Destination guides > Europe > England > Yorkshire > South Yorkshire > Sheffield
Sheffield
Stainless steel was invented in Sheffield making it an industrial powerhouse that has produced much of the world's cutlery. The city went into a depression in the late 20th century although it is experiencing a renaissance and is now a lovely city with a vibrant centre and well worth a visit if you have the time.
Practical information
Sheffield Tourist Information Centre
Winter Garden, Surrey Street, Sheffield
Tel (0114) 221 1900
Website www.sheffieldcity.co.uk
Open Mon-Thu 9.30am-5.15pm, Fri 10.30am-5.15pm, Sat 9.30am-4.15pm
Coming & going
BUS & COACH
National Express coaches go from Sheffield to Birmingham, Leeds, London, Manchester, Nottingham and York. National Express stop at the Interchange Bus Station between Pond and Sheaf Streets near the train station.
Megabus have cheap buses from Sheffield to London via Chesterfield as well as services to Newcastle and Scotland. Fares start at £1 (plus 50p booking fee) but can increase to around £9. Megabus stops outside the Adsetts Centre building on Arundel Gate near Sheffield Hallam University.
Stagecoach operates local buses in South Yorkshire and neighbouring counties including the Peak District. There are several travel passes available for travel on Stagecoach buses; these include:
South Yorkshire Peak Explorer
The South Yorkshire Peak Explorer costs £8.80 and gives you one day's bus travel in South Yorkshire and the northern part of the Peak District bounded by Bakewell, Baslow, Buxton, Holmfirth, Hayfield, Owler Bar and Sparrowpit. It also includes tram travel in Sheffield. This pass is a good option if you're planning on travelling between Sheffield and the northern Peak District.
TRAIN
CrossCountry Trains go to Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham; East Midlands Trains go to Leeds, London, Manchester and Nottingham; First TransPennine Express trains go to Manchester and Northern trains connects Sheffield to Leeds, Manchester and Nottingham. Some East Midlands Trains services to London are available through Megabus with prices starting at just £1 (plus a 50p booking fee).
Trains leave from Midland Station on Sheaf Square east of the city centre.
Local transport
Sheffield's public transport system is made up of bus, train and tram services.
Sheffield's Supertram has three tram routes covering the main transport corridors in the city. For many travellers trams are the easiest way to get around although the coverage isn't as extensive as the bus. One-way tram fares start at £1.20 in the city centre.
Buses operated by Arriva, First and Stagecoach provide a good bus service in the Sheffield area.
The following travel passes are a good option if you're planning on doing a lot of sightseeing in Sheffield and South Yorkshire:
Dayrider (tram & bus)
This pass costs £3 and is good for one day's unlimited bus and tram travel in the Sheffield area. The weekly Megarider ticket costs £12.
TravelMaster (train, tram, bus)
The TravelMaster pass is a one-day pass good for unlimited bus, train and tram travel throughout South Yorkshire. The TravelMaster ticket costs £6.60.
TRAVEL INFORMATION CENTRES
The following centres sell passes and help out with public transport information:
Cambridge Street, Sheffield
Tel (01709) 515151
Website www.travelsouthyorkshire.com
Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm
Exchange Street, Sheffield
Tel (01709) 515151
Website www.travelsouthyorkshire.com
Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm
Meadowhall Interchange, Meadowhall
Tel (01709) 515151
Website www.travelsouthyorkshire.com
Open Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10.30am-6pm
Sheffield Interchange, Sheffield
Tel (01709) 515151
Website www.travelsouthyorkshire.com
Open Mon-Fri 8am-5.30pm, Sat 9.30am-5pm, Sun 9am-5pm
Hostel accommodation
Although there are no hostels in Sheffield, there are plenty of hostels in the Peak District, which isn't too far away. The closest town with hostel accommodation is Hathersage, about 25 minutes by train from Sheffield.
Hathersage YHA
Castleton Road, Hathersage, Hope Valley, Derbyshire S32 1EH
Bus 175, 272 Train Hathersage
Tel 0870 770 5852
Thorpe Farm Bunkhouses
Thorpe Farm, Hathersage
Tel (01433) 650 659
Sightseeing, museums & tourist attractions
Bishops' House
Sheffield's best-preserved timber-framed house has been restored to show how people would have lived during the 17th century.
Norton Lees Lane, Sheffield
Bus 33 (stop: Norton Lees Lane), 20 (stop: Norton Lees Road)
Tel (0114) 278 2600
Website www.museums-sheffield.org.uk
Admission free
Open Sat 10am-4.30pm, Sun 11am-4.30pm
Graves Art Gallery
This art museum has a programme of temporary exhibitions plus a permanent collection that includes works by Cezanne and Picasso.
Surrey Street, Sheffield
Tel (0114) 278 2600
Website www.museums-sheffield.org.uk
Admission free
Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm
Kelham Island Museum
This museum has excellent displays on Sheffield's industrial heritage. Its exhibits include Europe's most powerful working steam engine.
Alma Street, Sheffield
Bus 53
Tel (0114) 272 2106
Website www.simt.co.uk
Admission £4
Open Mon-Thu 10am-3pm, Sun 11am-3.45pm
Millennium Galleries
Sheffield's new Millennium Galleries features a programme of temporary exhibitions plus permanent galleries feature metalwork and the Ruskin Gallery with its collection of drawings, paintings and medieval manuscripts.
Arundel Gate, Sheffield
Tel (0114) 278 2600
Website www.museums-sheffield.org.uk
Admission permanent collection free; charge for temporary exhibitions
Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-5pm
Site Gallery
This art gallery features a exhibitions of contemporary art.
1 Brown Street, Sheffield
Tel (0114) 281 2077
Website www.sitegallery.org
Admission free
Open Wed-Sat 11am-5.30pm
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