Things to Do in Sheffield

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

Once branded by George Orwell as “the ugliest town in the Old World”, Sheffield’s past and its cultural present are founded on one thing: the steel industry. During the 19th century, Sheffield witnessed explosive growth, the city we see today shaped by its industrial prosperity of old. So its leafy suburbs, for example, were purposely built uphill so that domestic residences would sit above the smog-blanketed centre of foundries and furnaces.

The cutlery works of Sheffield’s past have found a new purpose in driving forward the city’s creative life; many now house galleries, independent shops and artist studios. The museums dotted throughout the city trace the city’s unique industrial heritage and social history. Head to Kelham Island Museum to find out how heavy industry has influenced this incredible city and Weston Park Museum for an insight into the community and politics of the area. Close to the train station, and next door to Sheffield’s much-loved independent cinema Showroom, you’ll find Site Gallery, a superb contemporary art space specialising in moving image, new media and performance.

Additionally, there’s a hugely diverse offering of theatre and performance in Sheffield. Alongside the award-winning Crucible and Lyceum, stand the avant-garde Theatre Deli and independent arts hub DINA. As dramatic as the seven hills it’s built on, the city offers touring productions, dance and opera as well as experimental performance and scratch nights.

With 200 plus parks, woodlands and public gardens Sheffield proudly remains one of the greenest cities in the country. Beautiful and lush, in some incongruous way, due to its industrial heritage: open spaces like the Botanical Gardens were designed to offer Victorian residents a much-needed breath of fresh air.

While other cities bustle between high rises and shopping precincts, Sheffield is a place to pause and look around, whether inwards from its hillsides, over spires, chimneys and curling valleys, or outwards from the city centre, to the breeze and birdsong of the moorland that continues to inspire so many artists, designers and makers.

What's on in Sheffield

Close up image of peach, pink and lilac flowers with the words 'False Note' in a white block font.
Until
ExhibitionsCity Centre
False Note at Site Gallery

Site Gallery welcomes Freya Dooley’s solo show ‘False Note’, which examines the musical and idiomatic meanings of the term.

free entry

Where to go in Sheffield

Sheffield
Shop
Juno Books

Friendly local queer and intersectional feminist bookshop in Sheffield. Visit for interesting fiction and non fiction books.

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Sheffield
Bar or Pub
The Gatsby

Pints of Zombie, beers, tacos and late night DJ’s make The Gatsby the place to party in Sheffield’s Devonshire Quarter.

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Sheffield
Event venue
Hope Works

An old WW1 gun-barrel-factory reimagined and repurposed as a hub of Sheffield’s creativity, with music and art events regularly put on.

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Sheffield
Gallery
Fronteer Gallery

Fronteer Gallery provides a community hub – an inclusive and supportive exhibition platform for all artists with regular events.

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Sheffield
Gallery
The Viewing Room

Micro-Gallery with a mission to be a ‘high potency visual espresso’, promoting unique engagement with contemporary art and hosting regular events.

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Sheffield
Bar or Pub
Two Sheds

Have a pint with your puppy this evening! Two Sheds is a dog friendly micro-pub in Sheffield serving craft beers and real ales.

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Sheffield
Restaurant
Pom Kitchen

This colourful plant based kitchen is not merely the vegan mecca of Sheffield, but a vibrant work of art, never compromising on taste.

Ancoats
Restaurant
The Wayfarer

The Northern Quarter pub with Live-music, outdoor seating and friendly staff, making this venue a more than enjoyable visit.

City Centre
Event venue
Sheffield Quaker Meeting House

The Quaker Meeting House is a place of religious worship and venue for hire, providing a range of rooms and services, catering for everything from small group meetings to events for up to 100 people in Sheffield.

Sheffield
Creswell Crags

In an age when woolly mammoths roamed the land and cave hyenas prowled for prey, the limestone gorge of Creswell Crags was home to our prehistoric ancestors.

Sheffield Visitor Guides

Shopping in Sheffield
Shopping in Sheffield

Whether you’re looking for vinyl records or top class chocolate, Sheffield’s independent shops are here to serve – here’s our selection, from the legendary to the eclectic.

Winter Gardens, Sheffield
Walks in Sheffield

A round-up of the best walks in Sheffield, including the town centre, official tours and the surrounding area by Creative Tourist.

Restaurants in Sheffield
Restaurants in Sheffield

From artisanal coffee in industrial-chic cafes to burritos that can resurrect you post night out, the restaurants in Sheffield have got it all.

The Alfred Denny Museum, courtesy of the University of Sheffield. Museums in Sheffield
Museums in Sheffield

Sheffield has more than its fair share of weird and wonderful museums housed within its seven hills. Check out our favourites.

Literary places in Sheffield.
Literary places in Sheffield

Literary places are scattered about Sheffield, which has plenty of live literature events to pop along to and perform at, and more independent poetry presses than you can shake a stick at.

Cinemas in Sheffield Photographer: Scott Hukins ©
Cinemas in Sheffield

Cinemas in Sheffield cater for all tastes, with arthouse venues sitting happily alongside big multiplex screens – including one of only two IMAX with laser projection screens in the country.

Art Galleries in Sheffield
Art Galleries in Sheffield

A contender for the UK's largest practicing community of artists and designers outside London – there's a pretty impressive number of top art galleries in Sheffield.

Music Venues in Sheffield.
Music Venues in Sheffield

With a strong and diverse musical heritage, you'll find many music venues, appeasing different tastes, in the city of Sheffield.

Discover Buxton Character Tours
Guided Tours in Buxton

Who doesn’t love a good guided tour? With Buxton’s rich history, it has them aplenty, offering a quick way to get to grips with the spa town.

Crucible Theatre Sheffield
Theatres in Sheffield

Sheffield is home to the world-famous Crucible, the W R G Sprague built Lyceum and Sheffield's home for the avant-garde, the Theatre Delicatessen.

Easter Holidays in Manchester and the North
Spotlight on

Things to do over the Easter Holidays

Looking for some ideas to keep little and big kids as busy as the Easter bunny? Check out our guide.

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