Many people who have never visited Sheffield know it only as the city of steel, which is also famous for hosting the World Snooker Championship.
It is also famous for its football teams, its universities and some of the amazing bands it has produced, like the Arctic Monkeys, Pulp and Def Leppard.
But get to know the city better and it reveals all kinds of fascinating facts about its rich history, amazing achievements and celebrated connections.
Some are bizarre, like the strange events Sheffield has hosted over the years, others are grisly, yet many are uplifting and likely to bring a smile to your face.
How many of these facts about the city did you know?
It is also famous for its football teams, its universities and some of the amazing bands it has produced, like the Arctic Monkeys, Pulp and Def Leppard.
9. A huge underground tunnel runs beneath the city centre
An impressive complex of Victorian tunnels running beneath Sheffield includes a large, brick-vaulted cavern often called the Megatron. Tours are available of the culverts carrying the Sheaf and Porter Brook rivers underneath the city, though only when the weather allows. Photo: National World
10. Sheffield hosted the World Water Bombing Championships
The pool at Sheffield's Ponds Forge International Sports Centre has hosted many top national and international competitions but few made as big a splash - literally - as the World Water Bombing Championships, which were held there annually for several years. People dressed in all manner of weird and wonderful outfits before hurling themselves at the water in an attempt to make the biggest impact possible. Sadly it does not appear to have taken place in Sheffield since 2017 but, who knows, it may be revived one day. Ponds Forge did more recently host the Underwater Hockey Age Group finals in 2019. Photo: Sarah Washbourn
11. It was the scene of one of the deadliest floods in UK history
The Great Sheffield Flood of 1864 is one of the deadliest floods in UK history and the greatest civilian disaster of Victorian Britain. It happened when on the night of March 11 that year, the embankment of the Dale Dyke Dam collapsed and released 114 million cubic feet of water into the Loxley Valley. At least 240 people were tragically killed, around 100 buildings were destroyed and some 4,000 homes were flooded. Photo: picturesheffield.com
12. The Clash played their first ever gig in Sheffield
Sheffield has produced many great bands of its own, from the Arctic Monkeys to Pulp, The Human League and Def Leppard. But it is also where the Clash played their first gig, at the Black Swan club (later the Boardwalk) on Snig Hill, in 1976. They supported the Sex Pistols on that seminal night in punk rock history. Photo: National World
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.