Yorkshire


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-yorkshire-sculpture-park-west-bretton">1. <a href="https://ysp.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yorkshire Sculpture Park</a>, West Bretton</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/Damien-Hirst-Charity-2002-3.-Photographed-by-Prudence-Cuming-Associates.-©-Damien-Hirst-and-Science-Ltd.-All-rights-reserved-DACS-2019-1.jpeg" alt="Damien Hirst Charity Yorkshire Sculpture park" class="wp-image-2976" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/Damien-Hirst-Charity-2002-3.-Photographed-by-Prudence-Cuming-Associates.-©-Damien-Hirst-and-Science-Ltd.-All-rights-reserved-DACS-2019-1.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/Damien-Hirst-Charity-2002-3.-Photographed-by-Prudence-Cuming-Associates.-©-Damien-Hirst-and-Science-Ltd.-All-rights-reserved-DACS-2019-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/Damien-Hirst-Charity-2002-3.-Photographed-by-Prudence-Cuming-Associates.-©-Damien-Hirst-and-Science-Ltd.-All-rights-reserved-DACS-2019-1-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Charity</em>, Damien Hirst, 2002-3. Prudence Cuming Associates, Damien Hirst and Science Ltd</figcaption></figure>



<p>Where else to start but YSP! The first, and still the finest, open-air gallery in the UK. It sprawls across 500 acres of rolling hills, woodlands, lakes, and classical follies and features 80+ sculptures including Barbara Hepworth&#8217;s monumental bronzes, Henry Moore&#8217;s reclining forms and the odd Ai Weiwei. They&#8217;re cleverly integrated into the landscape, so you&#8217;ll stroll across a sweeping Yorkshire plain, stumble on a Damien Hirst, get photobombed by a sheep – it&#8217;s so much more than a gallery. Current exhibitions include <a href="https://ysp.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/laura-ellen-bacon-into-being" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Laura Ellen Bacon</a>, <a href="https://ysp.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/felicity-aylieff-expressions-in-blue" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Felicity Aylieff</a> and <a href="https://ysp.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/bharti-kher" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bharti Kher</a> (ends Mon 5 May). They have a very decent café and gift shop for the obligatory overpriced artisan pencil. Yes please.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-the-himalayan-garden-amp-sculpture-park-grewelthorpe">2. <a href="https://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/places/the-himalayan-garden-and-sculpture-park/">The Himalayan Garden &amp; Sculpture Park</a>, Grewelthorpe</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/THG-Spring-2019-129-1024x683.jpg" alt="Family III Carol Peace" class="wp-image-2975" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/THG-Spring-2019-129-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/THG-Spring-2019-129-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/THG-Spring-2019-129-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/THG-Spring-2019-129.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Family III</em>, Carol Peace</figcaption></figure>



<p>But look, is that a Himalayan wonderland hidden in the dales? Set in 45 gloriously OTT acres of floral gardenscape, and there&#8217;s 90 sculptures nestled between waterfalls, woodland walks and manicured lawns. It&#8217;s full of surprises &#8211; stone faces peek out of hedgerows, giant bronze nudes emerge from behind hillocks – there&#8217;s even a marble egg reclining by a waterfall. How about that, hey.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-the-hepworth-wakefield">3. <a href="https://hepworthwakefield.org/whats-on/the-hepworth-wakefield-garden/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Hepworth</a>, Wakefield</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/hepworth_wakefield_garden.jpg" alt="Hepworth Wakefield Garden July 2020 Jason Ingram" class="wp-image-2977" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/hepworth_wakefield_garden.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/hepworth_wakefield_garden-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/hepworth_wakefield_garden-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Hepworth Wakefield Garden, July 2020. Photo: Jason Ingram</figcaption></figure>



<p>Named after Dame Barbara Hepworth, Yorkshire’s most formidable artistic export (yes, even more so than the Arctic Monkeys), this gallery is a Brutalist dreamboat sitting pretty on the River Calder. It houses the largest collection of Hepworth’s work anywhere in the world, including plasters from her studio that show her process. OK, it’s not <em>technically</em> an outdoor art space – the building itself is a seriously arty space full of sharp lines and curated calm – but the riverside setting and sculpture-strewn gardens get it a firm pass. The contemporary garden designed by Tom Stuart-Smith, featuring work by Sir Craig Martin, Kim Lim and the great Dame herself, obvs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-thirsk-hall-north-yorkshire">4. <a href="https://www.willoughbygerrish.com/sculpture-garden/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thirsk Hall</a>, North Yorkshire</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/thirskhall-1024x683.jpg" alt="Thirsk Hall" class="wp-image-2980" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/thirskhall-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/thirskhall-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/thirskhall-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/thirskhall.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Opened in 2021 by Jake Chapman (of Chapman Brothers fame), Thirsk Hall&#8217;s sculpture garden is something of a hidden gem. Spanning the grounds of the Grade II-listed Georgian mansion, there&#8217;s something pleasantly jarring about seeing slick, surreal sculpture set against clipped box hedges and historic brickwork. Past exhibitors include David Hockney, and there&#8217;s just been an exhibition wrapped up Austin Wright. Keep an eye on the <a href="https://www.willoughbygerrish.com/sculpture-garden/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a> for upcoming displays.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-leeds-street-art-trail">5. <a href="https://www.visitleeds.co.uk/street-art-trail/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leeds Street Art Trail</a></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/You-Me-Me-You-by-Anthony-Burrill-–-Carl-Milner-Photography-for-Visit-Leeds-13-2000-1024x683.jpg" alt="Leeds Street Art trail" class="wp-image-2981" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/You-Me-Me-You-by-Anthony-Burrill-–-Carl-Milner-Photography-for-Visit-Leeds-13-2000-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/You-Me-Me-You-by-Anthony-Burrill-–-Carl-Milner-Photography-for-Visit-Leeds-13-2000-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/You-Me-Me-You-by-Anthony-Burrill-–-Carl-Milner-Photography-for-Visit-Leeds-13-2000-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/You-Me-Me-You-by-Anthony-Burrill-–-Carl-Milner-Photography-for-Visit-Leeds-13-2000.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Less “do not touch the sculpture” and more “have your photo taken with it holding an oat flat white”, Leeds has transformed itself into a living, breathing outdoor gallery in recent years. Key pieces include Nomad Clan’s <em>Athena Rising</em> (at 47m tall, it was the tallest mural in the UK until recently), Graeme Willson&#8217;s <em>Cornucopia</em> (winner of Leeds Award for Architecture and the Environment), and the cool optical illusion <em>Washing Marine</em> (Ralph Replete). Download a map, bring a camera, and treat it like an arty treasure hunt. Bonus: most of the best bits are on or off Kirkgate, so you won&#8217;t have to amble far to get to a cool bar. Culture + cocktails = go on then.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-6-henry-moore-institute-leeds">6. <a href="https://henry-moore.org/henry-moore-institute/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Henry Moore Institute</a>, Leeds</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/henrymoore.jpg" alt="Henry Moore Institute" class="wp-image-2982" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/henrymoore.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/henrymoore-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/04/henrymoore-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>The Henry Moore Institute is a sleek space devoted to the study and celebration of sculpture, both historic and bleeding-edge contemporary. It’s located next to Leeds Art Gallery and is recognisable by its imposing, slick black frontage. There&#8217;s a permanent display on the history of sculpture in Leeds, plus a few new temporary exhibitions just opened last week (<em><a href="https://henry-moore.org/whats-on/sunlight-roger-ackling/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SUNLIGHT: Roger Ackling</a></em> and <em><a href="https://henry-moore.org/whats-on/sarah-casey-negative-mass-balance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sarah Casey: Negative Mass Balance</a></em>, both on until June). Again, not exactly outdoor, but it&#8217;s one sculpture fans won&#8217;t want to miss. Hot tip: nip next door to the Leeds Art Gallery café once you&#8217;re done – it looks like something straight out of a Wes Anderson film.</p>


Culture in the wild! Yorkshire’s top outdoor art spots

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