Sculpture park is top of the pops with visitors

Family days out can be expensive but a poll of 5,000 people has revealed some of the best attractions in Yorkshire cost nothing.

After a summer of public 
voting, the accolade of 
Yorkshire’s Most Magnificent Attraction has gone to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park at West Bretton, near Wakefield.

The 500 acres of rolling countryside pulls in around 300,000 visitors a year and, aside from parking charges, there is nothing to pay.

The popular open air gallery, which is set in the parkland of Bretton Hall, beat Yorkshire Wildlife Park into second place, with Flamingo Land and the North Yorkshire Moors 
Railway in third and fourth 
place.

Although attractions with entrance fees dominated the popular list, a healthy sprinkling of free-to-enter venues will give cheer to families looking for a pleasant day out without 
needing a chat with the bank manager.

Among the list which attracted votes were the National Media Museum in Bradford, The Hepworth gallery in Wakefield, the National Coal Mining Museum near Wakefield and the Royal Armouries in Leeds – all with free admission.

Just under 5,000 people voted to name their favourite place to visit in Yorkshire.

A total of 1,570 people voted for the sculpture park, with 1,491 votes for the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, 993 for Flamingo Land, 247 for North Yorkshire Moors Railway and 184 for Eureka!, the children’s museum in Halifax, which came fifth.

Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s executive director Peter Murray said: “We are absolutely 
delighted to have been voted Yorkshire’s Most Magnificent Attraction – this award means so much because it is decided by visitors.

“This award is a brilliant way of stimulating competition and showcasing Yorkshire’s diverse range of attractions to the world.”

All of the top four venues are members of the Yorkshire Attractions Group, and overall voting was dominated by 18 venues that make up that group.

Deborah Hindley, Yorkshire’s Magnificent Attractions Chairman, said: “We’re delighted with the phenomenal response we’ve had from the public during voting.

“Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s success in coming out on top in the poll is testament to its continuing dedication to offering the public one of the best days out in Yorkshire.

“The top four venues, as voted for by the public during this process, are truly reflective of the range of high class attractions available to people living in or visiting Yorkshire – some of them indoors, others outdoors and many of them free to visit.

“Many have made significant investments in developments to further improve their offering to visitors, and Yorkshire really can count itself lucky to have such a variety and volume of superb visitor attractions on its doorstep.”

The secrets of a successful tourist attraction are revealed in tweets and Facebook comments left by visitors.

Visitor Jennifer Aspden said of the sculpture park: “Fabulous day out. Take a picnic and soak in the beauty.”

Craig Stables said: “My favourite place. Been going since I was five with my Granddad. I’m now taking my kids.”

Royal Armouries fan Nicola Ray said: “Another great free museum with a fascinating collection which was accessible for young ones.”