Attractions in Sheffield

With over 70 listed buildings, Sheffield is alive with historic architecture going back nearly a millennium.

Dating back to the 13th century – and possibly before – Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet is an industrial museum made up of workshops and accommodation, and was home to an iron forge for over 500 years. Today, you can still see iron and steel being made (it was a working scythe factory until as recently as 1935).

A quick walk from our Angel Street hotel around the city centre will also reveal Sheffield Cathedral, Leopold Square, the Town Hall and the 1966 Arts Tower, which offers gorgeous 255-metre-high views across the city.

From alpaca petting to riverside walks and city centre gardens, there are lots of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors when visiting Sheffield.

Just outside the city centre sits Endcliffe Park. A year-round destination, summer fairs, the Pride Festival and the Easter Great Sheffield Duck Racefill the park’s green spaces during the spring and summer months. When it isn’t picnic weather, you can take a walk in the woods or along the Porter Brook river, which runs through the centre, or duck into the café for some hearty homemade sandwiches and toasties.

A wildlife centre with a difference, the Tropical Butterfly House hosts everything from meerkats and birds of prey to snakes and crocodiles, as well as legions of butterflies. With an adventure playground, outdoor play area and animal petting sessions, there’s lots to occupy kids and families, while the tropical climate helps in the midst of any mid-winter gloom. It’s certainly worth the 20-minute drive from our Meadowhall hotel.

Equally animal-centric is Holly Hagg, a not-for-profit community farm that offers guided alpaca treks through the Rivelin Valley woodland. If you prefer to get your green fix in the city, then head to the Peace Gardens, situated in front of the Town Hall, or Sheffield Winter Gardens. The name doesn’t really do it justice, because alongside a stunning collection of tropical plants it also houses an art gallery and a café, and doubles as a great place to watch the snooker, via the BBC studio, when it comes to the nearby Crucible Theatre each year.

A world-class stadium with an open booking policy, the FlyDSA Arena has seen some huge names grace its stage over nearly 30 years of action.

The indoor FlyDSA Arena is one of the most popular destinations in Sheffield thanks to its diverse booking policy – nothing is off limits, as they’ve booked everyone and everything from Little Mix to John Bishop (plus darts, wrestling and Katy Perry), to the delight of over seven million visitors who’ve come flocking through its gates since opening in 1991.

From footballs to rugby ovals and pucks and whippets, Sheffield has an impressive sporting heritage and was named the UK’s first city of sport in 1995.

Bramhall Lane and Hillsborough are Premiership-standard arenas and have been known to host out-of-football-season concerts and events. A dedicated music forum, the O2 Academy is Sheffield’s live music hub, holding live indie, dance and urban gigs every weekend alongside a host of cover bands. The Owlerton Greyhound Stadium is a multi-faceted stadium that hosts three evening racing sessions and two daytime events every week. With four bars and just five minutes from the city centre, it also hosts themed nights, special events and live music. And finally, there’s Sheffield City Hall, a venerable building that mixes comedy (Greg Davies), live music (Gary Barlow, and Jools Holland) and niche events like Gatecrasher Classical.