People that have never visited this beautiful city, often have an idea of what they think Sheffield is like - a busy industrial northern city. It is in fact the ‘greenest’ city in England in terms of tree coverage with 4 trees for every resident. It is also the only city that has a third of its area within a National Park. Sheffield’s Winter Garden is 70m long and is the largest urban glasshouse in Europe, home to 2500 plants from across the world.
Set against the backdrop of the Peak District National Park, Sheffield was renowned and respected internationally for its steel production in the 19th century. The Steel City, as it is known, is the second largest city in Yorkshire (after Leeds) and is a much different city today than during the Industrial Revolution. Nowadays, this vibrant South Yorkshire city is a mix of culture, exciting city life and green spaces. The 60,000 strong student community adds much of the ‘vibe’ around Sheffield with art and culture festivals a constant theme throughout the year.
Sheffield has a rich sporting history boasting two football teams (Wednesday and United) and of course, the World Snooker Championship at the famous Crucible Theatre. Named after the technological improvement in steel making, known as the crucible process, the Crucible Theatre has hosted the annual tournament every May since 1977. The Crucible and Lyceum Theatre are in fact the UK’s largest theatre complex outside of London. Spectating opportunities for non-football/snooker fans are also a plenty with Sheffield also having ice hockey, speedway and rugby league teams. Sheffield is also the birthplace of Gold medal winners Sebastian Coe and Jess Ennis-Hill as well as England goalkeeping legend Gordon Banks.
Sheffield - don’t miss
Millenium Gallery - the most visited free attraction in the north of England
Tropical Butterfly House, Wildlife and Falconry Centre
Sheffield Cable Water ski and Aqua Park
Paddleboarding on Sheffield’s waterways with DC Outdoors
Kelham Island Museum
National Emergency Services Museum
Sheffield Food Festival (25-27 May 2024)
Did you know?
Sheffield is the UK’s National Cultural Centre For Videogames with an amazing museum offering workshops and chances to play and explore how games are made. National Videogame Museum
Robin Hood’s birthplace is now recognised as Loxley, a suburb of Sheffield (unless you come from Nottinghamshire!)
Music has always been at the heart of the city with local bands including The Human League, Pulp, Def Leopard and the Arctic Monkeys.
Sheffield City Region has a booming beer trade of 57 breweries, 31 of which have opened in the last five years alone. Within Sheffield, around 400 different, unique beers are available in the city's pubs on a typical day meaning it has been given the tagline of the ‘real ale capital of the world’.
