[6] The economic and physical condition of several of the former mining towns and villages in Wakefield District have started to improve due to the booming economy of Leeds – and an increase in numbers of commuters to the city from the sub-region – and a recognition of undeveloped assets.

For instance Castleford, to the North East of Wakefield is seeing extensive development and investment because of the natural asset of its outlook on to the River Aire, its easy access to the national motorway network and the availability of former mining land for house-building.

The district is within a green belt region that extends into the surrounding counties that is in place to reduce urban sprawl, prevent the cities and towns in the West Yorkshire Urban Area conurbation from convergence, protect the identity of outlying communities, encourage brownfield reuse, and preserve the countryside.

[8] Green belt surrounds the Wakefield built up area and stretches into the wider borough and outlying towns and villages.

Smaller villages, hamlets and rural areas such as Warmfield and Heath, Stanley Ferry, Newmillerdam, Snydale, Wintersett, and Chapelthorpe are included in the designation.

The city also has several amateur rugby league clubs including Featherstone Lions and Normanton Knights.

Current England rugby league internationals from the area include; Tom Briscoe, Rob Burrow, Zak Hardaker, and Brett Ferres.

[11] The ruins of Sandal Castle and its visitor centre are open to the public, overlooking the Pugneys Country Park.

[12] The National Coal Mining Museum for England (an Anchor Point of ERIH, The European Route of Industrial Heritage), the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Nostell Priory[13] are within the Wakefield metropolitan area, as is Walton Hall, a Georgian mansion set in what was the world's first nature reserve, created by the explorer Charles Waterton; the house is now a proposed UNESCO World Heritage Site.

[15] The lyrics of the popular hymn "Onward Christian Soldiers" were written at St Peter's Church in nearby Horbury.