Quick answer
The Hepworth Wakefield is a riverside art gallery in Wakefield with free exhibition entry for under 18s and Wakefield District residents. Members and accompanying carers also go free. From 3 to 20 November 2026, the visit page lists exhibition entry at £6 or £5. The new Marc Chagall and Ida Ekblad exhibitions open on 21 November 2026, and their pages list £14 or £12. Winter hours are Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm. It is closed on Mondays except bank holidays and Wakefield school holidays, and closed on 25 and 26 December. The garden is open daily and free. The council-owned play area is closed until further notice.
Is it right for my child?
- Ages 2 to 12: Art Pods, Family Workshops and Explore & Draw kits are aimed at families with children aged 2 to 12. Each is free with an exhibition ticket.
- Toddlers: Toddler Tuesdays are paid sessions for children aged 1 to 4, with a maximum of two children per adult. On 13 November 2026, the page listed Tuesday 1 December 2026, 10.30am to 12pm, then 12 January.
- What is on show: Barbara Hepworth’s working models in plaster and aluminium are on permanent display. Marc Chagall: The Circus runs from 21 November 2026 to 25 April 2027. Ida Ekblad: WORLD’S LARGEST METAPHOR runs from 21 November 2026 to 3 May 2027.
- Take care around plinths: the access page says sculptures stand on large low and high plinths.
- Supervision: children must be accompanied at all times.
- Outdoors: the free garden has outdoor sculptures, including a 4m yellow pitchfork. The garden page says it is edged by the River Calder, so keep little ones close.
Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist
- Mondays: it opens on Mondays only on bank holidays and in Wakefield school holidays.
- Wakefield District residents: bring proof of address, such as a recent Council Tax or utility bill.
- Photos: no flash and no selfie sticks. Do not photograph children without their permission.
Prices and tickets
- Free: members, Wakefield District residents and under 18s. The ticket terms word this as children aged 18 and under. Accompanying carer tickets are free.
- Until 20 November 2026: exhibition entry is £6 or £5.
- From 21 November 2026: the Chagall and Ekblad pages list £14 or £12. Some family activity pages still give £13 or £11.
- Booking system: on 13 November 2026, admission from 24 November showed a £14 standard adult ticket. Disabled, full-time student and senior tickets were £12. The booking label says over 65, but the ticket terms say 65 or more. Universal or Pension Credit and National Art Pass tickets were £7.
- Universal and Pension Credit: the ticket terms list these under both free exemptions and concessions, so ask when you book.
- Rules: tickets are valid only on the date shown, with same-day re-entry. Refunds carry a £1 fee per transaction.
Festive Market
The Festive Market is in Tileyard North, the converted mill opposite the gallery. It runs on Friday 20 November 2026, 7pm to 10pm. It also runs on 21, 22, 28 and 29 November 2026, 10am to 4pm. Tickets are £2.50 in advance or £3.50 on the day, and free for members and under 18s. On 13 November 2026, the booking system sold most exhibition tickets for those four weekend days as combined market and exhibition tickets. National Art Pass and adult Wakefield resident tickets were exhibition only.
Family Workshops and Art Pods
Family Workshops are drop-in, with no need to book. Festive Lantern Making runs on 21 and 22 November and 6, 20, 22 and 23 December 2026. Festive Clay runs on 28 and 29 November and 13 December 2026. Both run from 11am to 3.45pm, closed from 1pm to 1.30pm. The Art Pod runs every Saturday in term time, 11am to 4pm, closed from 1pm to 1.30pm. Places are first come, first served, with a maximum of three children per adult.
Pushchairs, babies and toilets
The family page says there is plenty of room for buggies and pushchairs. The ten gallery spaces are on the first floor, with level access. Two lifts sit at the rear of the foyer: a standard lift, and a goods lift on request.
The main toilets are on the ground floor, to the right of the welcome desk, with accessible toilets and a baby change area. Accessible toilets are also in Gallery 6 and the Learning Studios. The access page says the Learning Studio toilets are open to all visitors at weekends and in school holidays. The Changing Places toilet is in the Learning Studios, so contact the gallery before a term-time weekday visit if you need it.
Food and drink
The café opens Tuesday to Sunday, 9.30am to 4pm. Lunch is served from 11am to 3pm. The November menu offers children egg on toast for £4.50 until 12pm. There is also a £4.75 lunch box with a sandwich, Pom-Bears, fruit and a juice carton. All 14 allergens are handled in the kitchen, so speak to your server first. The family page says you can bring a packed lunch to the indoor picnic area or the garden.
Brunch with Santa is on Sunday 20 December 2026 at 9am. Children’s tickets cost £20, with a gift from Santa and one brunch dish. Adult tickets cost £15, with one dish. Drinks are extra, and booking is essential. Email any dietary requirements to the gallery before booking.
Getting there and parking
The gallery is on Gallery Walk, Wakefield, WF1 5AW. Its own car park is on Thornes Lane (sat nav WF1 5QJ), with 85 spaces and a 2.5m height limit. Pay at the welcome desk. If you show or buy an exhibition ticket there, a £5 tariff covers your whole visit. The car park machine and app charge £3 an hour. Number plate recognition is used, so enter your full registration.
Blue Badge holders park free in six bays on Gallery Walk, outside the main entrance.
Wakefield Kirkgate station is 0.3 miles away, about 8 minutes on foot.
When to visit
Winter hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm. The family page and ticket terms still give 5pm closing. Plan around 4pm, the winter time on the visit page.
Additional needs and disability support
You can contact the gallery before visiting on 01924 247360. The access page lists these provisions.
- Visual story: photos of the approach and the journey through the galleries.
- Ear defenders to borrow from the welcome desk, and a quiet space in the Clore Learning Studios.
- Changing Places toilet in the Learning Studios, with an adult changing bench and a hoist.
- Two manual wheelchairs, bookable in advance by phone.
- Guide and assistance dogs are welcome.
Frequently asked questions
Is The Hepworth Wakefield free for children?
Yes. Exhibition entry is free for under 18s, Wakefield District residents and members. The garden is free for everyone.
Is The Hepworth Wakefield good for toddlers?
Toddler Tuesdays suit ages 1 to 4, at £11 for one child and one adult, with a maximum of two children per adult. On 13 November 2026, the page listed 1 December 2026, then 12 January. Art Pods and Family Workshops welcome children from age 2.
Is the playground open?
No. The visit page says the council-owned play area will be closed until further notice. The family page says the playground is closed for redevelopment.
Can you take a pushchair to The Hepworth Wakefield?
Yes. Lifts reach the first-floor galleries, and the main toilets have a baby change area.
Is The Hepworth Wakefield good for autistic children?
It offers a visual story, ear defenders to borrow and a quiet space in the Clore Learning Studios.
Is The Hepworth Wakefield open at Christmas?
It is closed on 25 and 26 December. The visit page lists no other Christmas closures, so check before you travel.
Checked on 13 November 2026 against the official Hepworth Wakefield pages for your visit, getting here, access, visiting with a family, the café and what’s on, plus its booking system. Prices and times can change, so check before you travel.
