Leisure
Shopaholics will find plenty of places to indulge their hobby. Award-winning boutique Kelly Clarke offers a dazzling array of designer womenswear, whilst upstairs at new bar The Bowery Matt Helder from the Arctic Monkeys has just launched his own fashion store devoted to UK label Supreme Being.
Widely regarded as the place for Sheffield's coolest cuts and quirkiest fashions, the Devonshire Quarter offers a wealth of independent stores, and you can continue the quest for something a little less ordinary with a trip to The Golden Mile, also known as Ecclesall Road, where you'll find specialist outlets such as Butterfly Lingerie and The Famous Sheffield Shop.
For the central shopping district head to Fargate which hosts all the top high street brands, and nearby in Barker's Pool you'll also find department store legend John Lewis.
And if undercover one-stop shopping appeals to you, be sure to check out one of the country's largest shopping complexes: the colossal Meadowhall in Sheffield, which is home to over 280 stores.
If you feel like feeding your brain rather than your wardrobe, head to one of Sheffield's many museums, art galleries or theatres.
The Graves Gallery houses permanent displays from the city's collections of 19th and 20th century European art, whilst the Millennium Gallery incorporates four exhibition spaces under one roof in a dynamic, forward-thinking gallery where you're as likely to encounter contemporary metalwork or film installations as you are oil paintings and sculpture.
Or take it to the stage at Tudor Square with the Lyceum or Crucible, where you'll not only find plays, West End musicals, dance and opera, but also the annual World Snooker Championships.
Sheffield's public spaces are the envy of cities the country over, and the Winter Gardens and Peace Gardens are both delightful places to sit back, relax and people watch. Leopold Square is a chic, continental-style space lined with cafes and bars.
Film buffs can get their popcorn fix at the ‘UK's best independent cinema' - as voted by Guardian readers - the Showroom in Sheffield, which hosts a number of film festivals throughout the year including the Sheffield Adventure Film Festival (ShAFF) in March, and the Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival (DOC/Fest) in November.
After all that shopping and culture you'll need refueling - and you won't be short of options. The award-winning Rafters Restaurant sets old favourites such as roast belly pork and Derbyshire lamb alongside more exotic food concepts such as star anise and truffled parsnip tarte tatin. And delights of a very different kind can be found at Wasabi Sabi, where fine dining meets fine fun. Diners sit at teppanyaki tables, where the food is prepared in front of you on sizzling hot-tables.
From there you can move onto the city's nightlife. Start your night on Division Street where you'll find a great selection of pubs and bars, including The Green Room, The Common Room, The Old House and Bungalows and Bears. Or check out super chic Crystral in the old Scissor Mill - this late bar has a glass roof that creates a unique open air atmosphere year-round.
Sheffield is renowned for being a musical city - just look at the recent success of the Arctic Monkeys and Reverend and the Makers. Get your amplified fix at the Carling Academy on Arundel Gate, the famous Leadmill on Leadmill Road, or The Plug on Matilda Street. Or catch some of the biggest acts in the world at the monumental Sheffield Arena or Don Valley Stadium, which recently hosted the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and the Rolling Stones.
Or if you prefer to enjoy your entertainment sitting down, the City Hall runs a vibrant programme of events, with everything from classical concerts to comedy nights.
After all that, you'll definitely need the ‘Do Not Disturb' sign at a hotel in Sheffield!
