From hidden museums and architectural marvels to a vast underground world, we’ve put together a list of Sheffield’s less vaunted attractions for visitors to check out. Some of them might even be unexplored by locals.
We’d love to hear your suggestions of other unusual and little-known places and things to do in Sheffield which you feel are also among the city’s hidden gems.
5. Bear pit
Sheffield Botanical Gardens is one of Sheffield's prettiest spots, but it would be easy to miss perhaps its most unusual feature. The old bear bit there is one of the best preserved in the UK. It dates back to 1836 and was built to house a black bear named Bruin before becoming home to two brown bears. Legend has it that the pit shut after a child fell in and was killed but this is widely thought to be an urban myth. Today, the pit is free to enter and houses a metal sculpture of a bear, making it a great photo opportunity. Photo: Steve Ellis
6. Whinfell Quarry Gardens
Whinfell Quarry Gardens, in Whirlow, Sheffield, is a hidden beauty spot beside the better known Whirlow Brook Park. The site was used to extract flagstones before being converted into a garden for Whinfell House in 1895 by the steel industrialist Samuel Doncaster. Today it is home to some beautiful and unusual plants and trees, including giant redwood trees from California and rhododendrons from the Himalayas. Walking beside the tranquil pond in the corner of the gardens feels like stepping back millions of years to the days of the dinosaurs. Photo: Dean Atkins
7. Mayfield Alpacas Animal Park
Mayfield Alpacas Animal Park is a treat for animal lovers, set in the picturesque Mayfield Valley, just minutes from Sheffield city centre. It's home to more than 60 alpacas, along with llamas, reindeer, meerkats and more. You can go alpaca trekking, become a keeper for the day or get up close and personal with the animals at one of its owl or armadillo experiences. Photo: Scott Merrylees
8. Peddler Market
Kelham Island may well be Sheffield's worst kept secret, with its mixture of trendy bars, restaurants and industrial beauty meaning it regularly crops up in lists of the UK's coolest neighbourhoods. But not everyone has experienced the wonders of Peddler Market, in neighbouring Neepsend, which takes place monthly in an old warehouse, where visitors can enjoy some of the best street food England has to offer, alongside award-winning craft beers and cocktails, plus music and arts and crafts. Photo: Alex Moore