Here’s how to do Steel City on a shoestring budget!
Sheffield is one of the UK’s most vibrant cities, brimming with culture, countryside and Northern charm. And with plenty to see while saving the pennies, it’s the perfect city for a budget mini break. Here’s our top 10 picks of things to do in Sheffield on a budget.
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1. National Emergency Services Museum
Adults £9.50, children £7.50, under-3s go free, £8.50 concessions, £5.50 for NHS workers
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The National Emergency Services Museum is a fantastic day out for families, history lovers and modern-day key workers. Spread out across three floors in an old Victorian police, fire and ambulance station, you can explore their collection of vintage gadgets and vehicles. Climb aboard an old fire engine and try on old uniforms for a real immersive learning experience.
Tickets range from £5.50 to £9.50, with children under 3 going free. There are also special prices available for students, families and NHS workers. Check the museum’s What’s On page for upcoming events and workshops!
2. Sheffield Botanical Gardens
Free
Spread across 19 acres, Sheffield’s Grade II-listed botanical gardens are a colourful gem just outside the industrial city. With 18 different themed garden areas, you can soak up the beauty of everything from prairie-style beds to a Victorian rose garden.
And that’s not all! Peek inside the stunning glass pavilions full of exotic plants, look over the 19th-century bear pit and marvel at a 312-million-year-old Lepidodendron tree stump! Entry to the gardens is gloriously free, so you can indulge in a coffee and sweet treat in the gardens’ on-site café.
3. Visit Millennium Gallery
Free (suggested £5 donation)
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Sheffield’s Millennium Gallery is where international art and design meet local talent. Inside, you’ll find one of the world’s best metalwork collections, with over 800 pieces of flatware, tableware, and cutlery (what Sheffield was famous for making!). With temporary exhibitions, there’s always something new to see on each visit.
There’s no admission charge, but they do welcome a £5 donation to support overheads. And if you fancy buying an arty souvenir, there’s a great gift shop.
4. Grab a bite at Moor Market
Free
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With more than 90 independent traders, Moor Market has something for everyone, whether you’re into speciality foods, handcrafted homewear or vintage clothes. Spend the day sampling world foods, gourmet cheeses, and baked treats and chat to the local artisans and traders behind the stalls.
There’s also a world of cuisines to tuck into, ranging from the Far East to the Caribbean – so it’s safe to say you won’t leave hungry! The market is free to enter, so it’s the perfect place to mooch around in the morning.
5. Visit Weston Park Museum
Free (suggested £5 donation)
Journey through the ages at Weston Park, which documents the history of Sheffield’s geology, people, politics, and music. Galleries like Picturing Sheffield and Sheffield Stories examine the city and its people’s impact on the world, and vice versa. And it’s not just recent history that you can explore here – say hello to Spike and Snowy, the lifelike woolly rhino and polar bear, in the What on Earth! gallery.
With hands-on exhibitions and interactive displays, there’s plenty to keep everyone entertained all afternoon.
6. Day trip to the Peak District
Free
Britain’s first national park is right on Sheffield’s doorstep, so you’ll have a wealth of walks, sights and cute villages to visit on your trip. There’s plenty of public transport available direct from Sheffield city centre too, so you don’t have to worry about parking. Catch a train to Edale and hike the park’s highest peak or ride the bus to Chatsworth House and wander around its 1,800 acres of parkland.
The Peak District is free to visit at any time, so pack a picnic, lace up your boots and enjoy miles of rugged natural beauty – all without spending a penny!
7. Heeley City Farm
Free (donations welcome)
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Support Sheffield’s communities with a trip to Heeley City Farm – an urban farm and charity that runs programmes to help locals and the environment. Get friendly with rare breeds of goats, pigs, sheep, and chickens and wander through the well-kept flower and kitchen gardens.
Entry to the farm is free, but donations are welcome, and you can support the farm by eating at the on-site café or buying something from the farm shop.
8. Explore street art in Kelham Island
Free
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Formed over 900 years ago, the man-made Kelham Island is one of Sheffield’s oldest manufacturing sites. Today, the area retains its industrial look, but has reinvented itself as a trendy neighbourhood with indie food halls and street art. Grab your camera and go hunting for artworks painted and sprayed on walls and street cabinets.
There are over 70 exhibits to discover, including specially commissioned murals that honour the city, its artists and people. The open-air gallery is free to explore, making it a great, affordable activity for a sunny day!
9. Kelham Island Museum
Free (suggested £5 donation)
Keen to learn more about Sheffield’s industrial heritage (and how it earned the nickname ‘Steel City’)? Kelham Island Museum is a must. Explore the Transport Galleries, learn about Sheffield Simplex cars and step back in time as you wander down Little Mesters Street and into 1916 House.
Don’t miss the roar and rumble of the 12,000-horsepower River Don steam engine, which runs at 12pm and 2pm from Thursday to Sunday. With plenty of interactive and sensory displays, it’s a fantastic rainy-day activity for the whole family.
10. Go window shopping in Leah’s Yard
Free
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Once a 19th-century complex of industrial workshops, this Grade II-listed building has been regenerated as part of Sheffield’s Heart of the City project. Today, you’ll find a cluster of independent shops, eateries and businesses inside. Grab a coffee and have a mooch around bookshops, florists, farm shops and even a craft chocolate cafe.
This window shopper’s paradise is free to wander around – so you only have to part with your cash if you find something irresistible!
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