South Yorkshire Accommodation:
Barnsley
Bawtry
Bradfield
Brinsworth
Cudworth
Dinnington
Doncaster
Dore
Dronfield
Hathersage
Penistone
Rotherham
Sheffield
Stannington
Thorne
Woodall

South Yorkshire

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Robin Hood Robin Hood

Information

County Town: Sheffield
Population: 1,266,338
Area: 1,552 sq km
South Yorkshire Jobs
South Yorkshire Tips Page
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Rather interesting South Yorkshire facts
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Your opinion of South Yorkshire
Famous Dates
Famous People
Food Legends:Hendersons Relish
Folk Customs:
Handsworth Longsword Dancers
Haunted Britain:
The Ghost Monks of Roche Abbey
The White Lady of Mosborough Hall
Cultural Britain:
Lore & legend:
Robin Hood
Natural Britain:
River Don
River Rother

Events

February
Half-term Fun!

March
Easter Egg Hunt at The Tropical Butterfly House

April
Doncaster Beer Festival

May
Dragon Boat Festival
EUROPEAN FESTIVAL OF THE PLOUGH
Highland Fling Country Fair
Sheffield Mayfest
Steel Tours

June
BARNSLEY Heritage Festival
Doncaster Architecture Week
DONCASTER Heritage Festival
Doncaster Historical Fayre
Enchanted Fairy Forest
Firth Park Festival
Millhouses Festival
Norfolk Park Carnival
Rother Valley Triathlon Festival
ROTHERHAM Heritage Festival
Sheffield Festival of Transport
SHEFFIELD Heritage Festival

July
Abbeyfield Park Multicultural Festival
Darnall Carnival
Doncaster Live
Kiveton Park Brass Band Festival
Magna Science Summer Tours
Rotherham Walking Festival
Tramlines

August
Concord Park Fun Day
Magna Science Summer Tours
Sheffield Fayre
The Super Summer Family Fun Fair

September
Hearts Trans Peak Team Challenge
Heritage Open Days
Pedal for Pounds
South Yorkshire Classic Car & Bike Show
St Leger
The 4th Annual 'Art in the Gardens'

October
Half Term Fun at Magna
Halloween Spooktacular

November
Mexborough Christmas Carnival
Mexborough Fireworks Carnival
Sheffield Folk Festival
Sheffield International Documentary Festival

December
Christmas Concert
Handsworth Longsword Dancers
Santa, Elves and Sleigh Bells
Sheffield Chase the Pud

South Yorkshire - 129 places to stay

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Principal towns: Sheffield Doncaster Barnsley Rotherham

You could be forgiven for thinking that all South Yorkshire can offer is an industrial history of mining and steel manufacturing. The main towns within this Yorkshire and Humber county did grow around those industries, themselves having huge educational and historical appeal for visitors but, thanks to multi-million pound investment via government initiatives and Heritage Lottery funding, the whole area is buzzing with regeneration and redevelopment, seeing some of its slightly dusty, historical gems being given a good polish and the chance to shine again.

In addition to firm favourites (Doncaster Railway, Doncaster Racecourse ), and those restored to their former glories (Sheffield Botanical Gardens, Weston Park Museum, Wentworth Castle), the area is brimming with new, lively, modern venues offering a variety of entertainment, culture and attractions for more cosmopolitan tourists including: art galleries & exhibitions (Millennium Galleries, Graves Art Gallery); contemporary/traditional music & theatre (Sheffield City Hall, The Leadmill, The Harley) sporting fixtures; (Don Valley Stadium, Hallam FM Arena) and state of the art shopping centres (Meadowhall Shopping Centre, Crystal Peaks) - all of which mean this area is now a firm favourite for those visiting ‘up North’.

Known as the ‘Steel City’, Sheffield is synonymous with the steel industry and the manufacture of cutlery. If those are your chosen specialized subjects then visit the Kelham Island Industrial Museum where you can watch craftsmen performing skills of olden times making cutlery and surgical instruments. If you’re more inclined to the great outdoors, amidst the industrial landscape you’ll find some amazing treasures. First opened in 1896, the Sheffield Botanical Gardens has received a recent boost via a £6.9 million restoration programme, which has seen the miraculous and meticulous restoration of the gardens to their former splendour. The gardens contain a large number of listed buildings and features including the 300 million year old Fossil Tree and the Broadwalk Fountain, designed by the gardens overall creator, Robert Marnock. You can see another of Marnock’s creations by visiting Weston Park, also the subject of a massive facelift, comprising City Museum and Mappin Art Gallery housing a variety of archaeological, social and decorative collections. Add the 16th century Sheffield Manor Lodge and Sheffield Castle to your tour, where Mary Queen of Scots spent her time plotting to take Queen Elizabeth’s place, and you’ll have seen the cream of what Sheffield has to offer in the way of history and architecture. If you’re feeling fit, then Sheffield’s most interesting walk, and an urban alternative to the Peak District and Round Walk, is the Five Weirs Walk, a canal path which takes you eight miles alongside the River Don giving a visual insight into Sheffield’s industrial past.

The Roman town of Doncaster provides delight for transport enthusiasts including Doncaster Railway and the original site of RAF Finningley. Doncaster Railway, played a key role in the early days of steam travel, and was the birthplace of 25000 locomotives, the most famous being The Mallard and The Flying Scotsman - recently renovated at Doncaster to celebrate its 150th anniversary. Plane spotters or RAF enthusiasts should head up the Great North Road to the original site of RAF Finningley, where the famous Vulcan bomber flew. Decommissioned in 1996, the site now houses the Robin Hood Airport, but reminders of Finningley’s participation in Bomber Command’s offensive during World War II are everywhere. Those on the tour should include a trip to Doncaster Mansion House (finest example of Victorian Gothic architecture in the country), Conisborough Castle, Cusworth Hall or Brodsworth Hall to get their fix. Those with a lighthearted agenda should head straight for Doncaster Races - odds are you’ll find a horse that takes your fancy.

On the River Don, Rotherham surprisingly lays claim to some of Britain's greatest inventions, including the screw-down water tap and the Bailey Bridge - said by Churchill to have shortened the war by two years! If that doesn’t impress, then take a visit to twice nominated ‘Museum of the Year’, Clifton Park Museum, where visitors can get a hands-on experience of history, with great activities for kids of all ages as well. Rotherham also has some great sites for camping and caravanning, and bird-watching including; RSPB Old Moor and Ravenfield Park.

Barnsley also has a few surprises up its sleeve. Probably the most impressive is, or will be, Wentworth Castle Gardens. Opening any day soon to the public, the Grade 1 listed gardens host an incredible 26 listed buildings and monuments which have been restored alongside rediscovered rare formal gardens. The gardens are attached to Wentworth Castle, currently home to the Northern College for Residential Adult Education, and Stainborough Park, within which they both lay, houses the Gothic folly known as Stainborough Castle. Barnsley is also home to Cannon Hall Museum, Park & Gardens which also includes 'Charge', the Regimental Museum of the 13th/18th Hussars - a must for anyone interested in military history.

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