Pontefract is a historic market town in the metropolitan borough of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England, famous for its centuries‑old liquorice industry and the eponymous "Pontefract cakes" – small, soft liquorice sweets once made from locally grown root. The town is dominated by the dramatic ruins of Pontefract Castle, a once‑formidable medieval fortress linked to the imprisonment and death of Richard II and to several sieges during the Civil War, and it also hosts the well‑regarded Pontefract Racecourse.
Traditionally a market and coal‑mining centre, Pontefract has evolved into a mixed economy with retail, light industry and commuter links; it still runs a lively market and local events. Transport is notable for having three local stations – Pontefract Monkhill, Pontefract Tanshelf and Pontefract Baghill – giving convenient rail connections into the wider West Yorkshire and beyond.
Postcode districts covering Pontefract
Most populated places nearby
- Sheffield 22.7 miles36.5 km
- Leeds 12.5 miles20.1 km
- Bradford 19.9 miles32 km
- York 20.5 miles33.1 km
- Huddersfield 20.2 miles32.4 km
- Rotherham 18.2 miles29.2 km
- Doncaster 14.1 miles22.7 km
- Wakefield 8.3 miles13.3 km
- Harrogate 22.9 miles36.8 km
- Halifax 23.4 miles37.7 km
- Barnsley 11 miles17.7 km
- Castleford 2.7 miles4.3 km
Neighbouring places
- Pontefract North Ward 0.4 miles0.7 km
- Pontefract South Ward 1.6 miles2.6 km
- Darrington Built-up area 2 miles3.3 km
- Featherstone Built-up area 2.1 miles3.4 km
- Holmfield Built-up area 2.3 miles3.7 km
- Airedale and Ferry Fryston Ward 2.4 miles3.8 km
- Knottingley Built-up area 2.5 miles4 km
- Castleford Central and Glasshoughton Ward 2.5 miles4 km
- East Hardwick Parish 2.5 miles4.1 km
- High Ackworth Built-up area 2.6 miles4.2 km
- Castleford Built-up area 2.7 miles4.3 km
- Brotherton Built-up area 2.9 miles4.6 km
Example postcodes in Pontefract
WF8 2JF, WF8 2RD, WF8 2HW, WF8 1JT, WF8 4DT, WF8 4DR, WF8 1HD, WF8 4LZ, WF8 1EH … See all
Transport links
- Leeds Bradford International Airport 18.8 miles30.3 km
- Doncaster Sheffield Airport 19 miles30.6 km
- Pontefract Baghill Railway Station 0.2 miles0.3 km
- Pontefract Tanshelf Railway Station 0.5 miles0.8 km
Hotels near Pontefract Ad
- Wentbridge House Hotel 4 3.3 miles5.3 km
- Kings Croft Hotel 1.2 miles1.9 km
- Rogerthorpe Manor Hotel 4 4.1 miles6.6 km
- Ibis Wakefield East-Castleford 4 3.6 miles5.8 km
- Owston Hall Hotel 3 8.8 miles14.1 km
- Holmfield Arms 8.2 miles13.1 km
- Oulton Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort 4 7.3 miles11.7 km
- Thorpe Park Hotel and Spa 4 8.7 miles13.9 km
- Holiday Inn Express Wakefield 3 7.9 miles12.6 km
- Owl, Hambleton by Marston's Inns 4 7.9 miles12.7 km
Schools in Pontefract
- Carleton High School Secondary
- Carleton Park Junior and Infant School Primary
- De Lacy Primary School Primary
- Halfpenny Lane Junior Infant and Nursery School Primary
- Holy Family and St Michael's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy Primary
- Larks Hill Junior and Infant School Primary
- New College Pontefract Further education
- Orchard Head Junior and Infant and Nursery School Primary
- St Giles C of E Academy Primary
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Pontefract Primary
- The King's School Secondary
- The Rookeries Carleton Junior and Infant School Primary
Local points of interest
- Pontefract Racecourse Recreation 1.2 miles2 km
- Fairnurn Ings Nature reserve 3.7 miles5.9 km
- Nostell Priory Country house 4.3 miles6.9 km
- Stanley Library Library 7.1 miles11.5 km
- Hampole Priory Historic site 7.7 miles12.4 km
- Outwood Library Library 8.2 miles13.2 km
- Pugneys Country Park Nature reserve 8.4 miles13.6 km
- Oakwell Stadium 11.6 miles18.7 km
- Saw Wood Forest 11.7 miles18.8 km
- Trinity Leeds Shopping centre 12.2 miles19.6 km
- Elland Road Stadium 12.4 miles19.9 km
- Cusworth Hall Museum Museum 12.4 miles20 km