Wakefield - Merrie City & Cathedral

Navigating The Route

This is a circular Treasure Hunt around Wakefield Merrie City & Cathedral, with Explorers following Intrepid Explorer Society clues to track down the whereabouts of Doug and Phil Upperfield's lost Golden Rhubarb.

The quest covers 2 miles and should take around 2+ hours to complete. You'll start outside the west end of the cathedral, below the clock tower and opposite the end of Cross Square, then explore city streets, the cathedral area, Coronation Gardens, St John's Church, Wakefield One and Wakefield Theatre Royal before finishing back at the cathedral, close to where you began.

This Trail is suitable for wheelchair and pushchair users. The route follows pavements and footpaths throughout except for one small flat grassy area, which is still fully accessible.

Use the pedestrian crossing to cross Northgate and take care at other roads on the route. The quest also passes police buildings and busy street sections, so keep Mini Explorers close while you're hunting down the clues.

Getting There

By car: Start your treasure hunt outside the west end of the cathedral, below the clock tower and opposite the end of Cross Square (WF1 1HE). The recommended car park is Ridings Shopping Centre (WF1 1DS), which is the nearest car park to the start point.

By public transport: Make your way to Wakefield city centre, then head for the west end of the cathedral, below the clock tower and opposite the end of Cross Square, to begin the quest.

Need the Loo?

Restrooms are available in the Ridings Shopping Centre near the start and end of the quest. Toilets can also be found at Wakefield One around Clue 14, except Sundays.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged Explorers can join this dog friendly Trail, as long as dogs are kept on leads. 🐾

The route follows city pavements and footpaths, with road crossings, busy street sections and one small flat grassy area, so keep canine companions close throughout the adventure.

Food & Drink Stops

Golden Rhubarb hunting is thirsty work. There are plenty of pubs, cafes and restaurants to be found in Wakefield, with good chances to stock up on snacks or seek out refreshment stops before Clue 04 or after Clue 15.

If you'd rather bring your own provisions, Coronation Gardens at Clue 07 is suggested as a picnic stop.

Want to Make a Day of It?

Wakefield Cathedral

The quest begins outside the west end of Wakefield Cathedral, below the clock tower, and returns there at the end. The route follows the side of the cathedral too, making the cathedral area a key part of the adventure rather than just a starting marker.

Coronation Gardens

Coronation Gardens is the Trail's suggested picnic stop at Clue 07. The route reaches the gardens area around the war memorial and Queen Victoria, giving Explorers a handy place to pause before the Golden Rhubarb hunt continues.

St John's Church

The route crosses to St John's Church and explores the path around the church after going through the front gates. It's a notable stop on the quest, so it's worth slowing the pace here once the clue-searching permits it.

Wakefield Theatre Royal

The Trail includes Wakefield Theatre Royal, one of the city's cultural stops on the walk. Explorers are sent looking for 'Frank' here as part of the quest, so keep your treasure-hunting eyes sharp around the theatre before moving on.