Robin Hood Airport is just seven miles (11 kms) from the charming riverside town of Doncaster and 25 miles (40 kms) from England’s fourth-largest city, Sheffield. In the past, this South Yorkshire area was associated with heavy industry, but now it’s known as much for its farming and agriculture and areas of outstanding natural beauty. The wild, open spaces of the Peninne moorlands in the Peak District’s National Park roll right up to Sheffield’s western boundaries.
Perhaps because it lacks the more dramatic scenery of the Yorkshire Dales, the Moors and the Heritage coastline, South Yorkshire tends to be overlooked as a tourist venue. But this is an area rich in history with a wealth of museums, galleries and stately homes to explore.
The most significant town here is Sheffield, founded on the steel industry, and in particular the manufacture of cutlery, and while this business continues to flourish, the town has evolved into a vibrant, multicultural town known for its universities and government-backed sports facilities, including Europe’s biggest all-season ski resort.
If you haven’t been to Sheffield recently, you’ll be surprised. England’s ‘greenest’ city has totally reinvented itself as a cosmopolitan town with an abundance of galleries and museums, great shopping - it boasts the UK’s most successful shopping mall, an exceptional array of sporting options and a dynamic nightlife.
North of Sheffield is Barnsley, the county town of South Yorkshire, made prosperous by the coal industry and to its east is Rotherham, where iron ore has been mined and smelted since the 12th century. Rotherham is also home to Rockingham pottery, once the preferred choice of royalty.
East of Sheffield is Doncaster. Its history goes back to the Romans, later becoming famed for its production of steam-engines, including the Mallard and Flying Scotsman. Today this pleasant market town is most noted for its racecourse and the St Leger, its biggest race. The racetrack is currently undergoing a £32 million refurbishment, to transform the Grade 1 listed course into one of the most modern equestrian facilities in the UK. It should be ready by late summer 2007.
Surrounding Doncaster are historic market towns, picture-postcard villages and acres of unspoilt countryside. Nearby are Brodsworth Hall and gardens, a wonderful Victorian country house and the venue for numerous concerts and recitals. The breathtaking beauty of the Pennines and the lovely market town of Pennistone are also close by and just 17 miles away is the village of Epworth, the birthplace of John Wesley, founder of Methodism, and a place of pilgrimage for tourists from all over the world.
And then there’s the legend of Robin Hood, now reckoned to have been a Yorkshireman, much to the chagrin of the good folk of Nottingham.
Back to top
|
SCROLL DOWN OR CLICK ON TOP LEFT NAVIGATION LIST
Set yourself up with breakfast at the four-star St Paul’s Hotel, the walled restaurant overlooks the exotic greenery of Europe’s largest city centre glasshouse.
Then head to Kelham Island Museum, which tracks Sheffield’s history as a living museum. Here you’ll find Europe’s most powerful working steam engine the River Don in action, reconstructed shops and craftspeople practising their skills, it’s ideal if you’ve come with children. Or visit the city’s most picturesque museum, Bishop’s House, a timber-framed dwelling dating from the 1500s. Many original features are still intact including the bed chamber and great parlour.
If you’re more of an art fan, head over to the Graves Gallery to explore Sheffield’s modern art collection or immerse yourself in the Millennium Galleries, interesting for innovative art and design but famed for great temporary exhibitions.
While you’re here, stop for lunch at the Café Azure and then enjoy a stroll in the shade of the indoor Winter Garden and outdoor Peace Gardens and relax by the dancing fountains. With more than 50 parks and open spaces, you’re never far from a green escape in Sheffield.
And then why not indulge in some retail therapy? Serious shoppers should take the short Supertram ride to Meadowhall, one of Europe’s largest shopping malls or visit Fargate, a pedestrianised retail area with the emphasis on fashion, most days you’ll find street entertainers and specialised markets here.
After that you’ll probably need some pampering, so relax and recharge at one of the city’s three health spas, Spa 1877 is set in a beautifully restored Victorian Turkish Bath.
Sheffield’s city folk dine early to make the most of its nightlife, so choose from the brasseries and restaurants in West Street or Division Street and then head to the world-famous Crucible Theatre in time for curtain up.
At night, try the Devonshire Quarter, currently reckoned to be Sheffield’s hippest spot and ideal whether you’re craving a pint or two of real ale or want to dance away until dawn.
Back to top |
|
Whether you want to stay in the heart of Sheffield or Doncaster, leafy town suburbs or in the Peak District National Park, there’s plenty of accommodation choice for every taste and budget. Choose from centrally placed business hotels or four-poster luxury at country hotels. Flybe’s hotel website, www.flybehotels.com features some of the best.
If you want to play a few rounds of golf, check into Sheffield’s Beauchief Hotel situated adjacent to a great course. For shops and sights of Sheffield, try the central St Paul’s Hotel. A luxurious, new hotel, St Paul’s features a superb indoor pool, luxuriously-equipped spa suite, an impressive beauty treatment menu plus a state-of-the-art technogym. For a relaxing break, try the four-star Marriott Hotel, set in 12 acres of countryside. It offers great leisure facilities including indoor pool and gym plus a highly-acclaimed restaurant.
Back to top
By road: Robin Hood Airport is 7 miles from Doncaster city centre. Take A638 and follow signs to Doncaster. Contact tel: +44 (0) 8708 33 22 10 for all information on transport links to Sheffield. Contact Flybe’s car rental partner Avis for best available car hire rates.
By rail: Doncaster Rail has a dedicated shuttle service to the airport every 30 minutes. www.sypte.co.uk
By bus: Airport Arrow operates bus 707 to Doncaster city centre. It runs every half hour and takes 25 minutes and costs £3.50 one way.
By taxi: Little Arrow Taxis is the airport’s dedicated taxi firm. Expect to pay £14 to central Doncaster. Book ahead on +44 (0) 8708 33 22 10 or at the desk in the arrivals hall.
Back to top
Sheffield’s town centre is served by a network of buses and, since 1994, a new tram network called Supertrams, between them operating a comprehensive city centre network. First is South Yorkshire’s largest bus operator and offers extensive routes across Sheffield and Doncaster. For information on trains, buses and trams in Sheffield and Doncaster call Traveline +44 (0) 1709 51515, for timetables and further information on local transport visit www.sheffield.gov.uk/out-about, for South Yorkshire travel visit www.sypte.co.uk
Back to top
Coming soon.
Just five miles from Sheffield’s centre, the Peak District is the first and largest of Britain’s National Parks and one of the country’s most stunning landscapes, with its limestone dales, rocky outcrops, vast caves and natural springs. For an easy back-to-nature day out, it’s unbeatable.
Or take a 25 minute scenic drive to Chatsworth House, considered the UK’s most stunning stately home and a must-see for any visitor. The grounds alone, with their fountains, formal gardens and maze are worth the trip, but coupled with a tour of the art collection, fine furnishings and treasures of the Devonshire family, it makes for a fascinating glimpse of life lived today in a magnificent, yet unstuffy historic house.
The ancient spa town of Buxton has attracted visitors ever since the Romans set up baths from the natural springs. Visit the sweeping Georgian crescent, pump room and serpentine walks and, it goes without saying, everyone should sample the famous Bakewell pudding.
From Doncaster, Normanby Hall Country Park near Scunthorpe is close by as is Cannon Hall Museum, an 18th century mansion with an excellent art collection. York, Selby and Leeds are all within easy reach or take a trip to one of the beautiful Yorkshire coastal resorts. Also close is Epworth village, birthplace of John Wesley the founder of Methodism.
Back to top
Coming soon.
Back to top
Sheffield’s nightlife attracts clubbers from all over the country, it’s known for its international club brands, guest DJs but also has impressive theatre productions and boasts the largest theatre complex outside London, visit www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk.
Brown Swords (+44 (0) 1302 342422) conjures up the latest cocktails in Doncaster, Trilogy (+44 (0)1302 556555) is the town’s newest club. In Sheffield Gatecrasher One (+44 (0)114 276 6777) is hugely popular with students, or for Latin zest try Viva Salsa at Cubana (+44 (0)114 276 0475). If you’re seeking live music, Casbah +44 (0) 114 275 6077 serves up a mix of Indie, rock, ska and disco music or try Orchis, +44 (0) 114 679 432, small and atmospheric, and equally popular with visitors and locals for its live R&B, hip-hop and soul.
Back to top |
Before visiting any attractions, pick up a free Sheffield City Guide at the Visitor Information Point, see Factfile below.
Kelham Island Museum: Alma Street, Sheffield. Tel: +44 (0) 114 272 2106. Open Mon-Thurs 10am-4pm, Sun 11am-4.45pm. Closed Fri and Sat. Entry: adult £4. The ideal starting point for heritage fans. A working museum preserving Sheffield’s industrial past.
Millennium Galleries: Arundel Gate, Sheffield. Tel: +44 (0) 114 272 2106. Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm. Sun 11am-5pm. Entry: free, but touring exhibitions adult £4, child £2. One of Sheffield’s architectural and cultural treasures. Linked to the stunning Winter Gardens (tel: +44 (0) 114 221 1900). Famed for large blockbuster exhibitions, home to Sheffield’s Metalwork Gallery and Ruskin Gallery.
Graves Art Gallery: Surrey Street, Sheffield. Tel: +44 (0) 114 278 2600. Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm. Entry: free. Adjacent to Millennium Gallery, displays Sheffield’s 19th and 20th century modern artwork, including works by Picasso, Cezanne and Spencer.
Chatsworth House and Park: Bakewell, Doncaster. Tel: +44 (0) 1246 565300. Open 15 Mar-20 Dec, daily 10.30am-5.30pm. Entry: adult £4.25, child £4.25, under three’s free. Sumptuous 16th century country pile, probably the UK’s most outstanding country seat, home to Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. In addition to guided tours of the ‘Palace of the Peaks’, numerous seasonal events, farmyard with variety of animals, woodland adventure playground and acres of gardens. Setting for 2005 Pride and Prejudice film. www.chatsworth.org
Beauchief Abbey: Tel: +44 (0) 1773 590622. Remains of beautiful, 12th century Abbey within Sheffield’s city boundary. Also 17th century chapel.
Cusworth Hall and Park: Cusworth Lane, Doncaster. Tel: +44 (0) 1302 782342. Open daily Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 11am-5pm, Sun 1-5pm. Entry: free. 18th century listed country house, historic displays, seasonal events.
Weston Park Museum: Weston Bank, Sheffield. Tel: +44 (0) 114 278 2600. Admission free. After a £17.3m refurbishment, the museum is due to open later this year (2006). Five new interactive displays covering archaeology, natural history, art and social history will be uncovered.
Peak District National Park: Tel: +44 (0) 1629 816200. In the heart of England, covering six counties, five miles from Sheffield city centre, one of the UK’s most breathtaking parks. Vast expanse of gently rolling moors and rugged peaks.
www.visitpeakdistrict.com
Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery: Tel: +44 (0) 1302 734293. Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 2-5pm. Entry: free. Large collection of natural history, archaeology, local history and art.
Doncaster Lakeside: Huge new complex of shops, restaurants, leisure centre, bars and cafés.
Brodsworth Hall: Tel: +44 (0) 1302 724969. Open 1 Apr-29 Sep Tues-Sun 1-5pm, 30 Sep-29 Oct Sat & Sun 12-4pm. Closed 30 Oct-31 Mar. Entry: adult £6.60, child £3.30. Magnificent country manor set in 15 acres of gardens. Rare survival of Victorian interior showing how a wealthy family and servants lived.
Back to top
Following the decline in the steel and coal industries in the 1970’s and 1980’s, Sheffield’s economic fortunes are starting to reverse. A host of new sectors now form the town’s employment pool, namely in digital development, advanced engineering, medical industries, energy, sports technology and in the transportation and communications sectors.
Over £250 million has been invested in the city since 2005, Sheffield’s economy is now worth in excess of £7.4 billion. Sheffield prides itself on being the UK’s greenest and safest city and is increasingly attracting new business at its recently-built business park -at 200 acres, the largest in Yorkshire. The town also boasts two highly-reputed universities, the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam, between them giving the town 45,000 students. For facts and figures on business opportunities in the city.
www.makeitinsheffield.com
If you’re after a second home, property prices in and around Sheffield are tempting. A two-bed terraced house in the town’s centre can be had for £65,000, two barns with planning permission for luxury conversion are on the market for £350,000. www.sheffieldpropertylink.co.uk
Back to top
|
|
It took two million bricks to build Meadowhall, Europe’s largest and most successful shopping mall. There’s little doubt this ‘Land of Shoppertunity’ was carefully sited, it’s amazingly within an hour’s drive for one in eight UK residents and only 10 minutes by Supertram from downtown Sheffield.
Forget a quick nip around the shops, this mammoth complex houses 270 stores, crèche facilities, 11-screen cinema, countless bars and restaurants and a packed programme of events at its Oasis centre to keep the family happy for an entire day.
Shoppaholics should visit www.meadowhall.co.uk for latest discounts and bargains and to hatch a serious shopping plan.
Back to top
|
|
