9 of the best things to do in Sheffield

Times

4 days ago

I've lived in Sheffield for over 20 years and, when I'm out walking the dog first thing up at Graves Park as the sun creeps up over the whole city, I never cease to be bowled over by its beauty. Visiting friends from London always marvel at the tremendous pubs (and the price of a pint!), and when so many cities have been lost to rapid gentrification with Identikit high streets, Sheffield has always managed to retain a distinct personality and character that I cherish.
Sheffield is a magnificent city break and countryside retreat wrapped up in one. It was once known for its world-leading steel trade, which stretches back to the 14th century, hence its former 'Steel City' moniker. There are plenty of leftover industrial buildings, with many now taking on new leases of life in culture or hospitality, such as food halls, markets, recording studios, restaurants and bars. But as one of Europe's greenest cities it's also bursting with public parks (more than 80), acres of woodland, and manicured gardens to explore. The incredibly hilly terrain, combined with its immediate proximity to the spectacular Peak District, which is only a ten-minute drive from the west side of the city, means that Sheffield is punctuated with remarkable views (Bamford Edge is gorgeous for sunsets — or climb nearby Win Hill for even more of a panoramic view).
Sheffield has a longstanding history of pioneering music and culture, too — from bands such as Pulp, the Human League and Arctic Monkeys to the award-winning Warp Films, which produced 2025's huge TV hit Adolescence and many Shane Meadows films. It's a city that remains proudly independent and from cafés to record shops, bars to vintage clothing stores, that independence is one of Sheffield's defining characteristics. And it's only two hours away from London by train, making it an easy day trip if you're short on time. These are my top picks for what to do.
This article contains affiliate links that will earn us revenue
Sheffield has long since distanced itself from the nickname 'Steel City' and now proudly brands itself the 'Outdoor City' — justifiably so. With about 22,600 acres of green space taking up over 60 per cent of the city — about 4.5 million trees and over 800 exquisitely maintained green spaces, including parks, woodlands, and public gardens, the city is spoilt when it comes to idyllic spots. Even the rivers of the city centre double up as places to paddleboard, canoe or kayak.
Make sure to visit the pretty botanical gardens, home to 5,000 species of plants and, slightly bizarrely, a bear pit that dates back to the 19th century. If you've got time to spare, swing by nearby Sharrow Vale Road, a buzzy little street full of independent shops and cafés. Try the pastries at Tonco, a brew at Porter Coffee or some award-winning Mexican at Pellizco. Then stroll up to the sprawling Endcliffe Park, into Whiteley Woods and on to Forge Dam — you'll take in rivers, streams, woodland, parkland and end at a great café.
Brocco on the Park is a trendy boutique hotel overlooking Endcliffe Park, with an excellent restaurant.
DC Outdoors has a range of guided outdoor activities, from introductory taster sessions to full weekend excursions and adventures.
dcoutdoors.co.uk
Sheffield has several galleries and museums worth visiting. From family-friendly options like Weston Park — an interactive museum and gallery that covers local history, archaeology, zoology and more (free entry, donations welcome) — to contemporary art spaces such as Site Gallery (also free). The artist Pete McKee, a local favourite who has worked with everyone from Noel Gallagher to Sir Paul Smith, has his own shop and gallery in Leah's Yard, a beautifully restored grade II* listed industrial building that is now home to independent outlets, including a second art spot, the Yard Gallery.
St Paul's Hotel & Spa is a well-located and stylish spot to base yourself, relax and unwind in between gallery visits.
According to a 2024 report from the University of Sheffield, the city is 'the real ale capital of the world'. As an avid cask ale drinker I find this conclusion hard to refute. The city is home to 58 breweries, which produce about 1,800 different beers every year. It has a huge variety of alehouses — you'll be hard pressed not to stumble across a brilliant pub in the city — making it a smashing spot for a crawl.
Begin from the train station at the Sheffield Tap, which features a former Edwardian waiting and dining room turned into a resplendent drinking space, complete with on-site brewery. Then head to the Rutland Arms (as well known for its chip butties as its beer) and up to the Bath Hotel, a cosy corner pub complete with a snug and original stained-glass windows. Hop on the tram to Kelham Island to the legendary, award-winning Fat Cat (which claims to have been Sheffield's first real ale pub) and on to Kelham Island Tavern (awarded Camra's Real Ale National Pub of the Year two years running).
If you prefer the fizzy stuff then fret not: Sheffield is also a haven for craft beer. The Old Shoe is slap bang in the city centre and offers such an endless rotation of beers that the menu gets updated throughout the day. You can drink pints directly from the tank at Triple Point Brewery, Hop Hideout is a brilliant bottle shop and tap room, and the Brewery of St Mars of the Desert is a cute microbrewery and taproom hidden away on an industrial estate. At the beer hall Kapital you'll find fresh, unpasteurised Czech lager delivered directly from brewery cellars in South Bohemia every week.
Join Sheffield Food Tours' guided food and beer tour, which takes in five Kelham Island beer institutions, old and new, plus three food stops.
sheffieldfoodtours.co.uk/kelhamfoodandbeertour
Whatever time of year you visit, chances are there will be some form of festival happening. In June hundreds of documentaries from around the world are screened at Doc/Fest. Early in July there's Crossed Wires, known as the 'Glastonbury of podcast festivals', and at the end of the month the Tramlines music festival takes place (2025 features the triumphant return of Pulp as headliners). October has art and left-field music at No Bounds, the literary festival Off the Shelf and the film and music festival Sensoria. Year-round you'll find festivals spanning food, music, beer, wine, film, arts, crafts and more. Sheffield has become such a mecca for specialty coffee — amazing places include Mow's, Marmadukes, 2323, Albie's, Steam Yard — that it now has the annual multi-venue Sheffield Coffee Festival (May/June). You can check the local events guide, Our Favourite Places, to keep on top of festival event dates during your trip.
If you want to be in the thick of the action you can't get more well positioned than Radisson Blu in the city centre. It's a hotel that blends Scandinavian design with natural materials and steel details to touch upon Sheffield's industrial heritage, with a lovely rooftop bar and restaurant.
For street food head to the enormous Cambridge Street Collective food hall, named best food hall at the British Street Food Awards in 2024, where you'll find food from around the world as well as regular DJ performances; Cutlery Works is another bustling street food hall. For more intimate offerings, Bench — centred on one long bench — is delightful, offering natural wines with small plates such as grilled Cornish octopus, red pepper and smoked garlic. No Name is smaller but packs flavour and character via its ever-changing bistro menu and relaxed bring-your-own-wine vibes.
As for high-end dining, if you're going to have one blowout meal while in the city, Jöro is the place to visit. Located in a beautifully restored former paper mill in Oughtibridge, a village in the north of Sheffield (roughly a 15-minute drive from the city centre), its hyper-seasonal, modern European-style tasting menus combine local ingredients (Yorkshire-reared beef; the tips of nearby spruce trees that have only a two-week window for eating) with Japanese influence and dishes. It's a perfect combination of high-end food, such as braised pork belly with fragrant Thai broth and wild leeks or confit of Jerusalem artichoke and roasted chicken sauce, with a setting that is immaculately designed yet relaxed. There's no dress code and there are just 11 tables, all facing the open kitchen.
Read our full review of Jöro at Oughtibridge Mill
With seven impeccably furnished apartments above the restaurant, Jöro also offers dine-and-stay packages, which include a delightful breakfast — featuring miso, banana and lime muffins, treacle soda bread, and salmon cured in citrus and kampot pepper — delivered directly to your room.
jororestaurant.co.uk
For a comprehensive insight into Sheffield's eclectic food scene, book a food tour of the city centre with Get Your Guide. This four-hour walking tour takes you to five top-notch restaurants and concludes with a visit to Bullion Chocolate.
• Great city breaks in the UK
Kelham Island Museum (on Kelham Island, a 20-minute walk from the city centre) celebrates 300 years of Sheffield's history and features what is considered the most powerful working steam engine in Europe — a loud and impressive thing to witness kick into gear (it gets switched on noon and 2pm from Thursday to Sunday). The museum traces the history of Sheffield's role in the Industrial Revolution, celebrates the significant role of women in the steel industry (keep your eyes peeled also for Women of Steel, a bronze statue next to City Hall) and plunges you into Sheffield during the Victorian era. It even has its own on-site pub. The museum is free to enter but welcomes donations.
If architecture is your thing, then we'd recommend booking a resident-led walking tour of Park Hill. It's Europe's largest grade II listed building and has stood as a towering brutalist housing estate since 1961. It was also the setting for the award-winning musical Standing at the Sky's Edge. The estate has been polished up; while you're there, don't miss South Street Kitchen for a Middle Eastern brunch or the Pearl for cocktails and small plates. Most importantly, take the opportunity to explore the vast walkways, take in the views and learn the history.
A 40-minute drive away (there's also a bus service) is Chatsworth House, home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and one of the UK's most beautiful stately homes, located in spectacular grounds that stretch over a 1,000-acre park.
Why not turn your stay into a heritage experience too? Sexton's Lodge is located in the grade II* listed Gatehouse to Sheffield General Cemetery and is furnished with original pieces, lighting and antiques from the 19th century.
Shearings offers an excellent, fully guided four-night tour of the Peak District, featuring a visit to Chatsworth, with Sheffield as your base.
Sheffield's most famous food export is Henderson's Relish, a delicious sweet-and-spicy condiment that's been produced since 1885. If you arrive by train you'll even notice a towering orange bottle of it painted on the station's wall, and its secret recipe is still splashed on various dishes today. I'd heartily recommend sloshing it on your chips at the Rutland Arms.
Local products also worth trying include honey from the Sheffield Honey Company, coffee roasted by Foundry and Dark Woods, and the lip-tingling hot sauces from Khoo's. Or sip on Birdhouse tea at their city centre teahouse before sampling Bullion's bean-to-bar craft chocolate.
Fancy experiencing something else unique to Sheffield? Why not stay in a houseboat hotel in Victoria Quays.
Central Sheffield has plenty going on — this is where you'll find the best theatres, galleries, bars and restaurants — but the city does not revolve around it. Sheffield is a pocketed place made up of idiosyncratic little neighbourhoods that developed from villages or hamlets as it grew (the city is made up of 28 wards). There's Kelham Island, which has become a buzzy food and drink hotspot and is full of atmospheric riverside beer gardens (I love the wonderfully wonky and junkyard-esque outdoor space at the Gardeners Rest), street food markets, bakeries (Depot is fantastic), taco joints (try Piña), independent coffee spots (Gaard), pubs and live music venues.
If you like things a little slower and quieter, head southwest to leafy Nether Edge, where you'll find the aforementioned Bench and the Broadfield pub for some of Sheff's heartiest pies. Other self-contained neighbourhoods that offer an alternative to the city centre include Ecclesall Road and Sharrow Vale Road, a 20-minute walk from the city centre, where you must try Sheffield's oldest Indian restaurant, Ashoka. Or head up the hill to Broomhill for lunch at the superb café Bon, then a quiet pint in the Itchy Pig micropub before dinner at Bambukat.
For a quieter and more tucked-away place to stay head to the Florentine. Located in Fulwood, it has a large sun terrace ideal for a peaceful drink and is walkable to both Broomhill and Ranmoor — both quiet areas offering plentiful food and drink options.
If you want to get even further into nature, then nip into the Peak District, a 20 to 40-minute drive —depending on where you end up — from Sheffield city centre. Few cities have such immediate access to remarkable countryside and it's a must for anyone visiting. Parts of the national park are accessible via train, bus and car, meaning options are plentiful for long walks, bold hikes, climbing adventures, mountain biking or casual strolls around picturesque villages.
Walking is thirsty work, so combine it with the national park's best pubs on a seven-hour Peak District pub tour. You'll visit pretty villages and stop off in six pubs, with plenty of sightseeing opportunities along the way.
• Best hotels in the Peak District• Lake District v Peak District: which is better?
Have we missed anything? Add your suggestions in the comments below