Located at the junction of the Rother and Don rivers, Rotherham is a historic market town in South Yorkshire. It lies between Sheffield and Doncaster and has been a centre of glassmaking, flour milling and coal mining throughout its past. Rotherham is renowned for its magnificent minster and is home to a fascinating transport museum.
Things to do in Rotherham
In the heart of town is the Rotherham Minster, an ornate landmark that was originally built in the 14th century and is considered one of the stateliest churches in Yorkshire. Admire its Perpendicular Gothic architecture and step inside to see its stained-glass windows and 1777-built Snetzler organ. The Yorkshire Minster also boasts one of the finest peals of bells in the United Kingdom.
Occupying an 18th-century residence is the Clifton Park Museum, where you’ll find exhibits of Roman remains, Rockingham pottery and decorative artworks. Also located within the building is the York and Lancaster Regimental Museum, which features uniforms and weaponry dating from various historical periods. Surrounding the Grade II-listed building is a leafy park with children’s play areas, a skate park and a memorial garden.
Vintage buses, tramcars and lorries are on display at the South Yorkshire Transport Museum, which is located adjacent to the bustling Parkgate Shopping Mall. Get up close to old milk floats, tractors and bicycles, together with a double-decker trolleybus. In addition to exhibiting model vehicles and transport memorabilia, the museum also hosts themed events throughout the year.
Getting around Rotherham
Rotherham is around 20 minutes’ drive from the centre of Sheffield and 30 minutes from Doncaster Sheffield Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Both trains and trams connect to the Rotherham Central station and buses travel throughout the town. The centre of Rotherham can easily be explored on foot.