The 30 best things to do in Sheffield

What is it? An independent cinema, café bar and creative workspace housed in a former 1930s car showroom. 

Why go? An amazing film programming, always showing the finest new releases in cinema from across the world. Not to mention film classes, screenings of classics and the Showroom Cinema plays home to a variety of festivals including the acclaimed Sheffield Doc/Fest. Its ‘take two’ deal is a must: two film tickets, two meals and a bottle of wine for £50 (£45 for Showroom Members).

What is it? The Sheffield Greenground Map connects all of Sheffield's greenspaces in the city.

Why go? From ancient woodland to public parks to peatland bog, a whopping 61 percent of Sheffield is green space. This handy map connects it all, meaning it's an excellent resource for planning walks in and around the city. 

What is it? Sheffield’s premier annual music festival. 

Why go? To experience a variety of live music take place in Hillsborough Park, as well as via the plentiful fringe events that take place throughout the city. With a focus on indie and pop, Tramlines Festival has welcomed countless big names to the city over the years, from Noel Gallagher to Nile Rogers and Chic.

What is it? Sheffield’s finest theatre combines visiting productions – from the likes of the National Theatre – with an impressive in-house programme.

Why go? The quality of productions at The Crucible is second to none, and The Crucible's innovative design keeps all 900-plus members of the audience intimately close to the action on stage.

What is it? A legendary venue, primarily known for music, that has been a stalwart of the performance scene in Sheffield since the early 1980s and continues to present a great line-up of live events.

Why go? The Leadmill is not just Sheffield’s best live music venue – it hosts cinema, comedy and club nights too, in what was once a flour mill. Not a lead mill. Plus Jarvis Cocker once directed a panto there.

What is it? A grand Victorian garden, with almost 20 acres of land and 5,000 plant species, that sits a mile outside the city centre and is free to enter. There are regular live music, open-air theatre and art events too.

Why go? For respite from the busy city. Stroll through the Botanical Gardens's sweeping lawns, stunning glass pavilions and formal and informal gardens.

What is it? A local, friendly shop obsessed with all things music

Why go? This shop has been going since 1978 and still remains a staple of the community. You can browse through records, CDs, and archive music magazines. If you’re a cinephile, you can grab five good quality second-hand DVDs for £1. The shop also promotes local music events in the area and even sells the artist’s physical CDs. It's easy to spend hours in this charming little store.

What is it? Seasonal games played in the city’s arena.

Why go? Be you a sports nut or not, watching the Sheffield Steelers duke it out with other teams on the ice in a hockey game isn’t to be missed. Ice Hockey is really big in Sheffield, and you’ll pretty much always find tickets available for less than £15. In March, you can watch the Ice Hockey event of the year: Varsity; every year Sheffield Hallam go up against the University of Sheffield in an arena filled with over 13,000 chanting people, and the vibes are immaculate. Go team!

What is it? A contemporary art space in the city centre. 

Why go? After re-opening in 2018 in a space three times the size of what it was, Site Gallery is arguably the leading contemporary art space in Sheffield. Specialising in moving image, new media and performance, there's always interesting exhibitions to catch. Plus their cafe is one of the best in the city. 

What is it? One of the biggest and most celebrated documentary festivals in the world. 

Why go? Once a year in June, Sheffield turns into a mecca for documentaries. For a full week, the city is flooded with films for Sheffield Doc Fest, talks, sessions, events and more that celebrate the world of documentary. You’ll get the chance to see world premiere screenings of some of the biggest films of the year and also maybe bump into Louis Theroux down the pub.