Quick answer
Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) covers 500 acres of fields, hills, woodland, lakes and formal gardens near Wakefield, off M1 junction 38. It has sculpture outdoors and indoor galleries. Visitors aged 18 and under go free but still need a ticket. Standard entry is £10, or £12 with a donation. From 3 November 2026 to 25 March 2027 the grounds open 10am to 5pm, with last entry at 4pm. YSP is closed on Mondays, except in Wakefield school holidays and on bank holidays. The Country Park has steep grassy paths which can get muddy in winter months.
Is it right for my child?
- Little Wild Wood: a two-acre natural play space a few minutes’ walk from the Visitor Centre. It has willow tunnels, den-building materials, tree stump stepping stones and raised wooden platforms. Children can touch and sit on three large artworks there. Expect mud.
- Indoor galleries: pick up free talking and drawing cards or a sensory bag. The Studio, at the far end of the Peter Murray Gallery, has books and drawing and building materials. It opens Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 4pm, and daily in Wakefield school holidays.
- Safety: the YSP Code says to supervise your children at all times and not to climb or sit on the sculptures. It bans ball games, kites, frisbees, skateboards and climbing trees. Paths run downhill towards the lakes, so keep young children close near the water. Livestock graze the Country Park and sections around the lake, so close gates and do not feed the animals.
Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist
- Book a free ticket for every child. YSP advises booking to guarantee entry, as tickets are limited each day. You can also book on 01924 832631, or buy on arrival, subject to capacity.
- Check the day. Closed on Mondays outside Wakefield school holidays and bank holidays.
- Arrive by 4pm. In winter the gates are locked at 5pm.
- Pack wellies and waterproofs. In wet weather many outdoor areas become very muddy.
Prices and tickets
Prices on the ticket prices page on 13 November 2026:
- Standard entry: £10, or £12 with a donation or with Gift Aid.
- 18 and under: free, but each child needs a ticket so YSP can manage numbers.
- Universal Credit or Pension Credit: £7. Young person aged 19 to 25, or in full-time education: £7. Proof of ID and/or eligibility is required on entry.
- Essential Companion to a visitor with access needs: free.
- Free with a valid pass shown on each visit: YSP Friend (with Annual Pass), YSP Patron, Art Fund National Art Pass and MAX Card. The page lists a few more passes, including Yorkshire’s Great Houses, Castles and Gardens.
- Standard entry after 3pm: £4, only available on the gate.
Parking is included with your ticket, even if your ticket is free. You need an entry ticket whether you come by car, bike or on foot. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. The Weston gallery, shop and restaurant are free to enter without a ticket.
Pushchairs, babies and toilets
- Pushchairs: YSP lists buggy friendly paths, and all paths are at least 1m wide. There are some steep gradients, particularly in the Country Park.
- Peter Murray Gallery: reached by 32 outdoor steps or a lift from the Visitor Centre. It has no toilets, and neither does the Chapel.
- Babies: baby changing is at the Visitor Centre (both floors), YSP Learning, The Weston and the Bothy toilets. Breastfeeding is welcome, and there are highchairs.
- Toilets: accessible toilets are at the Visitor Centre, YSP Learning and The Weston.
Food and drink
- The Kitchen Café, upstairs in the Visitor Centre: Tuesday to Sunday, bank holidays and Wakefield school holidays, 10am to 4pm. Hot food is served until 3pm. No table reservations.
- The Café at YSP Learning and the Coffee Shop kiosk: weekends, bank holidays and Wakefield school holidays, 10am to 4pm. The Coffee Shop is weather dependent.
- The Restaurant at The Weston: table service, and booking is essential.
- Picnics: the FAQ allows them anywhere suitable, though they are not encouraged near sculptures, and points to designated picnic areas with benches. The YSP Code says to picnic in designated picnic areas. No barbecues, gazebos, tents, or your own picnic tables and chairs.
Getting there and parking
- Address: West Bretton, Wakefield WF4 4LG, seven miles outside Wakefield and one mile from M1 junction 38.
- Sat nav: the getting here page says WF4 4JX brings you to the main car park. The accessibility guide gives WF4 4LG.
- Parking: free with your ticket. Blue Badge holders have priority spaces: 11 in the main car park by the Visitor Centre and 8 at The Weston. Free parking at the eastern entrance is for visitors to The Weston only.
- Bus: the 96 runs Monday to Sunday between Wakefield and Barnsley, with regular stops at YSP. The stop is about 65 metres from the Visitor Centre entrance.
- Bikes: no cycling in the grounds. Bike racks are outside the Visitor Centre and The Weston.
When to visit
- Winter hours, 3 November 2026 to 25 March 2027: grounds 10am to 5pm, last entry 4pm. The Peter Murray Gallery, Chapel and The Weston Gallery open 11am to 4pm.
- Closed on 24 and 25 December 2026.
- Seizure, a former flat coated in blue copper sulphate crystals, is entered by pre-booked time slot at no extra charge. On 13 November its booking page listed 2.30pm slots every Saturday and Sunday from 14 November to 20 December. It is not wheelchair accessible, with steps, an uneven crystal floor and narrow corridors.
- Christmas: on 13 November the events listing showed no Father Christmas event.
Additional needs and disability support
YSP publishes a detailed accessibility guide and offers this support:
- Essential Companions, carers and MAX Card holders get free admission tickets, booked online or issued on arrival.
- Ear defenders in child and adult sizes can be borrowed from the Information Desk, which has a hearing loop.
- The Living Room in the Visitor Centre is a relaxed space for rest, feeding and gentle play, with sofas, books and sensory toys.
- Sensory notes: hand dryers can be loud, and enclosed accessible cubicles let you control them. Cooking smells can reach the Visitor Centre and The Weston. Some exhibitions may feature lights, sound or smells.
- Changing Places toilet at YSP Learning, opened by radar key. Ask the YSP Learning Café team.
- Four off-road mobility scooters are free to hire; YSP recommends reserving one. Manual wheelchairs can be borrowed inside the galleries.
- Outdoors: some areas are difficult to access due to uneven terrain and weather. The Information Desk can suggest routes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Yorkshire Sculpture Park free for children?
Yes. Visitors aged 18 and under go free, but each child needs a ticket. Parking is included even with a free ticket.
Is Yorkshire Sculpture Park open on Mondays?
Only in Wakefield school holidays and on bank holidays. Otherwise it opens Tuesday to Sunday.
Can you take a pushchair to Yorkshire Sculpture Park?
Yes. YSP lists buggy friendly paths, and lifts serve the Visitor Centre and the Peter Murray Gallery. Some paths are steep.
Can children climb on the sculptures?
No. The YSP Code says not to climb or sit on the sculptures. In Little Wild Wood, three large artworks are there for children to touch and sit on.
Is Yorkshire Sculpture Park good on a rainy day?
Partly. The galleries, Living Room and cafés are indoors, but the parkland and Little Wild Wood are outdoors. In wet weather many outdoor areas become very muddy.
Can we bring the dog?
Yes, with a valid ticket, on a short lead at all times. Dogs are not permitted around Upper Lake or Menagerie Wood, in the indoor galleries or in the main dining area at The Weston. Assistance dogs are welcome in the cafés, restaurants and galleries, but the Seizure page says no dogs inside that work.
Checked on 13 November 2026 against the official Yorkshire Sculpture Park pages: visit us, opening times, ticket prices, FAQs, family visits and accessibility. Prices and times can change, so check before you travel.
