cafe
Squires Cafe Bar
One of Yorkshire's most famous biker cafes near Sherburn-in-Elmet, hosting regular bike nights and rallies.
10 km · about 20 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Pontefract
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Pontefract
Pontefract is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Knottingley, 40km from Holme Moss.
Pontefract is in England, United Kingdom, with about 45,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Knottingley, about 4 km away.
Pontefract is a historic market town in the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district in West Yorkshire, England. It lies to the east of Wakefield and south of Castleford. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it had a population of 30,881 at the 2011 Census.
Pontefract's motto is Post mortem patris proRead more
filio, Latin for "After the death of the father, support the son", a reference to the town's Royalist sympathies in the English Civil War. Small villages and settlements in the immediate area include Stapleton.
Where to Stay in Pontefract
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Pontefract.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Pontefract.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Pontefract?
Within an hour or so of Pontefract: Squires Cafe Bar (10 km), Yorkshire Sculpture Park (19 km), Harewood Speed Hillclimb (26 km), York Minster (34 km).
Are there any good drives near Pontefract?
The nearest famous roads are Holme Moss, Woodhead Pass and Snake Pass.
Where is Pontefract?
Pontefract is in England, United Kingdom, about 4 km from Knottingley.
Road trip
Drive to Pontefract
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Pontefract. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 44,710
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 53.6911, -1.3127
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Pontefract
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
museum
Yorkshire Sculpture Park
500 acres of 18th-century parkland near Wakefield displaying open-air work by Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth and changing international artists.
19 km · about 20 min drive
racetrack
Harewood Speed Hillclimb
The longest hillclimb course in England at 1,598 yards, climbing Yorkshire moorland on the Harewood estate with sweeping open views over Wharfedale from the spectator banks.
26 km · about 30 min drive
cathedral
York Minster
One of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Northern Europe, famous for its medieval stained glass.
34 km · about 40 min drive
photogenic
The Shambles
Medieval York street where overhanging timber-framed shops nearly touch across the lane, some dating to the 14th century. Once a row of butchers' shops; the meat-hooks and wide sill-boards survive.
34 km · about 40 min drive
cafe
Bettys Café Tea Rooms, Harrogate
Yorkshire tea-room institution founded by Swiss confectioner Frederick Belmont in 1919, still family-owned and famous for Fat Rascals and its art-deco interior inspired by the Queen Mary liner.
37 km · about 40 min drive
mountain pass
Holme Moss
A 524 m Pennine pass on the A6024 topped by a landmark transmitter mast, a celebrated cycling climb used in the 2014 Tour de France.
40 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
Derwent Dam
A monumental stone dam used by 617 Squadron to practise for the Dambusters raid, with twin towers above the Upper Derwent Valley.
42 km · about 50 min drive
Driving roads near Pontefract
- 40 kmHolme MossA 524 m Pennine pass on the A6024 topped by a landmark transmitter mast, a celebrated cycling climb used in the 2014 Tour de France.
- 42 kmWoodhead PassThe A628 trans-Pennine route over bleak moorland past the Woodhead reservoirs, frequently closed by snow and high winds.
- 44 kmBamford EdgeA short gritstone edge with what many consider the finest view in the Peak District, straight down onto Ladybower Reservoir.
- 44 kmHigger TorA flat-topped gritstone tor above Burbage Valley, looking across to the Iron Age hillfort of Carl Wark.
- 46 kmSnake Pass (A57)The Woodhead-era Telford road over the Pennines between Glossop and the Ladybower reservoirs, with fast curves and frequent winter closures.
- 47 kmSnake PassA twisting road through the Peak District connecting Sheffield and Manchester, beloved by motorcyclists and driving enthusiasts.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Pontefract.
Plan a trip around Pontefract
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Pontefract.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.