The city of Sheffield is located in South Yorkshire and is well known for its steel production. However, there’s so much more to this underrated and often overlooked city. If you’re looking for a UK city break and you want somewhere that’s steeped in culture and has a thriving independent scene, then you should definitely consider a weekend in Sheffield.
Arts and culture in Sheffield
Sheffield is a multicultural city with a vibrant arts scene. Whether you’re looking for live music, museums or comedy gigs, there’s something for everyone. A weekend in Sheffield can be enjoyed by people of all ages and walks of life.
If you want to learn more about the Steel City, then Sheffield’s museums are all free to visit. The Kelham Island Museum will teach you about the history of Sheffield going back 300 years. Weston Park Museum which is located just outside of the city centre tells the stories of Sheffield and its people, going back to prehistoric times. You could also take part in a treasure hunt around the city – as well as being good fun, you’ll learn all about Sheffield along the way.
If you’re partial to a bit of street art, then there’s plenty to keep you occupied in Sheffield. The Millennium Gallery and Graves Gallery are both highly rated. You can even take part in a street art tour around the city.
If you fancy yourself as a bit of a film buff, then you must give Showroom Cinema a visit. Located right next to Sheffield train station in a former 1930’s car showroom in the heart of Sheffield’s Cultural Industries Quarter, Showroom is Sheffield’s independent cinema, café bar and creative workspace. Whether you’re looking for newly released blockbusters or classic films, Showroom always has a great range of screenings. You’ll also find special events happening throughout the year.
Sheffield’s music scene
Sheffield is well known for its buzzing music scene with many famous artists hailing from the city. Pulp, Arctic Monkeys, Def Leppard, Bring Me The Horizon and The Human League are just a few of Sheffield’s famous exports. There are nods to the music scene everywhere around the city, such as a portrait of Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker on the side of a building in Kelham Island by the artist Bubba.
If you’re looking to enjoy some live music whilst you’re visiting, then there are plenty of great venues. One of the most iconic live music venues in Sheffield is The Leadmill. The Leadmill is the longest running nightclub and live music venue in Sheffield. It’s housed in a former flour mill and first opened its doors in 1980. Over the years, the likes of Suede, Pulp, Muse and Kings of Leon have graced the stage. Playing at The Leadmill is seen as a “rite as passage” for many. During term times, The Leadmill puts on 3-4 club nights a week as well as hosting live music events.
I went to The Leadmill to see Creeper on their 12 Days of Night tour. Although I have travelled around the UK (and Europe) for gigs before, this was my first one in Sheffield. The atmosphere inside The Leadmill was fantastic. This was the third time I’d seen Creeper on this tour and the crowd was on top form. Although the room has a capacity of 900 people, it felt a lot more intimate.
Every year, 40,000 people descend on Sheffield’s Hillsborough Park for Tramlines festival. Tramlines has hosted big names such as Stereophonics, Kasabian and The Streets.
Sheffield’s independent food scene
If you’re a big foodie, then you should definitely be booking a weekend in Sheffield. The independent food scene is thriving with hundreds of little cafes, restaurants, bars and street food stalls. If you want to spend an afternoon exploring one of the lesser known areas, then you should go on a Kelham Island Food Tour. These Sheffield food tours are a great way to visit independents you might have missed and sample food you probably wouldn’t have tried.
If you’re not sure what cuisine you want to eat, then Cutlery Works is a brilliant food hall in Neepsend/Kelham Island. Here you’ll find 14 independent food and drink vendors and a fantastic atmosphere. There’s plenty of tables and it’s even dog friendly!
For plant based/vegan food and drink then you can’t miss Church – Temple of Fun, also in Neepsend/Kelham Island. Located in Osborn Works, Church – Temple of Fun is owned by Bring Me The Horizon’s front man Oli Sykes. From the outside you’d be fooled into thinking that this was just another abandoned industrial building. However, the inside is pretty spectacular, decorated with quirky religious iconography. Osborn Works is the only industrial building designed by famed Victorian architect William John Hale, who was responsible for some the cities iconic churches. The entire food and drink menu is plant based, so there’s something for everyone.
Bullion Chocolate
Sheffield is also home to bean to cup chocolate makers, Bullion. I was lucky enough to be able to visit the factory, which was fascinating. Coming from the midlands, my only experience of chocolate production comes from Cadbury World so it was refreshing to see an independent chocolate maker. We were able to sample different types of chocolate, see how it’s made from start to finish and find out how Max, the owner started his business. If you want to, you can book yourself onto one of the Bullion Chocolate Experiences.
Hotels in Sheffield
If you’re planning on spending a weekend in Sheffield, then you’ll need somewhere nice to stay. Luckily, there’s plenty of great hotels in the city centre at affordable prices. The good thing about visiting a city in the north of England is that everything is a lot cheaper than London and the south.
I stayed in the Leonardo Hotel (formerly Jurys Inn) on Eyre Street in the heart of the city. This provided the perfect base for me over the weekend. It is just a 10 minute walk to Sheffield train station and a couple of minutes walk away from the main shopping area. If you’re interested in the arts then you’re also a 10 minute walk away from The Lyceum and Crucible theatres.
My double room was modern and spacious, with a really comfortable bed. The blackout curtains ensured I had a good night’s sleep and despite being in the city centre, there was no noise. I also enjoyed a buffet breakfast in the morning with a fantastic selection. There were so many different pastries, breads and crumpets alongside the usual hot breakfast items. I was really pleased to find gluten free and vegan items were readily available too.
For other hotel options in Sheffield, you could look at Mercure St Paul’s or Leopold Hotel which are also conveniently located.
Transport links
Sheffield is really easy to get to whether you’re travelling by road or rail. Sheffield’s railway station is one of the busiest outside of London and has direct links to other major cities such as York, Birmingham, Newcastle, London and Liverpool. On this particular weekend, I caught a direct train from Lincoln to Sheffield which took 1.5 hours. For the return journey, I travelled back to the West Midlands via Derby. Train tickets to Sheffield are reasonably priced, especially if you book in advance.
If you’re looking at travelling by coach, then Sheffield’s coach station is in the heart of the city centre. You can get a direct coach to Sheffield from all over the UK including Southampton, Leeds, Nottingham, Exeter and London using MegaBus or National Express.
If you wish to drive to the Steel City, then it’s accessible from the M1 and M18 motorways. It’s just under a 2 hour drive from Birmingham, just under 4 hours from London and an hour and 40 minutes from Manchester.
If you’d like to hear more about this wonderful city, head to Welcome To Sheffield.
