Yorkshire
Date ideas in Sheffield
Updated
Sheffield is a big city that never feels far from the hills: the Peak District starts at the edge of town, and leafy valleys run right into the suburbs. In the middle there's a giant glasshouse, free museums, a famous theatre and an independent cinema, plus the old steel works of Kelham Island, now full of real-ale pubs. These are our picks, with plenty for a wet Yorkshire afternoon and a couple of proper days out.
Our picks in Sheffield
Stanage Edge
Above Hathersage, about ten miles west of the city centre
Address: Stanage Edge, Hathersage, Hope Valley S32 1BR- Outdoors
- Free
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Out of town
Walk along the top of the long gritstone edge above Hathersage, with moorland behind you and the Hope Valley spread out below.
Why it's a good date: One of the great views in the Peak District, and a short climb from the car parks at Hollin Bank or Upper Burbage. Go for the last hour of light, take a flask and a layer, and watch the climbers on the rocks below.
Photo: Michael Fox, CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)
Sheffield Winter Garden
Surrey Street, city centre
Address: Sheffield Winter Garden, Surrey Street, Sheffield S1 2HH- Outdoors
- Rain-proof ☔
- Free
Wander among palms, tree ferns and thousands of plants from around the world under the huge timber arches of the city-centre glasshouse.
Why it's a good date: A warm, green place to meet in the middle of town whatever the weather. It opens straight into the Millennium Gallery, so you can turn a quick stroll into an afternoon.
Photo: Andrew Tryon, CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)
Millennium Gallery
Arundel Gate, city centre
Address: Millennium Gallery, Arundel Gate, Sheffield S1 2PP- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Free
Browse the free gallery next to the Winter Garden, with Sheffield's collection of cutlery and silverware, Ruskin's treasures and changing exhibitions.
Why it's a good date: The Metalwork Gallery shows off the city's steel-making skill in a way that's surprisingly beautiful. Check what's in the big exhibition space, then get a coffee and walk through to the glasshouse.
Photo: Rept0n1x, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped and resized)
Sheffield Botanical Gardens
Clarkehouse Road, Broomhill
Address: Sheffield Botanical Gardens, Clarkehouse Road, Sheffield S10 2LN- Outdoors
- Free
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Romantic
Stroll the lawns, rose garden and themed borders of the Victorian botanical gardens, and step inside the curving glass pavilions.
Why it's a good date: Free, peaceful and lovely in every season, with the glass pavilions for a short shower. Bring a picnic for the lawns in summer, then wander down to Sharrow Vale Road for a drink.
Photo: A J Paxton, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Kelham Island Museum
Alma Street, Kelham Island
Address: Kelham Island Museum, Alma Street, Sheffield S3 8RY- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Free
See how Sheffield made its steel, from little workshops to the River Don Engine, a colossal steam engine that still thunders into life.
Why it's a good date: Time it for the engine running in steam and feel the floor shake. It's free to get in, and the pubs of Kelham Island are on the doorstep for afterwards.
Photo: Alan Murray-Rust, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Settle into the little Kelham Island pub that started Sheffield's real-ale boom in 1981, with ever-changing local beers and a beer garden out back.
Why it's a good date: A proper old-fashioned pub with no music, so you can actually talk. Pair it with the museum round the corner and make a slow afternoon of it.
Photo: Chemical Engineer, Public domain (cropped and resized)
The Crucible
Tudor Square, city centre
Address: Crucible Theatre, 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield S1 1DA- Event
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Big night
- Culture
See a play at the Crucible, where the thrust stage puts every seat close to the actors, or something lighter next door at the Lyceum.
Why it's a good date: Sheffield Theatres' own productions are some of the best in the North. Book ahead, eat somewhere nearby first, and have a drink in the foyer bar at the interval.
Photo: Oliver Mills, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Showroom Cinema
Paternoster Row, near the station
Address: 15 Paternoster Row, Sheffield S1 2BX- Event
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Cosy
Catch an independent, foreign-language or classic film at the city's art-deco independent cinema, with a café bar downstairs.
Why it's a good date: A film you'd never find at the multiplex, and a bar to talk about it in afterwards. It's a couple of minutes from the station, so it's an easy date night from out of town.
Photo: Warofdreams, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped and resized)
Weston Park Museum
Western Bank, by the university
Address: Weston Park Museum, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TP- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Free
Explore the city's free museum of natural history, archaeology and art, from a polar bear and a woolly rhino to Sheffield's own story.
Why it's a good date: Easy to wander for an hour without a plan, and free. Walk round Weston Park's lake and bandstand afterwards if the rain stops.
Photo: Adrian Richardson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized)
Sheffield General Cemetery
Cemetery Avenue, Sharrow
Address: Sheffield General Cemetery, Cemetery Avenue, Sheffield S11 8NT- Outdoors
- Free
Wander the overgrown paths of a Victorian garden cemetery on a hillside, past grand gateways, chapels and the graves of the city's steel barons.
Why it's a good date: Quiet, green and full of stories, and lovely in autumn when the leaves turn. Pick up a trail from the trust's website first, then head to Sharrow Vale or Ecclesall Road for a coffee.
Photo: Warofdreams, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped and resized)
The Porter Valley to Forge Dam
From Endcliffe Park, Hunters Bar, to Forge Dam, Fulwood
Address: Forge Dam, Fulwood, Sheffield S10 3TE- Outdoors
- Free
Follow the Porter Brook from Endcliffe Park up through woods and old mill ponds to Forge Dam, with a café at the top.
Why it's a good date: About an hour of gentle uphill walking beside water the whole way, and easy to reach by bus. Get a hot drink at the Forge Dam café and stroll back down.
Photo: Ian S, CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)
Chatsworth
Near Bakewell, Derbyshire, about twelve miles south-west of the city
Address: Chatsworth, Bakewell DE45 1PP- Trip
- Mid-price
- Dog friendly
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn, Christmas
- Out of town
- Culture
Spend the day at the Duke of Devonshire's great house in the Derwent valley, with its painted halls, cascade, fountains and miles of parkland.
Why it's a good date: A proper day out, and the park is free to walk if you'd rather not buy tickets. Dogs on leads are welcome in the garden and park, though not in the house. In the run-up to Christmas the house is dressed up for the season, so book early.
Photo: Rprof, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized)
Peak Cavern
Castleton, Hope Valley, about sixteen miles west of the city
Address: Peak Cavern, Castleton, Hope Valley S33 8WS- Activity
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Dog friendly
- Out of town
Take a guided tour into the huge cave beneath Peveril Castle in Castleton, with the largest natural cave entrance in Britain.
Why it's a good date: An adventure that works in any weather, and well-behaved dogs on leads can come too. Book a tour online, then walk up Cave Dale or warm up in one of Castleton's pubs.
Public
Surrey Street, city centre
Address: Public, Surrey Street, Sheffield S1 2LG- Bar
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Big night
- Romantic
Duck down the steps under the Town Hall into a tiny cocktail bar built in the old Victorian gents' toilets, all booths, low light and vinyl.
Why it's a good date: Small, low-lit and a story to tell before you've even ordered. It only seats a few dozen, so book a table, especially at the weekend.
Rafters
Oakbrook Road, Nether Green
Address: 220 Oakbrook Road, Sheffield S11 7ED- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Romantic
- Foodie
Book the tasting menu at the long-standing fine-dining restaurant in Nether Green, with modern, seasonal cooking.
Why it's a good date: The one for an anniversary or a big occasion, in a quiet suburb a short taxi ride from town. Book well ahead and ask about the kitchen bench if you like to watch the chefs.
Dates in Sheffield: quick answers
What are good rainy-day dates in Sheffield?
The Winter Garden, Millennium Gallery, Weston Park Museum and Kelham Island Museum are all indoors and free. A film at the Showroom, a play at the Crucible or a tour of Peak Cavern in Castleton keep you dry too, and the Fat Cat is a cosy place to sit out a shower.
Are there free date ideas in Sheffield?
Lots. The Winter Garden, Botanical Gardens and the city's museums are free, and so are the General Cemetery, the Porter Valley walk to Forge Dam and Stanage Edge in the Peak District.
Can you get to the Peak District from Sheffield without a car?
Yes. Buses run from the city out towards Hathersage and Castleton, and the Hope Valley train line stops at Hathersage and Hope. Check times before you set off, as services are less frequent in the evening and on Sundays.
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