Rotherham

1128 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

4/5

Review type

Destination

Date of travel

October, 2016

Product name

Product country

Product city

Travelled with

Solo

Reasons for trip

The prosperity of Rotherham was built on coal and steel. It was a proud town with mock Tudor timber frame buildings and some good interwar architecture. It was badly hit by Miner’s Strike in the mid 1980s and subsequent closure of steel works. At the end of the C20th was quite a deprived area and it showed. Since then, a lot of money has been spent to reinvigorate the town centre. Buildings have been spruced up. Clever traffic management keeps the streets free of traffic. There is a water feature in All Saint’s Square and the recently unveiled Heart of Steel by the west front of the Minster. A companion piece “‘Man of Steel'”:http://www.yorkshiremanofsteel.com/ is planned to be built on the edge of Rotherham overlooking the M1.

There is a new bus exchange, the railway station has been rebuilt with a stylish modern frontage and there is even a new football stadium.

The streets are busy with shoppers and brightly coloured market stalls. Unfortunately the rejuvenation has still to spread to the edge of the town centre where there are still a lot of empty and run down shops.

The “Minster”:http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/churches/england/yorkshire/south_yorkshire/rotherham_minster/index.html stands proud above All Saint’s Square dominating the surroundings. The tiny “Chapel on the Bridge”:http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/churches/england/yorkshire/south_yorkshire/rotherham_chapel/index.html is one of the few Medieval bridge chapels to survive.

“Clifton Park”:http://www.cliftonparkrotherham.co.uk/ is just a short walk from the town centre and is the green lungs of the area with attractive gardens and children’s activities. Clifton House is a lovely C18th house designed by John Carr and is now a museum covering the history of Rotherham as well as the Yorkshire and Lancashire Regiment.

“Boston Park”:https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/parks-open-spaces/visit-boston-castle-park/1 with the shooting lodge of the Earl of Effingham stands on one of the highest points in Rotherham. It was Rotherham’s first public park, opened in 1876 to celebrate the centenary of American Independence. The castle has recently been restored and there are children’s activities and events throughout the year.

On the outskirts of Rotherham towards Meadowhall is “Magma Science Adventure Centre”:https://www.visitmagna.co.uk/#magna-experience Air, Fire and Water, making science fun. The steel making heritage isn’t forgotten and one of the highlights is the Big Melt, a pyrotechnic and audio display around one of the original arc furnaces. There are also children’s play and adventure areas.

It was a dull and murky October day when I visited which explains the rather disappointing pictures. On a sunny day, Rotherham is much more attractive with the brightly coloured market in All Saints Square.

ESW

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.