Location: Sheffield
Top Things to do in Sheffield
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The 10 Best Things to do Good for a Rainy Day in Sheffield, England
Sheffield, located in South Yorkshire, England, is both a major industrial city and one of the greenest cities in the UK. TripAdvisor travelers particularly recommend the Sheffield Winter Garden and the Botanical Garden. After dark, you’ll find a lively bar and club scene, a testimony to the town’s large student population.
Restaurants in Sheffield
1. Cupola Gallery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 21 reviews
Cupola Gallery, established in 1991, is very lively and friendly with a reputation for quality shows and innovation. With four exhibition spaces plus a fabulous sculpture garden, the gallery stocks work from more than 300 local, national and international artists and makers. The main exhibition space plays host to a breathless turnover of shows - approximately ten a year.Cupola is also committed to providing a warm and welcoming atmosphere and to that end provides free chocolate cake every Saturday and free hot drinks to all our visitors any day. Children are always welcome. Cupola boasts an excellent award winning sculpture garden and the upstairs gallery is home to the Long gallery and the Craft gallery. Cupola regularly showcases painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, glass, textiles and jewellery. In addition, Cupola Framing is our well established framing department situated adjacent to the gallery offering high quality bespoke framing as well as selling local artists prints and cards.
Reviewed By AlexSwallow - Sheffield, United Kingdom
I'm proud this place is in my local area. It isn't in the most obvious location for a gallery- that is a brilliant thing. Really liked the garden with the sculptures and were given a tour around. Some of the art was to my taste, some less so, but all was interesting- which is the most I think you can ever hope for!
2. Will4Adventure
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 195 reviews
Ideal for the complete novice to the budding mountaineer, Will4Adventure provide adventures, activities and courses for individuals, groups and families in the Peak District and beyond. Guided walks, rock climbing, fear of heights courses, navigation skills, abseiling, hill walking, free walking weekends and outdoor first aid training & more. Book online and join us for a great adventure!
Reviewed By paulhart384 - Oxford, United Kingdom
WOW What a weekend !! If you want to learn some basic navigation skills then come on Will's and Adam's weekend course. Adam was so good at getting his message across, very easy to understand. He initially gave us a 13 point self assessment questionnaire so we all knew the standard we we're at. Out on the hills we learned about orienteering the map correctly, using a compass, contours, recognising landmarks from the map, breaking the route into manageable sections, handrails, catching features and attack points. Pacing and Timing. Overall a great learning weekend, highly recommended. The best I've been on !!
3. The OEC
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 21 reviews
Nestled between two of Sheffield’s iconic leisure and entertainment venues, The OEC takes centre stage with a striking wedding, events and conferencing space unlike any other. The venue boasts a range of impressive, multi-purpose suites, catering for up to 500 guests.
Reviewed By sally71274 - Sheffield, United Kingdom
I attended 3 of the tribute nights in December and had a fantastic time at every one. The venue is great, the big tables are well spaced so you dont feel crammed in , the food is beautiful with good portion sizes and the staff were welcoming and friendly. Excellent value for money and even the bar prices were good, we thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely be booking more!
4. Locksley Distilling Co. Ltd.
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 53 reviews
Join us for Sheffield’s only hands-on gin making experience using mini stills and real botanicals. Here at Locksley Distilling we are super excited that we can now open our distillery up to the world and welcome you inside to witness, taste and immerse yourself in all of our magic! Visit us in the heart of Sheffield at the breath-taking Portland Works, a 140 year old grade 2*listed cutlery factory where stainless steel was born, and discover how our small yet dedicated team have been creating, producing and inspiring since the start of 2015. We know we're never going to be the biggest distillery but we'll always aspire to be the best and we love nothing more than sharing our passion with our fellow artisan drinks enthusiasts!
Reviewed By Danni_Wellie
Had a great afternoon learning all about my favourite gin with Joe. He explained the history, processes and gave us a great tour of the distillery all whilst letting us taste all the gin. Then we got to go to gin school and make our own gin. It was a really fun experience and great to see how quickly you can distill and try the gin to see if you've got a nice flavour - plus the gin I made is great! We left with bottles of gin to give away as gifts but ended up keeping for ourselves in the end as they were too nice. As an added bonus, we got engaged just before the tour so now will always associate Sir Robin gin with happy memories and will definitely have to get some for the wedding!
5. Cathedral Church of St. Peter and St. Paul
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 267 reviews
The Cathedral is Sheffield's oldest building, the ancient heart of a great city, where God has been worshipped for over a thousand years. It has watched Sheffield grow and develop over the centuries, and it tells a story - of great women and men, of wars, of industry and commerce, and of the people who have lived in Sheffield. Here people have prayed, made music, offered hospitality and cared for the poor, as they do still today. The building reflects its many uses, with the traditional worship spaces including the grand high altar and the quiet crypt chapel, but also the busy conference centre, and the Archer Project area where the homeless and vulnerable find what they need Here every visitor will find something to interest them. You can book a special visit, or just call in and explore. You may find that a service is happening, in which case you can join in or not as you choose. Everyone is invited - Sheffield Cathedral is a place for all people. We are open every day of the year.
Reviewed By Skinnyjefd - Sheffield, United Kingdom
Lovely cathedral which is a great spot in Sheffield city centre. As a local of 28 years, I spent my first afternoon taking a look inside. It’s brilliant. Yea, there are some better cathedrals to see around the world, but the beauty of this being in Sheffield more than makes up for it. A must visit for anyone coming to Sheffield. Check out the fence of swords!
6. Graves Gallery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 94 reviews
The Graves Gallery is the home of Sheffield's visual art collection. Situated above the Central Library, away from the noise and traffic of the city centre, the Gallery is a peaceful haven for visitors to enjoy the city's art and a programme of temporary exhibitions. Famous names on show at the Graves include Turner and Sisley, while more recent artists include Damien Hirst, Bridget Riley, Sam Taylor-Wood, and Marc Quinn. Local heroes include George Fullard, Derrick Greaves and Stanley Royle.
Reviewed By dirtmother - Matlock, United Kingdom
I loved the Graves Gallery. It was somewhere to take my artist son, but I got so much out of my visit. The website gives a hint of some of the struggles and so does the long walk up all the stairs to get to the top floor of the building, with some interesting museum cases and quotations from the likes of Michael Palin about the importance of libraries (this being essentially the library building) These are threatened by peeling paintwork. I'd known from the website not to skimp on the clothing (it was January anyway and we had had a long bus journey) In practice the temporary exhibition rooms seemed to be heated normally and it was the areas on permanent display whose climate explained the very endearing provision of rugs for those who wanted to spend time sitting on the benches. I would not agree with those who think this is all pretty average stuff although bigger cities will have more extensive collections, there was a lot more here than I had expected. The main feature currently perhaps was the Lorna May Wadsworth portraits, here as the temporary Gaze exhibition and inspired by her local connection (as well as her talent!) Worth bringing young people who wouldn't normally be keen - we were surprised to find depictions of David Tennant and Michael Sheen in their recent TV incarnations in Good Omens for example. An exhibition which could be accessed at a variety of levels. I loved Grayson Perry's Comfort Blanket - both comforting, yes, but also, currently very sobering too. I kept thinking "Oh, there's more!" as yet another room hoved into view with works by the most celebrated artists displayed in low key fashion with light touch curation (but not no curation... you could take note, or not, as you wished) Obviously used by a wide variety of people - somewhere peaceful and lovely to go as a lunchtime break, art students and others. Nice little shop. And then other Sheffield delights such as the Winter Gardens and Millennium Galleries are close at hand
7. Kelham Island Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 663 reviews
Reviewed By BevC107 - Sheffield, United Kingdom
Kelham Island is one of Sheffield's most interesting museums. You can watch the Little Mesters (skilled craftspeople in silverware and steelware) fettling in their tiny workshops and be amazed by the River Don engine. If you have very little children with you, it might be wise to warn them beforehand that it is very noisy and the floor actually shakes when it's going full pelt. I really like the little stationary steam engines that go chunkety-chunk, wheels spinning and pulleys flapping. There is a section with very old cars like the Sheffield Simplex. Wall mounted posters tell of the Great Sheffield Flood when the newly built Dale Dyke Dam capsized in the middle of the night of 11th March 1864 and over 240 people drowned in the deluge. You can track the history of Sheffield's steelmaking from the tiny 14th century forges along its 5 rivers to the huge Atlas Works of the early 20th century. And Kelham Island has a great cafe of its own and there are 2 good pubs very nearby. But be warned, it's closed Fridays and Saturdays.
8. National Emergency Services Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 353 reviews
The National Emergency Services Museum is located in one of Yorkshire's first purpose built combined police, fire and ambulance stations in the centre of Steel City, Sheffield. Opened in 1983 with just two fire engines and a few small exhibits and only two of the building's 46 rooms open for the public to view. Since then, the museum has grown and grown year by year. There are now thousands of exhibits and 26 exhibition areas, around 45 vehicles on display and many more exhibits and vehicles currently in storage ready to be displayed we are still developing. The Museum is a Registered Charity and does not receive any major funding. Everything that you see here at the museum has been achieved by donations and your entry fees.We are always working to update the museum and make the museum more hands-on and interactive for visitors.
Reviewed By philipjB9971VQ - Aldershot, United Kingdom
The museum is located in the old West Bar combined Fire, Police and Ambulance station. As such it is an old building with some narrow corridors, worn steps and cobbled yard. Due to its age and function it is not easily accessible for those with mobility issues. However, the range of displays and vehicles for all of the emergency services over a significant period of time makes it a worthwhile visit. (There is even a full size retired RNLI Thames class lifeboat "City of Sheffield" in the rear yard). There are some good video displays,many period photographs and the original Police cells available to visit.The museum is staffed by retired emergency services volunteers who have a wealth of stories and experiences to share if you have the time.
9. Millennium Gallery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 234 reviews
The Millennium Gallery is Sheffield's premier destination for art, craft and design. Here you can see some of Sheffield's unique heritage, including the metalwork which made the city world famous, alongside contemporary art and design exhibitions.
Reviewed By Littleword - Rotherham, United Kingdom
The steel exhibition is excellent and free. Many visiting excellent exhibitions, many are free, Plus some craft shops and a great modern coffee shop.
10. Cathedral Church of St Marie
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 48 reviews
Reviewed By AlexSwallow - Sheffield, United Kingdom
While this is a big church it is really easy to go through the city centre and miss it. The buildings around it hem it in. It is really worth a visit- it has a beautiful and very peaceful interior with lots of little points of interest. Just a stone's throw from the Crucible so it really is central- worth seeking out.
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