Sheffield is fast becoming a tourist destination, and not only for people within the U.K. A wide array of attractions, events, and sites to see await Sheffield’s guests. Not so long ago Sheffield was an industrial giant. Not because of it’s size, but because of the amount and quality of the steel and other metallurgy products produced and sold there. In just a few decades, Sheffield has been transformed into an entertainment and cultural center, as well as a great tourist destination.
Sheffield became famous the world over by leading the way in metallurgy advances, and now recognizing changing times, Sheffield is leading the way in a transition to culture, science, and entertainment. The Magna Center was the first Science Adventure Center opened in the U.K., and offers state of the art interactive displays featuring the elements; earth, fire, and water. It makes it’s home in a former steel works and is one of the cities most popular attractions. At Magna, you can walk on air, fire a hydrogen rocket, get behind the controls of a JCB, and my favorite, shoot water cannons at human targets. A full day of fun whatever your age.
The Sheffield City Centre packs more entertainment into a few square miles than many cities offer at all. Clubs, Theaters, Galleries, Museums, Restaurants, Cafes, Bars, Hotels, Spas, and extreme shopping reside within the City Centre and odds are you will not be able to see it all in one visit. The City Centre is also has the Winter Garden, and the Peace Gardens which are home to thousands of exotic indoor and outdoor plants. This theme prepares you for the rest of the city. Sheffield has over 150 Woodlands, 50 public parks and is just five miles from the Peak District National Park.
As one of Europe’s greenest cities Sheffield offers all of the advantages of city and county living. The culture, shopping, and cuisine measure up to any city in the world, while just minutes away you can go rock climbing, skiing, or enjoy other outdoor activities that city dwellers the world over have to travel for hours to take part in.
Sheffield’s Ski Village is the biggest ski resort open all season in Europe. Skiing and Snow Boarding are the main fare, but is far from the only activities available. Ski Village offers several runs to challenge even expert skiers. Snow boarders will also find Ski Village an exciting and challenging place to ply their trade. Those not up for extreme sports, or with children a little too young to hit the slopes, the toboggan run may be just what you are looking for. Courses on skiing and boarding are offered by top instructors, so even if you don’t ski or board you can take the ski in a day or ski in weekend classes. They will have you making runs with confidence in no time, with beverages included.
Other activities provided include The Downhill All-Terrain Karting ride which takes you on a winding dirt track downhill for 150 meters. You might also enjoy hurling down a slope on a large rubber tube on the Avalanche Snowtube Run for 150 meters. Laser Combat is also popular. Similar to paintball warfare, it uses lasers which make it a bit safer and less painful. The Urban Jungle is an aerial adventure riding zip lines 30 meters above the ground over the 300 meter length course. Runs of varying difficulty range from black runs for experts on zip liners to a mini park for children 3 years old and up.
If you choose a more sedentary approach there are relaxing weekends as well with fine cuisine and great drinks where you can relax and read a book while the kids get worn out with their activities. Café Marmot has views from a large balcony where you can watch the activities while enjoying a drink or a snack. Their fare is tasty, and healthy so you can also bring the kids. The Village Inn is more for classic dishes with generous portions of traditional meals. Steak, Chicken, and desserts along with your favorite beverage are available here. Watch for the chef’s specials on the chalk boards.
If all the activity has worn you down as well, spend the next day or two checking out Sheffield’s museums. Exhibits in the various museums range from modern art, to ancient relics millions of years old. The Millennium Galleries showcases visual arts, crafts, and designs from local artists. It houses the Ruskin Gallery which displays minerals, paintings, drawings, books, plastercasts, prints, and Medieval Manuscripts. The Graves Art Gallery offers more traditional art such as paintings from 19th and 20th century European artists. Most of the exhibits at the Graves Art Gallery are permanent displays, however temporary displays rotate alongside them.
The kids may like the Weston Park Museum most. It will be reopening soon after a massive renovation in October 2006. Animated displays and specialty art. Snowy the Polar Bear, live ants and bees, a traditional butcher’s shop, and Egyptian Mummies will fascinate the kids, and the new café will delight adults with refreshments.
There are plenty of other activities that keep all ages of locals and visitors entertained in Sheffield. Sports, Shopping, Clubs, Music, and Cuisine and Museums insure interesting times for people of all tastes. Whether you are seeing Sheffield for the first time, or entertaining yourself in your hometown there is plenty to see and do.
Article by Susan Ashby of
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