Wakefield is a town in West Yorkshire, south of Leeds and on the banks of the River Calder. Situated at the intersection of the M1, A1 and M62 motorways, Wakefield is ideally placed for access to other regional centres such as York, Leeds and Sheffield as well as having easy access to Leeds Bradford Airport which provides both domestic and international flights.Originally an area with much reliance on the coal mining industry, Wakefield has developed into a thriving manufacturing, shopping and distribution centre, using its ideal position for distribution to its full potential. This change has also brought more leisure facilities to the area such as the celebrated National Coal Mining Museum, Yorkshire Sculpture Park and a new development is planned for Wakefield's Waterfront, The Hepworth which will open in 2008 and replace the current art gallery.