Sheffield Parks and Gardens

(Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, UK)



Interior view of the Winter GardensFamous for being the country's greenest city, Sheffield is overflowing with parks and gardens, and this is immediately apparent to visitors. Located in the very heart of Sheffield city centre are two particularly important, award-winning public spaces, the beautiful Peace Gardens along Pinstone Street, and also the more usual glasshouse that has become known as the Winter Gardens, where a large number of exotic plants thrive in elegant surroundings.

No trip to Sheffield is complete without a visit to the Botanical Gardens along Clarkehouse Road, which is completely free of charge and contains a superb collection of plants and garden areas, right in the heart of the city. There are also plenty of city parks as well, and these are especially appealing to children, families, walkers and joggers, with Weston Park being a firm favourite. Here are Sheffield's main parks and gardens.


Picture of the exotic planting at the Winter Gardens

Winter Gardens

Address: Surrey Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 2LH, England, UK
Tel: +44 (0)114 221 1900
Famous for being Europe's biggest temperate glasshouse of its kind, located in a city centre, the Winter Gardens is easy to find and is based in the Tudor Square area, close to the Peace Gardens. With more than 2,500 different plants on display, the Winter Gardens also provide an unusual covered walkway through the heart of central Sheffield. The glasshouse measures around 70 metres / 230 feet in length, by 22 metres / 72 feet in height, and even contains a cafe, small gallery area, and useful link to the nearby Millennium Galleries.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to 18:00
Admission: free

View showing the city's Botanical Gardens

Botanical Gardens

Address: Clarkehouse Road, Broomhall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S10 2LN, England, UK
Tel: +44 (0)114 267 6496
The Sheffield Botanical Gardens encompass a space of almost 20 acres / 8 hectares and has gained an English Heritage Grade II status. With magnificent Victorian pavilions in remarkable condition, areas of woodland, large lawns, prairie-style plantings and plenty of roses, the Botanical Gardens feature an impressive collection of tropical plants. Many themed and colourful landscaped garden areas are available for you to walk around and are well-maintained all through the year, although there is considerably more colour in the summer, when the long herbaceous borders and rock gardens really come into their own, although the display of spring bulbs is not to be missed. The Botanical Gardens are just a stone's throw from the city centre and many visitors here enjoy a drink and a bite to eat at the Curator's House Tea Rooms.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 07:30 to dusk, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to dusk
Admission: free

Picture of the central Peace Gardens

Peace Gardens

Address: Pinstone Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 2HH, England, UK
Offering the perfect respite for shoppers weighed down with heavy bags, the city's Peace Gardens are sited close to the Fargate shopping district. Almost resembling a large amphitheatre, the gardens boast an impressive water feature and fountain, which is at its best during the summer season. There is also a small cafe here offering open-air tables and chairs, while the large Ship's Bell, presented to Sheffield in the 1980s by its twin city in Germany, can also be found here.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Crookes Park

Address: Crookes Valley Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S10 1BA, England, UK
Crookes Park can be found outside of the city centre and many people travel to the park for the view of Sheffield's cityscape alone. This is an especially quiet spot, with seating areas and pleasant surroundings. For visitors wishing to do a little more than simply sit and admire the scenery, a bowling green and tennis courts are amongst the other highlights.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Endcliffe Park

Address: Rustlings Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S11 7AA, England, UK
A spacious park in the Porter Brook Valley area of Sheffield, Endcliffe Park is known for its network of walking trails and football facilities. Endcliffe Park is also home to a children's playground, coffee shop selling a range of hot refreshments, and prominent 'Mi Amigo' memorial. The park also hosts seasonal funfairs and Sheffield's yearly circus, complete with big top.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Millhouses Park

Address: Abbeydale Road South, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S7 2QQ, England, UK
Tel: +44 (0)114 262 0147
Standing alongside the winding Sheaf River, Millhouses Park offers the perfect place for a riverside stroll and a number of other leisure activities. Those with young children will be pleased to find playground areas and a playing field often used for football, while sports facilities include basketball, tennis, bowling and even boating on the park's scenic lake.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Rother Valley Country Park

Address: Mansfield Road, Wales Bar, Kiveton Park, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S26 5PQ, England, UK
Tel: +44 (0)114 247 1452
A vast expanse of rolling countryside covering over 700 acres / 280 hectares, Rother Valley Country Park is home to a selection of recreational activities, with sailing and windsurfing on its large lake being especially popular. Cycle trails are also available around the park and it is possible to hire bicycles here for a nominal charge. A play area for young children, coffee shop, and arts and crafts centre complete its list of attractions.
Open hours: April to October, Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 20:30, Saturday and Sunday - 09:00 to 18:30; November to March, daily - 09:00 to 16:00
Admission: free, charge for car park and some activities

Weston Park

Address: Weston Park, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S10 2TN, England, UK
Tel: +44 (0)114 278 2600
Located next to the campus of the University of Sheffield, Weston Park offers a central location and is a popular place to escape the hubbub of the city. The park is particularly appealing during the warm summer months, when both locals and visitors enjoy picnicking on its areas of lawn. Also of interest within the park itself are tennis courts and the Weston Park Museum.
Open hours: daily - dawn to dusk
Admission: free