Things To Do In And Around Sheffield
Top 10 things to see and do in and around Sheffield:
Top 10 things to see and do in and around Sheffield:
The Winter Gardens
One of the largest temperate glasshouses to be built in the UK during the last hundred years has created a stunning green world in the heart of the city.
Next to the Peace Gardens and the Millennium Galleries, the Winter Garden provides visitors with a unique experience in the city centre.
There are more than 2,500 plants from around the world creating a superb display. The building itself is 70 metres long and 22 metres high (large enough to house 5,000 domestic greenhouses!).
Facilities
The Winter Garden also provides a home for several retail units and offers a welcome stop for coffee and light refreshments. Access is available to the Millennium Galleries where, in the Gallery Cafe, a wide range of refreshments and facilities are available.
Opening times
Admission is free
Millennium Gallery
Located next to the Winter Gardens, the Millennium Gallery hosts some of the best exhibitions touring the country. Here you can see some of Sheffield's unique heritage, including the metalwork which made the city world-famous, alongside contemporary art and design exhibitions. The gallery was listed as the 15th most-visited free attraction in the country by Visit England.
Opening times
Monday-Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 11am - 4pm
Bank Holidays 11am - 4pm
Admission is free
Kelham Island
Once the beating heart of industry, Kelham Island is one of Sheffield's oldest manufacturing sites. The manmade island was formed in the 1100s when a stream was diverted to power a nearby mill. However, as industrial activity has moved on, the area has undergone a significant transformation in recent years and quietly become one of the most exciting parts of the city.
The remains of the numerous cutlery and steelworks, factories and workshops is part of what gives the area its distinct charm, except nowadays these buildings house everything from indie shopping arcades to microbreweries and galleries.
With its iconic Bessemer Converter and Europe's largest working steam engine on display, Kelham Island Museum stands a proud reminder of Sheffield's industrial history and is great place to learn more about this significant heritage.
Sheffield's proud history of beer goes almost hand in hand with its industry, as small but numerous breweries formed during the industrial revolution, providing refreshment to men in factories. So it's not surprising that Kelham Island has long been at the forefront of Sheffield's brewing reputation and has become a mecca for renowned real ale pubs such as the Kelham Island Tavern, The Fat Cat, The Riverside and Gardener's Rest.
And alongside great beer, great food has also become a staple of the area. Peddler, a monthly street food night market held in a warehouse, is so popular, you'll often find people queuing round the block to get in, while restaurants such as Jöro (housed in a shipping container) and The Milestone, offer some of the most innovative menus in the city.
Weston Park Museum
Museums Sheffield: Weston Park is an award-winning, family-friendly museum where the visitors come first. If visiting with children, simply wind up and release, but there is plenty of treasure here for adults too. Discover the real story of Sheffield, from its geological roots to the people, politics and music that shaped the modern city.
Alongside old favourites such as Snowy the Polar Bear and Spike the Woolly Rhino, Weston Park plays host to a series of temporary exhibitions.
Facilities
The Weston Park shop stocks original gifts and souvenirs with a Sheffield twist.
Opening times
Monday-Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 11am - 4pm
Bank Holidays 10am - 5pm
Admission is free
The Botanical Gardens
Sheffield Botanical Gardens is a green haven in the middle of the city with lots to see and enjoy. They are listed by English Heritage as a Grade II site and also contains a number of listed buildings including the beautiful glass pavilions.
There are so many areas to explore from the Four Seasons garden that provides a changing display throughout the year, Birch Hill, a traditional Rose Garden and a Rock and Water Garden.
The Asia Garden has shrubs and trees from the Himalayas and the Far East, Osborn's Field has new tender plants and the Evolution Garden shows how plants developed from primitive life forms. Look out for the fossilised stump of a 300 million-year-old tree!
There is also a Woodland area and a Prairie Garden full of meadow plants. And if you want some ideas for your own garden, take a look at the Marnock Garden, which is full of inspiration.
Opening times
Summer:
Weekdays:
Gardens 8am to 7.45pm
Pavilions 11am to 5pm
Weekends and Bank Holidays:
Gardens 10am to 7.45pm
Pavilions 11am to 5pm
Winter:
Weekdays:
Gardens 8am to 4pm
Pavilions 11am to 3.30pm
Weekends and Bank Holidays:
Gardens 10am to 4pm
Admission is free
The Peak District
Catch the 272 bus from the City Centre and prepare for breath-taking views as you head into the Great Outdoors that is the Peak District. There are a number of interesting attractions and things to do however we will list off a couple of our favourites.
Caverns and Caves
Caverns and caves in the Peak District are unique places to visit and are one of the most popular things to do in Derbyshire and the Peak District. With their amazing rock formations, rare stones and amazing atmospheres they are sure to be a day out that everyone enjoys.
The Castleton caves are some of the best show caverns in the country and is home to Peak Cavern, Speedwell Cavern, Blue John Cavern and Treak Cliff Cavern.
Treak Cliff Cavern has some amazing stalactites and stalagmites, which really have to be seen to be believed. Along with Blue John Cavern, this is the only place to find Derbyshire's semi-precious mineral, Blue John- a fantastic sight to see!
There are also great show caverns to explore in the Heights of Abraham, Matlock- where the area's rich mining history is explained by their knowledgeable guides who know every nook and cranny of the cavern.
Also in the area is Poole's Cavern, located in Buxton. This is a fantastic limestone cavern with brilliant crystal stalactites lining the chambers.
Chatsworth House
Chatsworth House is a stately home in Derbyshire. Standing on the east bank of the River Derwent, Chatsworth looks across to the low hills that divide the Derwent and Wye valleys. The house, set in expansive parkland and backed by wooded, rocky hills rising to heather moorland, contains an important collection of paintings, furniture, Old Master drawings, neoclassical sculptures, books and other artefacts. Chatsworth has been selected as the United Kingdom's favourite country house several times.
Peveril Castle
The imposing ruins of Peveril Castle stand high above the pretty village of Castleton in the heart of Derbyshire's Peak District. Mentioned in the Domesday survey, Peveril Castle is one of England's earliest Norman fortresses. The keep was built by Henry II in 1176. A climb to the castle at the top of the hill to enjoy the breath-taking views over the Hope Valley is a highlight of a family day out in Castleton. Explore the remains of the keep including the garderobe (medieval lavatory).
Bakewell
Perhaps best known for its unique and delicious Pudding, Bakewell has many more tempting treats to offer - ranging from shopping and specialist markets to relaxing strolls and special events.
Idyllically situated on the banks of the River Wye, the biggest town in the Peak District National Park's mellow stone buildings, medieval five-arched stone bridge and quaint courtyards are a magnet for painters, photographers and sightseers alike.
Legend has it that the town's famous Pudding was created by mistake by a local cook in the mid-19th century. Today her delectable 'jam tart that went wrong' can be sampled at various bakeries and cafes and posted virtually anywhere in the world!
Bargains galore are on offer every Monday at the bustling outdoor market, and for an extra buzz, head for the livestock market to experience the action in the theatre-like auction ring.
Cherry-pick choice local produce at one of Britain's best Farmers' Markets or browse in specialist shops selling everything from high fashion and outdoor clothing to handmade chocolates and rare whiskies. Savour a light snack, lunch or dinner at a host of cafes, restaurants, pubs and tea rooms and take a brewery tour and sample world-beating craft beers at Thornbridge Brewery.
Catch the colour of Bakewell Carnival Week and Well Dressing in July or Bakewell Show - one of the oldest agricultural events in the country - in August.
