As the birthplace of the Arctic Monkeys, it’s no wonder Sheffield is now known as one of the UK’s coolest cities.
With industrial grit, countryside charm, a legendary music scene and even alpacas (yes, really!), there’s something here for everyone. Here are 10 things to do in Sheffield to help you make the most of your trip to Steel City.
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1. Sheffield Botanical Gardens
Covering 19 acres of sloping parkland, these Grade II-listed gardens make a great day out for horticulture, architecture, and history lovers. Originally laid out in the 1830s, the Sheffield Botanical Gardens still retain their Victorian charm with stunning glass pavilions packed with exotic plants. Explore 18 different garden areas ranging from prairie-style to a Victorian rose garden and even see a 310-million-year-old tree stump fossil!
The gardens are open every day except Christmas and operate different summer and winter hours, so be sure to check their opening times before your trip!
2. Kelham Island Museum
Learn how Sheffield became known as ‘Steel City’ at the Kelham Island Museum. Through interactive and sensory exhibitions, you can explore 300 years of making and metallurgy (that’s the science of metals and their production!). Wander down Little Mesters Street, check out the pioneering Sheffield Simplex cars and travel back in time in the 1916 House.
And don’t miss the River Don Engine – a 425-ton steam behemoth that roars and rumbles at 12pm and 2pm Thursday to Sunday. Best of all? Entry is completely free!
3. Sheffield Winter Garden
Part conservatory, part urban oasis, the Sheffield Winter Garden is one of the largest temperate glasshouses built in the UK in the last century. It’s also the largest urban glasshouse anywhere in Europe!
With more than 2,500 plants from around the world, you can spend all day sniffing flowers, snapping pics and soaking up the tropical humidity. Entry is free too, so you can save your cash for the café and shop on-site.
4. Eccy Road independent shops
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Ecclesall Road, aka ‘Eccy Road’, is famous for its three-mile stretch of independent restaurants, coffee shops, bars and boutiques. Find a good book at Rhyme and Reason, sample trendy wines at Starmore Boss, find a quirky gift at Mookau, or chomp on chocolate treats at Cocoa Wonderland.
There’s also a world of cuisines to explore inside the street’s many eateries, too, from Thai and Indian to British and Italian. The area is a great example of Sheffield’s easy-going vibe and there’s a shop and a menu to please everyone.
5. Sheffield’s live music scene
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Sheffield gave the world Pulp, Def Leppard, and the Arctic Monkeys, so it’s no surprise the city has a strong gig culture. If you’re after something a bit quirky, check out Foundry inside the University of Sheffield’s Students’ Union. The venue has three rooms and hosts regular club nights like The Tuesday Club and retro music events like Pop Tarts.
For a more refined night of live music, head to The Botanist. Here, you can sip a cocktail as you listen to some homegrown bands and artists play a range of genres on the foliage-adorned stage.
And finally, journey through music history at Yellow Arch Studios. Once an Edwardian nuts-and-bolts factory, it’s now a legendary recording studio and a 200-capacity venue. The Arctic Monkeys wrote and recorded their first album here, and the venue has hosted other world-famous artists like Kylie Minogue. Be sure to check out the studio’s Events page to catch gigs spanning almost every kind of genre!
6. National Emergency Services Museum
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Step inside a former Victorian police, fire and ambulance station to learn about the history and heroism of our country’s blue light workers. The National Emergency Services Museum is a fantastic day out, with everything from vintage police cars and medical equipment to a 47ft lifeboat!
Climb aboard historic engines and even try on old uniforms for a real hands-on learning experience. Kids and adults love it and you’ll love its affordable price tag, too. Tickets are just £9.50 for adults, £7.50 for kids, and under-3s go free! Check out the museum’s what’s on page for information about upcoming events and workshops.
7. Holly Hagg Community Farm and alpaca treks
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Alpacas usually live in the mountains and valleys of South America, but you can also find them in the Peak District – or more specifically, at Holly Hagg Community Farm. This not-for-profit community farm follows permaculture principles to grow organic food and looks after a range of animals.
The farm isn’t open for casual drop-ins, but you can book a guided Alpaca trek through the Rivelin Valley with the farm’s beautiful herds of alpacas and llamas. Wear sturdy footwear for steep, rocky ground and leave the umbrella at home (they scare the animals!). Check out the farm’s website for trek set times to get your steps in and make some fluffy friends!
8. Endcliffe Park
Escape to Endcliffe Park for a peaceful stroll. Part of the Porter Valley Parks, Endcliffe opened in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Jubilee. Here you can find two monuments dedicated to her: a statue near the entrance and an obelisk on the path toward Whiteley Woods.
There’s also a memorial stone and garden honouring the crew of the ASAAF B-17 ‘Mi Amigo’. The warplane crashed into the trees here in 1944 to avoid hitting the children playing and homes below. With grassy fields and beautiful woodland paths, it’s the ideal place for a stroll and a picnic.
9. Chatsworth House
While it’s not strictly in Sheffield, Chatsworth House in the Derbyshire Peak District is only a 40-minute drive away and well worth the detour. You might recognise it as Mr. Darcy’s home, Pemberley, in the 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, and it also featured in Peaky Blinders. The estate comprises a jaw-droppingly grand house, 105 acres of manicured gardens, a farmyard, and over 1,800 acres of parkland.
Start your day off with a good, long walk around the grounds before heading inside to explore 25 highly decorated rooms. With paintings, sculptures, and various artefacts spanning 4,000 years, a trip here is a real culture-filled day out.
10. Leah’s Yard
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Sheffield was famous for its ‘Little Mesters’ – self-employed craftspeople who worked primarily making cutlery and tools. Leah’s Yard celebrates its rich history inside an early 19th-century complex of small industrial workshops. The building has been saved from Historic England’s at-risk register and has been beautifully restored.
Today, the independent makers and creative businesses of Sheffield work from here, specialising in everything from books and art to plants. Go and have a mooch, chat to the artisans, and maybe buy a gift for a loved one (or yourself!).
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