Plan Your Visit

West Yorkshire is easy to reach and easy to get around. Trains from London reach Leeds in just over two hours. Leeds Bradford Airport is 8.5 miles from the city centre. The M1 and M62 cross the region. Once you arrive, Leeds is the rail hub, with trains to Bradford, Wakefield, Huddersfield and Halifax in 40 minutes or less.

Getting to West Yorkshire

By train

Rail is the quickest way to reach West Yorkshire from most of the UK. Leeds is one of the busiest stations in the country, with direct trains from cities across Britain.

From London

LNER runs direct trains from London King's Cross to Leeds in just over two hours. The same line calls at Wakefield Westgate, about 1 hour 58 minutes from London.

Grand Central runs direct trains from King's Cross to Wakefield Kirkgate, Brighouse, Halifax and Bradford Interchange. There are a handful each day. Allow around two and a half hours to Halifax and around three hours to Bradford.

Arriving from Europe? Eurostar pulls into St Pancras, a short walk from King's Cross.

From the North and Scotland

• Manchester: TransPennine Express runs to Leeds in about an hour, calling at Huddersfield.
• Liverpool and Newcastle: direct TransPennine Express trains run to Leeds.
• Edinburgh: LNER takes about three hours to Leeds.

From the Midlands and South West

CrossCountry runs direct trains to Leeds from Birmingham and Bristol. Northern runs from Sheffield and Nottingham.

Check before you travel

Rail upgrade work around Huddersfield continues into early 2027. Some Manchester to Leeds trains divert or use replacement buses, so check National Rail before you set off.

By air

Leeds Bradford Airport

Leeds Bradford Airport is the closest airport. It sits 8.5 miles from Leeds city centre and 8 miles from Bradford. There is no train station at the terminal.

FLYER buses link the airport with Leeds (A1), Bradford Interchange (A2 and A3) and Harrogate (A2). The bus from Leeds takes around 35 minutes. Northern sells train tickets with the FLYER bus added, so you can book the whole trip in one go. Taxis wait outside arrivals, and Avis and Enterprise run a car rental centre on site.

Manchester Airport

Manchester Airport has direct trains to Leeds, calling at Huddersfield on the way. Allow about an hour and a half. It works well if you are arriving on a long haul flight.

By car

Main roads

The M1 runs north to south through Wakefield and Leeds. The M62 crosses the region east to west, passing Huddersfield and Calderdale, and the M606 links it to Bradford. The A1(M) runs just to the east.

Driving times to Leeds

London: 196 miles, about 4 hours

Manchester: 45 miles, about 1 hour

Birmingham: 150 miles, about 2.5 hours

Newcastle: 100 miles, about 2 hours

Edinburgh: 210 miles, about 4 hours

Parking

Every district centre has car parks close to the main sights. Charges vary, so check the council's website before you go.

Bradford's Clean Air Zone

Private cars are not charged in Bradford's Clean Air Zone. Charges apply to some older vans, taxis, buses and lorries.

By coach

Long distance coaches serve Leeds and other district centres. Check National Express and FlixBus for routes and fares.

Getting around West Yorkshire

Stay central. Explore widely. Every district centre is within about 20 miles of Leeds, so you can base yourself in one place and reach the rest with ease.

Trains from Leeds

Wakefield: about 15 minutes

Bradford: about 20 minutes

Huddersfield: about 20 minutes

Halifax: about 40 minutes

Bradford Interchange to Halifax takes under 20 minutes.

Know your stations

• Bradford: Forster Square and Interchange are both in the city centre. Interchange has trains to Halifax and the Calder Valley, plus Grand Central to London.
• Wakefield: Westgate has LNER trains to London and Leeds. Kirkgate has Grand Central and local services to Mirfield.
• Calderdale: Halifax and Brighouse sit on the Calder Valley line, with trains to Leeds, Bradford and Manchester.
• Kirklees: Huddersfield is on the TransPennine line between Manchester and Leeds.
• Leeds: Leeds Station has recently undergone an upgrade, and is highly connected to the rest of the country by the TransPennine, LNER, and other cross-country routes. If you are traveling to West Yorkshire by train, this could well be your first port of call.

By bus

Buses run between all five districts and out to the countryside. Single fares are capped across West Yorkshire, and an MCard DaySaver covers all operators for a day. Use Metro's journey planner to check routes and times.

Into the countryside

Rail reaches the Pennines too. The Calder Valley line runs through Hebden Bridge and the valleys of Calderdale. Saltaire and Ilkley are on lines out of Leeds and Bradford. The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway runs heritage trains up to Haworth, so check its timetable before you go.

Some rural attractions, such as Yorkshire Sculpture Park, are simpler by car. Check bus links before you set out.

By bike and on foot

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal runs through Leeds and Bradford district, with towpaths for walking and cycling. Bikes travel on Northern trains, space permitting. TransPennine Express needs a cycle reservation before you travel.

Accessible travel

Book Passenger Assist before you travel and the rail operator will arrange help at the station and on the train. Check the individual venue for access details.

Save money on travel

• Book Advance rail tickets as early as you can. Fares usually go on sale about 12 weeks ahead.
• A Railcard takes a third off many fares.
• Northern sells Ranger and Rover tickets for unlimited travel in set areas, which suit days spent hopping between districts.