As the fifth largest UK city, Sheffield in South Yorkshire is not only easy to get to using a range of different transport links. It also offers a fantastic selection of guest accommodation, making it a great place to visit for events and tourism. If you’re looking to attend a Magic: The Gathering event in Sheffield, we’ve provided information below to help you enjoy your stay.
This thriving city has a rich industrial history and is the birthplace of the crucible method for making steel, resulting in it becoming a global supplier of steel for tool making and engineering. Today, of course, it is famous for its sporting events. It is the home of the world’s oldest football club, the World Snooker Championship takes place here and Sheffield is the first National City of Sport in the UK.
Travelling to Sheffield
Sheffield is located in the heart of the UK and well placed for all major road and rail networks. If you’re travelling to Sheffield for an MTG event, there are plenty of ways to get there.
Using the comprehensive rail network, Sheffield Railway station (S1 2BP) is just a 2-hour journey from London with trains running every half hour. Journey time from Manchester is just under an hour and Birmingham around 90 minutes, both offering regular arrivals and departures. This makes the train a very convenient way of getting to Sheffield for an MTG event. The local bus network makes getting around the city centre very easy, so for those who prefer not to drive into a larger city, Sheffield is very accessible.
If travelling by car, Sheffield is linked via the M1 to both the north and south of the UK with journey times of around 2 hours if coming from Birmingham, 90 minutes from Manchester and just under 2 hours 30 minutes from Liverpool. If travelling from London by car, the journey takes around 90 minutes longer than by train. Whilst there is currently a Clean Air Zone in operation in the city, this does not apply to private cars.
It is also possible to use National Express coach service from all of these destinations. Journey times may be a little longer to accommodate additional drop off and pick up points. The coach station (S1 2BG) in the city is centrally located, within easy walking distance of many attractions.
Accommodation in Sheffield
Depending on the distance that you are travelling and your method of transport you may prefer to stay overnight in Sheffield. Or, you may want to extend your stay to take in some of the sites and attractions found in the area. As you might expect with a city of this size, you will find a comprehensive range of accommodation, with something to suit every budget.
These include:
EasyHotel Sheffield City Centre (71 High St, Sheffield S1 2GD) – If you are looking for a clean, comfortable bed for an inexpensive overnight stay then the EasyHotel is centrally located. It is a great choice, with the added bonus of helpful and friendly staff.
Ibis Sheffield Centre at 10A St Mary's Gate, Broomhall, Sheffield S1 4LR. This budget hotel is within a mile of many of the most popular attractions in Sheffield such as the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield United FC and the O2 Academy. Meadowhall Shopping Complex is also only a 15 minute drive away. There’s also a café at the hotel, which serves food all day.
Airbnb – If you are looking to stay for several nights, or if you are part of a group travelling to a Magic: The Gathering event in Sheffield then an Airbnb might be a more suitable accommodation choice. There are a number to choose from in the city centre and on the outskirts of Sheffield.
There are also plenty of good options from other hotel groups, such as Travelodge, Premier Inn and Double Tree by Hilton, to be found within the city centre, depending on your requirements.
Restaurants
As you would expect from a city the size of Sheffield, there is no shortage of places to eat out. You will find a wealth of different cuisines to choose from. From familiar chain restaurants to independent eateries, traditional pubs to elegant bistros, you may just find yourself spoilt for choice.
Twisted Burger Company (178 Shoreham St, Sheffield S1 4SQ) – Forget everything you thought you knew about burgers, Twisted Burger Company ranks number one in Sheffield for their burgers and it isn't hard to see why. Their extravagant burgers, and mouth-watering sides have been perfected over the years and they offer a great choice of beers as well.
Italian Kitchen (349 Ecclesall Rd, Sharrow, Sheffield S11 8PF) – For an authentic taste of Italy, and a menu that offers plenty of variety this unassuming eatery offers big portions in a friendly atmosphere.
Urban Choola (842 Ecclesall Rd, Sheffield S11 8TD) – If you fancy authentic Indian cuisine with a modern twist then it has to be Urban Choola. It was recently named the winner of the best Indian Restaurant in Sheffield at the British Restaurant Awards.
If you simply fancy taking a stroll to see how your culinary mood takes you then the areas of Sheffield where you will find the most variety of foods and drinks are the inner suburbs of Nether Edge, Sharrow Vale and Kelham Island.
Things to do in Sheffield
As well as attending a Magic: The Gathering Sheffield event, there’s plenty to entertain you. The Millennium Gallery (48 Arundel Gate, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 2PP) is the premier destination for art, craft and design and one of the most visited free attractions in England. It is home to the Sheffield Metalwork Collection, one of the finest collections of its kind in the world, and of course a fitting tribute to the industry that made Sheffield famous.
The Sheffield Winter Garden (90 Surrey St, Sheffield S1 2LH) is home to the largest glasshouse in Europe and houses over 2,500 plants from all over the globe. It offers the perfect alternative to the hustle and bustle of the city itself.
The National Videogame Museum (Castle House, Angel St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S3 8LN) is located at the centre of the city. It is the only museum in the UK dedicated to videogames, collecting and preserving them for future generations. It is closed Monday to Wednesday but open the rest of the week and offers the perfect escape for visitors of all ages, whether they want to relive their childhood or are a video gaming enthusiast.
There are many places to visit in Sheffield, but another place worth visiting is Kelham Island. One of the city's oldest manufacturing sites, the area has been redeveloped and now contains microbreweries, indie shopping arcades and a number of galleries.
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