Why Sheffield? How did you end up there? What is there to do in Sheffield? These are questions that we get asked all the time.
Sheffield is the city we chose to call home when we picked up our lives and moved to the United Kingdom. If you haven’t read our post about it, click here!
Brief summary; it checked a bunch of boxes for us;
- Affordable living
- Lots of green space for the boys (our two French Bulldogs)
- Dog-friendly city
- Close to an airport
- Good city transportation
Now that we have lived here for over 7 months, we have unconditionally fallen in love with the city. Here are some of the reasons why and what there is to do in Sheffield!
Things to do in Sheffield – Visit the Green Space
What is there to do in Sheffield? Explore the green space. There is SO much of it. Sheffield is the 5th largest city in the UK and has roughly 580,000 residents. There are 3 trees per 1 person here in Sheffield. No shortage of places to walk your dog, enjoy the outdoors, and just be in nature!
Sheffield has 13 City run parks, 20 district parks, and 50 local parks and green spaces. For a complete list of them, click here!
Here are a few of my favourite green spaces in Sheffield.
The Peak District
The Peak District is a 15-minute drive from our home in Sheffield City Centre and spans approximately 555 square miles. There are so many things that you can do in The Peaks; walks, hikes, cycling, camping, and touring the historic sites on and around the grounds. The Peak District is exquisite. It has stunning views of true beauty and truly is a breath of fresh air.
If you want more information on The Peaks, click here!
Endcliffe Park
Endcliffe Park is our favourite park to take the boys to in Sheffield. We usually enter through the Ecclesall Road entrance and either stop for a coffee on the way down Eccy road, or at the cafe inside the park. It is a wooded area with paths throughout. It was opened in 1887 and is home to a Grade II-listed pavilion and lodge.
There are two ponds in the park that are home to many different types of wildlife. I always map out a route through Endcliffe when I go for my runs. It is so close to the city but seems miles away at the same time.
For more information on Endcliffe Park, click here!
Sheffield Botanical Gardens
The Sheffield Botanical Gardens opened in 1836 and span over 19 acres. To read more about the history, click here! Within the gardens, there are multiple listed buildings and over 18 different planting areas.
Here is the map of the Sheffield Botanical Gardens!
The Peace and Winter Gardens
Located right in the heart of the City, The Peace and Winter Gardens are an absolute must if you’re in Sheffield.
The Peace Gardens are a public space with 8 beautiful water features. The large vessels that allow the flow of water are meant to represent Sheffield’s 5 rivers as well as a reference to molten steel, an homage to Sheffield’s steel industry. There are festivals and events held throughout the year here which make for a great place to visit with your friends and family, or even on your work lunch break.
The Winter Gardens is an enclosed garden that is temperature regulated all year round. More than 2,500 different kinds of plans are on display in this garden! Oh, not to mention it is also the largest urban glasshouse in Europe! But who’s bragging? Admission is free and you also get access to the Sheffield Shop, a café, and art exhibitions during your visit.
Meersbrook Park
My friend Leila took me here with the preface of “it’s one of the best views of Sheffield”. I’m only sharing one photo, as a bit of a teaser, to make you want to see it in person because it is just so spectacular. It’s roughly 2 miles from the city center of Sheffield and holds two historic buildings; Bishops’ House (built around 1580) and Meersbrook Hall (built in 1780).
Be forewarned, to get from the top of the park to the bottom, there is a MASSIVE hill. It’s a paved path but make sure you warm up your legs first before the ascent.
Walks along the Porter Brook
The Porter Brook runs through the city of Sheffield. The source of the Brook starts just inside the Peak District, it runs through Endcliffe Park, wraps around behind Ecclesall Road, and along the edge of the Sheffield General Cemetry (right behind our flat!). It then pops out under the train station (the junction is beneath platform 5 a if you really want to know!).
Funny piece of information; The Porter brook gets its name from the brownish colour of the water. It is a reference to the similarity in colour of porter beer.
Things to do in Sheffield – Entertainment
Sheffield United Football Club
Sheffield United is the oldest ‘United’ football team that is playing at the professional level. Their home field is Brammall Lane, the most historic football stadium in the world (it has hosted more than 16 different types of sports here!). The first football match was played on December 29th, 1862 between Sheffield FC, and the World’s second-oldest club, Hallam FC.
The nickname “The Blades” comes from the cutlery and knife industry that Sheffield is known for. The energy at a Blades game is electric! Don’t you dare even mention the name of the other team that plays in Sheffield…..
Vintage and second-hand shopping in Sheffield
There are so many incredible second-hand and vintage shops in Sheffield. Here is a list of my favourites (not in any particular order!);
- Pre-Loved Kilo
- Vulgar
- Ryan Vintage
- Glass Onion
- Freshmans Vintage
- The Sheffield Cats Shelter Charity Shop – Ecclesall Road
There are so many more great shops as well. Shopping secondhand is next to none. It’s good for the environment, you save money, and you can get some pretty nifty old styles! Vintage or second-hand shopping is definitely something you should put on your list if you’re visiting Sheffield City Centre, or if you live here!
Ps. My favourite area to shop vintage/second-hand is in Devonshire Green.
Sheffield Steelers
Being from Canada, it’s no surprise that we love hockey. So, naturally, taking in a local hockey game was one of the first things we did when we settled into Sheffield.
The Steelers were formed in 1991 and are members of the Elite Ice Hockey League. They have won 7 league championship titles since their inception.
Going to see them play is a great afternoon/evening out. Tickets range from £8 – £20! Pretty cheap too! It may not be the NHL, but the fans make the atmosphere exciting!
Let’s go Steelers!
Golf Fang
If you like mini-put, Golf Fang is the place for you!
Golf Fang has 18 ridiculous mini-golf holes designed with bespoke street art. They also BLAST Hip-Hop music which just makes everything better. Their Hip-Hop themed cocktails are delicious and make for a great addition to the night out. It is £12.50 per person if you’re just there to golf but they also have deals on golf and cocktails, which just makes the most sense. 18 holes of golf and a cocktail = £19.50, 18 holes and 2 cocktails = £27.50.
They also have a large street food selection. After 18 holes you need to refuel! Give the Dirty Nachos a try! (And if you are in the mood for a cocktail, my suggestion is definitely the Nuthin’ but a G Ting.
Local Craft Markets
Sheffield hosts many craft markets. The photos above are from the Craft & Flea this summer. It was held inside the Sheffield Cathedral, which is a great venue for any event! They define themselves as a ‘great mixture of local talent and finds’.
Local produce, vintage items, artisan designers, baked goods, vegan and sustainable products, the Craft & Flea has it all. If anyone is headed our way the next date is November 19!
Outdoor food & beer markets
Ah, the Quay Side Market. This is one of our favourites for so many reasons.
- The beautiful location – it’s down at the Victoria Quays which is a historical landmark that runs along the Tinsley Canal. The canal dates back to 1819!
- It takes place on the second Saturday of every month! (I love me a good repeat market). It allows so much opportunity for local businesses.
- The Street Food – Sorry, over here drooling, thinking about the food. The street food at the Quay Side Market is next to none. The rotational food trucks do not disappoint.
- It’s accessible – With it only being a 17-minute walk (12-minute drive, walk and help conserve the environment!) from Sheffield City Center, it is straightforward to get to!
- The vibe – there are DJs and local musicians that play throughout the day and just add to the excitement of an outdoor market.
Another good one to check out is the Peddler Market in Kelham Island.
The Moor & The Moor Market
Located in the core of Sheffield, The Moor & The Moor Market is making an exciting comeback. Believe it or not, in the early 2000s the Moor was rundown and almost completely vacant.
The Moor has everything you could possibly want. From all sorts of retail shops to cafes and restaurants to a movie theatre, a gym, and more. You can walk safely through the center thoroughfare as it is pedestrian-only and hosts some pop-up vendors in the center.
Ps. The best coffee comes from The Brew Moor (try the Hole Int’ Road or the South Street Moor).
Kelham Island
Time Out has voted Kelham Island one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world (35 out of 51) and the 5th coolest neighbourhood in the UK. It’s got an industrial-hip vibe and a mix of old and new. Originally the site of Sheffield cutlery and steel manufacturing, Kelham Island runs along the River Don. It’s still growing and I can’t wait to see what it becomes in the next couple of years.
Here are some really cool places to check out at Kelham Island;
- Cutlery Works (voted best food hall in the U.K.)
- Kelham Island Museum
- The Blind Mole
- Heist Brew Co.
- Peddler Market
Ecclesall Road
Eccy Road is close to our hearts because we live right next to it. It’s our go-to place for many things. It’s just under 6km and is FULL of different restaurants, pubs, local shops, boutiques, supermarkets, homes, and more. You can also get to the Sheffield Botanical Gardens as well as Endcliffe Park off of Eccy.
Here is a list of my favourite places on Ecclesall Road;
- Amaro Lounge
- Ashoka
- Sheffield Makers Hunters Bar
- Mookau
- The Beer House
- Marmadukes
- Zaap Thai Street Food
- Coffika
- Woody’s Sandwich Bar
- Flora
Another great thing about Eccy Road is that it is adjacent to Sharrowvale, another great street in Sheffield. Almost like a mini Ecclesall Road, Sharrowvale isn’t short on its treasures either.
Here is a list of my favourite places on Sharrowvale Road;
- Pom Kitchen
- Greedy Greek
- Porter Book Shop
- The Porter Cottage
- Gilbert & Son’s Antique Shop
- Made by Jonty
Well, do you want to visit Sheffield now?!
You will never have to ask yourself ‘what is there to do in Sheffield’ again!
Keep your eyes peeled for our next posts on where to eat in Sheffield, the best places to drink in Sheffield, and the best coffee shops and brunch spots in Sheffield.
Is there something you like to do in Sheffield and it’s not mentioned here? Leave us a comment below!