Contact Yorkshire Sculpture Park by calling 01924 832631 if you wish to speak to the Visitor Experience Team about a planned trip.
About Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Yorkshire Sculpture Park is a “gallery without walls,” an outdoor venue hosting installations of contemporary art by British and international artists. It is located in West Yorkshire and has featured sculptures by Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Anthony Caro, Elisabeth Frink, Andy Goldsworthy, Sophie Ryder, Antony Gormley, Ai Weiwei, and plenty of other celebrated artists. The park opened in 1977 and holds changing open-air exhibitions. Longside Gallery overlooks Yorkshire Sculpture Park and is shared by the Arts Council Collection as an indoor space for art displays and events. The site has a gift shop and small eateries.
The Sculpture Park shares the grounds of the Bretton Hall estate, an 18th-century country house which was a college from 1949 to 2007. The landscaped gardens also feature follies and structures from when Bretton Hall was a stately home. The parkland is in West Bretton near Wakefield, bordering South Yorkshire. Yorkshire Sculpture Park has won many awards as an attraction, and draws in around half a million visitors every year. For 40 years, the park has been nurturing interest and enabling access to contemporary and modern art without social exclusivity. The YSP Learning Centre promotes creativity and health, helping 45,000 people each year through their artistic programmes.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park Opening Times
Yorkshire Sculpture Park is open to the public all year round except on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The gates always open at 10am and are locked at 6pm in summer or 5pm in winter. Visitors can freely roam the grounds during these hours. There is no admission fee to enter the park, but visitors do have to pay for parking. The car park fees cost £3 for an hour, £6 for 1-2 hours, or £11 for the whole day. This helps to fund the running of Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Donations of any amount are also encouraged. Generally, the indoor galleries, gift shop, restaurant, and cafes are open from 10am until 4pm (though hot food will only be served until 3pm). You can check opening times online before you go.
The park is family-friendly and suitable for children of all ages. Since the terrain can be uneven, there may be accessibility issues for some people. Visitors needing mobility scooters or wheelchairs should call ahead for advice. Yorkshire Sculpture Park welcomes all visitors but some activities are not allowed in the park. This includes climbing or sitting on sculptures, cycling, allowing dogs off leashes, sports games, barbecues, and commercial photography. There are two coffee shops, a cafe, and a restaurant for more filling meals. Visitors can enjoy their own picnics in the picnic area or book a picnic of freshly prepared local food in advance. Yorkshire Sculpture Park is available for self-guided school visits and can be hired as a venue for private parties and events.
Contacting Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Contact the Yorkshire Sculpture Park Information Desk for assistance by calling 01924 832631 with any general queries. You can reach the YSP Shop directly on 01924 832522. If you are interested in booking a birthday party, wedding ceremony, or another catered event, call Sally Neuhauser in Hospitality on 01924 832508. To discuss opportunities for volunteering or paid work at the park, contact Jay Simpson in HR on 01924 832511. If you have an enquiry about the learning programme, call the administrator Jessica Kendall on 01924 832528. For curatorial enquiries about the exhibition programme, e-mail curators@ysp.org.uk. They normally do not accept unsolicited projects. Write letters to the visitor experience manager Thom Butler or the relevant team member at the park, or find the park to visit in person using the address below:
West Bretton
Wakefield
WF4 4LG
(Enter the postcode WF4 4JX when using SatNav to drive to the park.)