Sheffield - Famous for Steel and Scenery

For many years, Sheffield was the center of the British Steel industry, and to this day the mills and foundries that brought wealth to the city are still in operation. Sheffield Steel was the heart of the Industrial revolution and the imperial expansion that brought the British flag to every corner of the globe. It is somewhat surprising to visitors to this Yorkshire city that despite the fact that the name of Sheffield has been carried to the whole world on a million pieces of cutlery and a hundred thousand swords, Sheffield itself is a surprisingly unprepossessing that is almost bland in the kind of attractions it offers.

In the last ten years or so, the industrial collapse that nearly did for Sheffield during the 1980s has been largely reversed, and once again, the steel mills operate 24 hours a day to satisfy the international demand for the quality of metal that only the locals know how to produce. Sheffield is regaining its confidence -- as demonstrated by the local live music scene which has spawned a number of internationally famous groups such as Pulp and the Arctic Monkeys to name but two.

The center of Sheffield may lack the choice of shops that you might find in a city like Manchester or Leeds, but it more than makes up for the lack of variety thanks to the overall quality on offer. There are a number of larger department stores in the city center including Debenhams, and also several small fashion stores that offer the best choice of different fashions from all over the world without being tied down to any specific labels. You can buy pretty much anything that you want in Sheffield, from shoes to swords, and there are also many nightclubs and bars that are always lively at the weekend thanks to the large number of students that live in the city.

Within easy reach of Sheffield, the Yorkshire Moors offer some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the UK, with plenty of great opportunities to appreciate the peace and quiet that is available for hiking and exploring throughout the year.