.
