Welcome to “Rotherham Revealed,” your go-to guide for exploring the vibrant and historic town of Rotherham.
Nestled in South Yorkshire, Rotherham boasts a rich industrial heritage, charming landscapes, and a thriving cultural scene. Discover iconic landmarks like the majestic Rotherham Minster, Clifton Park’s lush green spaces, and the innovative Magna Science Adventure Centre.
Dive into the town’s diverse food scene, quaint shops, and lively markets. Whether you’re a resident or a visitor, our blog offers insider tips, local stories, and curated itineraries to help you uncover the best of Rotherham.
Join us and experience Rotherham like never before!
Rotherham is a town located in South Yorkshire. It is one of the region’s great hidden rural gems. It is famous as a coal mining town and a major contributor to the steel industry.
There is a lot to do in Rotherham that including country parks, ruined castles, and family attractions such as Magna Science Adventure Center and the Rotherham Minster in the centre.
Things to do in Rotherham:
1. Clifton Park and Museum:
Clifton Park is heaven for adventure lovers. This park has something for everyone. It offers you a wide range of things to do, including a roller coaster, water rides, bumper cars, toon train, frozen swing, Indian Canoe Water ride, go-gator, space jets, and log fall rollercoaster.
This park also has a museum that highlights the history of Rotherham. You will find food and drinks being sold in the park and museum. There is also a gift shop from where you can shop for souvenirs, books, and information about the park.
It opens from 10 am to 3:30 pm on Tuesday to Friday and Sunday and from 8:30 am to 10 am on Saturday. Entry to both the park and museum is free.
2. Rotherham Minster:
This church is also known as All Saints Church and is famous as the finest perpendicular church in Yorkshire.
The nave roof of this church is decorated with 77 uniquely carved bosses and you will find 20 hidden green men in the foliage carved on pillars and around the church. It opens from 9 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 4 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
On Wednesday and Saturday, it opens from 9 am to 12 pm.
3. Wentworth Woodhouse:
Wentworth Woodhouse is one of the largest houses in Europe that was once the home of the Fitzwilliam family.
It covers 87 acres of garden and ground. It also has extensive views and former parkland including a deer park and lake. The preservation trust offers guided tours of the house and garden.
The Wentworth Tour, The Clifford Tour, and A Garden Tours, you can choose from one of the three guided tours available. All offer different perspectives on the house.
It also has a gift show where you can shop for souvenirs, locally sourced goodies, and seasonal products. You can book a tour from Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.
4. Magna Science Adventure Center:
This building is a third of a mile long and 150 feet high. Here, you will find four pavilion houses themed on Air, Earth, Fire, and Water.
Each pavilion is designed to match its theme poetically. The earth pavilion is located in the basement below the round slab. The air pavilion is designed as a huge airship that seemingly floats in space.
The fire pavilion is a black box containing a tornado of flame. The water pavilion is enclosed by a coolly-lit wave formed of steel. The major attraction of this site is ‘The Big Melt Show’. The ticket will cost around £12.95.
5. Chapel of the lady on the bridge:
This bridge chapel, one of the 4 left in England, stands built over the River Don. This chapel is a small rectangular red sandstone building with a battlemented top with pinnacles.
Inside this chapel, you will find the walls full of symbolism representing the history of Rotherham. This chapel has been an almshouse, town jail, and tobacconist’s shop but now it is a place to worship.
6. Roche Abbey:
The Cistercian order founded Roche Abbey in the 18th century as a monastery. It also served as a home to 50 monks and 100 lay brothers.
It holds status as a scheduled monument and also appears in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. Here, you can enjoy a picnic in the ruins by the stream.
Explore the remaining section of the gatehouse and the magnificent surviving transept walls. It opens every day from 10 am to 5 pm.
7. Hoober Stand:
Hoober Stand is a 30-meter-high tower. They built it to commemorate the quashing of the 1745 Jacobite rebellion. Constructed of ashlar sandstone, it has an equilateral triangle structure with rounded corners.
Hoober Stand has a triangular viewing platform at the top. You can reach the top by an internal helical stairway of 150 steps. Believers think its three walls under the cupola represent England, Scotland, and Ireland all under one crown.
It is open to the public from 2 pm to 5 pm only on Sundays and Mondays.
Food to try in Rotherham:
1. Yorkshire Pudding:
Yorkshire Pudding is an English side dish. It is crispy on the outside and custardy in the center. The batter of this pudding includes eggs, flour, and milk or water.
Restaurants serve it as an appetizer before the main dish or alongside beef and gravy for the main course.
2. Parkin:
Parkin is a kind of sticky cake made of flour, oatmeal, black treacle, and lard or butter. A hefty dose of ginger is also added to elevate the flavor.
This dish is a must-serve for Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Night on November 5.
How to reach Rotherham:
1. Reach Rotherham by flight:
The nearest airport to Rotherham is Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA). It is about 14.7 miles away from the city center.
From the airport, you can approach Rotherham either by train or by hiring a private taxi. The train will take about 25 minutes and will cost you £4.90.
2. Reach Rotherham by Train:
Rotherham Central Station is the main train station in the town. You will easily get a train from London St Pancras that will drop you at Sheffield.
Change the train at Sheffield for frequent local trains to Rotherham. The total journey from London to Rotherham will take 2hr 30 min.
3. Reach Rotherham by bus:
Rotherham, Interchange is the town’s main bus station. It is about a 2-minute drive away from Rotherham City Center.
You can reach Rotherham by bus from London Victoria, Sheffield Eyre St, Meadowhall, Barnsley
