Nostell Priory is one of Wakefield's strongest day-out sights: a Palladian country house built on the site of a medieval Augustinian priory, now run by the National Trust. The house is best known for its interiors and furniture, including important pieces by Thomas Chippendale, along with paintings, clocks, family rooms, and the layered story of an estate that moved from monastic land to Georgian display.
The grounds make the visit less formal than a pure house tour. There are lakeside and woodland walks, gardens, restored estate buildings, and enough parkland to make Nostell feel like a proper escape from the city. It is several miles southeast of Wakefield, so plan it as a half-day trip rather than a quick central stop.