Wakefield has two railway stations, both within walking distance of the centre. Wakefield Westgate, on the east coast main line, has fast direct services to London King's Cross (under two hours) and to Leeds (about ten minutes). Wakefield Kirkgate, the older and shabbier of the two, handles the trans-Pennine line to Manchester and Liverpool.
By car, the city is at the intersection of the M1 and M62 motorways and is about half an hour from Leeds and an hour and twenty minutes from Manchester. Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) is the nearest international airport, with limited direct connections; for a fuller range, Manchester is the more practical choice.