Today in our travel guide we are taking you to Sheffield; a dreamy place for nature lovers and a city whose heritage in making and craft goes back to the 12th century. The River Sheaf runs through it, adding heaps of wonderful views to your visit, and you cannot go home without having explored the Peak District national park in which a third of the city is located. Sheffield has gone from being Britain’s epicentre of steel and cutlery production to a thriving creative hub full of small independent businesses.
To bring you the best of the best inspiring inside scoop, we have teamed up with Sheffield-based talents and tastemakers Laura Aymara, Sam Binstead, Carla Murdoch and Char at Endless Love Creative. They have each shared with us their favourite places to dine, wine, swim and explore in this vibrant city of makers.
Laura Aymara is one of our very own. She makes the refined tableware you all go mad for. Toast tastes even better on her toast plates and her candle holders are getting us excited about autumn. A big blooming bundle of talent. @lauraaymara
Sam Binstead is Sheffield’s most stylish man, a slow fashion advocate and a brilliant photographer. He is an everflowing source of incredible aesthetics and inspiration, who uses his platform to share sustainable brands and ethical makers through his work. @sam.binstead
Carla Murdoch is a charismatic joy-spreading ceramicist whose growing universe and Instagram posts will guarantee big smiles on your faces. We have been drooling over her work for a good while now and are excited to be sharing her with you. @carla_murdoch_ceramics
Char runs Endless Love Creative, a space where creativity is given room to grow and flourish, and is a true champion for small businesses and crafts in Sheffield. She hosts makers markets regularly and you may want to try and plan your visit accordingly, for they are really something! The next market is on 19th November at Showroom Workstation. @endlesslovecreative
The Moor Market is a place of world cultures and food inspiration, stuffed olives, all types of chillies, a huge variety of Japanese vinegars and sauces.
Go to the library, the Art Deco building is beautiful, and at the top of the library is Graves Art Gallery, home of one of Grayson Perry’s tapestries.
If you’re feeling adventurous, head into the outskirts of the city such as Crookes, Sharrow, Ecclesall or Broomhill. You’ll find neighbourhood restaurants, homewares, plant shops and florists.
Sheffield is full of antique and vintage shopping. Check out the Heeley Bank Antiques Centre, it’s a family run antiques centre based in a stunning grade II listed Victorian bank. And Kelham Island is a haven for finding unique little treasures.
Hathersage swimming pool is an open air lido in the heart of the Peak District with amazing views of the surrounding area. It’s so close to the city but you instantly feel transported away to somewhere peaceful. Both Char and Laura love it.
Sheffield is also full of wild swimming locations – Rivelin is meant to be magical!
A short journey from the city centre will have you deep in the great outdoors. Seriously cool to spend a few days exploring the city and then go off for an adventure in the Peak District.
The Hope Valley train line runs from Sheffield station out into the Peak District. It’s just a short journey to one of many spots along the line where you can find walks and great pubs. It’s almost a mini break and feels a million miles away from the city!
Hope- Grasshopper Cafe stocks lots of local food brands and does great great toasties.
There is a circular walk starting at Hope station up along the ridge towards Edale and then back down to Hope ending at The Cheshire Cheese Inn – a very cute country pub!
Or head to The Old Eyre Arms in Bakewell – from here you can walk or cycle the Monsail Trail– a disused railway line abundant with nature (and just next to the wood kiln Laura has been involved with).
If you are up for a big but amazing walk, head out on the circulate from Edale up to Kinder scout (of the kinder trespass fame) and along the most incredible peat bog high up until you get to Jacob’s ladder where you descend into the Hope valley. Really incredible views and brilliant walk but not for the faint hearted as it’s quite a mission!
Everyone has told us we should go to Tonco. It seems like the place to be in Sheffield. Laura says she’s never had a dish there that she didn’t love. The restaurant is located in a little square set back off the road and the menu is seasonal and full of interesting flavour combos. And they have a great wine list too! If you’re lucky enough to be there in summer, it really is the place to feel as if on holiday (which you know is a feeling we all love).
Crumb bakery – it is relatively new and they make absolutely incredible pastries (and bread and pizzas!). Get a coffee and a pastry from there and stroll through Ecclesall Woods, an ancient woodland in the city. It’s full of birds and wildlife, and despite being in the city, it’s easy to lose yourself in there.
Ning’s Thai Street Food is slap bang in the centre of town but is without a doubt, we have been told, the best Thai food outside of Thailand. Ning cooks it all herself and is so lovely.
Kelham Island – is full of alfresco places to dine and drink, surrounded by rivers – it’s really like being on an island.
Sheffield is the Real Ale Capital of the World, and if you’re after a classic pub there is The Fat Cat, The Wellington and The Rutland Arms. This is just the tip of the iceberg for choices. There are also the new modern breweries Heist, Triple Point and Salt Brewery.
If cafes are your vibe, the city has the plenty. A few favourites include Kollective Kitchen, Tamper, Marmadukes and Lisboa. All of them have amazing baked selections and take their coffee very seriously. Try all of them if you’ve got the time.
Big thanks to Will Roberts from voxmultimedia.co for letting us use his beautiful photographs. @w.i.l.l.r.o.b.e.r.t.s
Featuring: @lauraaymara . @sam.binstead . @carla_murdoch_ceramics . @endlesslovecreative . @w.i.l.l.r.o.b.e.r.t.s . @sheffmuseums . @heeleybankantiguescentre . @hathersageswimmingpool . @hoppercafe . @cheshirecheesehope . @toncosheffield . @crumb.sheffield . @ningsthaistreetfood . @heistbrew . @triplepointbrew . @saltsheffield . @kollective_kitchen . @tampercoffeesw . @mamadukescafe . @lisboasheffield
This travel guide is going to be led by the stomach...we hope you are hungry!
A unique and special town loaded with independent businesses, beautiful architecture and eccentric characters
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