Sheffield
Sheffield is probably not the first place you think of when you start looking for somewhere interesting to go for a trip. If the name conjures any pictures in your mind, the chances are these are of heavy industry. From the 14th century Sheffield has been known for the production of knives, an industry which sprang from the plentiful streams and deposits of iron ore to be found in the locality. Silver plating, the Bessemer process and the grant of a Royal Charter during the 19th century brought Sheffield from the status of small town to thriving city. By 1930 George Orwell claimed that Sheffield could be called ‘The ugliest town in the whole world’.
Yet in the 1990’s Sheffield reinvented itself from a depressed town, suffering the death of the coal and steel industries, to a centre able to celebrate the beauties of an England which, while enshrined in song and fable, may only now becoming a reality.
Places to Visit for Families
Just a few miles outside of Sheffield at Castleton are the local caves, including the Peak Cavern, known more colourfully as ‘The Devil’s Arse’ and the largest cave entrance on Britain. http://www.peakcavern.co.uk/
Kids will also enjoy a visit to the speedwell cavern, where the cave is permanently flooded and the tour begins in a boat. Visitors descend over 100 steps and embark on the boat only to return to land to view the spectacular ‘Bottomless Pit’ a chamber over 100 metres high and containing a 20metre waterfall. Tours take approximately 45 minutes. http://www.speedwellcavern.co.uk/index.html.
For the very adventurous Sheffield has the Magna Centre, which has many worthwhile educational activities plus the world’s only indoor bungee jump. (Maybe not for the kids, but who says Mum and Dad can’t have fun?) The 130ft high jump-station is reached by a tension-raising climb through the old steelworks. With dry ice all around, seven huge display screens and music to match, you climb the stairs and pitch yourself off into the twilight of ‘the Abyss’ For more details check out http://www.ukbungee.co.uk/the_abyss_at_magna.html .
For a list of Magna’s other activities for children over the Easter period, take a look here. http://www.visitmagna.co.uk/leisure/leisure.html
If you’re after something more sedate or cultural don’t despair. At the centre of Sheffield’s re-birth are the Winter Gardens, opened in 2003 and the largest urban glass house in Europe. It is home to over 2000 plants from all over the world and the display of bedding plants is changed five times per year. Attached to the winter gardens are the Millennium Galleries, where in addition to seeing exhibits devoted to Sheffield’s distinguished metal working past, you can see visiting exhibitions from London based galleries such as the V&A and the Tate.
If you plan a longer stay, Chatsworth house, http://www.chatsworth.org with it’s history, gardens and fountains is only 25 minutes drive from Sheffield or you can drive through the scenery of the Peak district, the UK first National Park or visit Bakewell, home of the famous tart.
To find out what is on in Sheffield, visit this page http://www.sheffieldwhatson.org.uk/ and make the most of your visit.