Sheffield is renowned for its rich industrial heritage and vibrant green spaces. Whether you’re a local or visiting, there are plenty of healthy activities to enjoy in The Outdoor City.
From picturesque walks to exciting sports activities, from leisurely pursuits for one or two to days out for the whole family, Sheffield has something for everyone looking to enhance their well-being. Let’s explore some of the best healthy activities to do in Sheffield.
The best way to experience Sheffield is on foot (Top Sheffield Walks And Destinations). A ‘Greenground Map’ of Sheffield greenspaces has been developed, and it shows just how accessible our greenspaces are (Greenground Map Of Sheffield). Here’s a list of some of our favourite walking trails and destinations.
Our favourite parks for a relaxing walk include the Botanical Gardens (Sheffield Botanical Gardens), Bingham Park, Whiteley Woods, and Chelsea Park. Graves Park, the largest park in Sheffield, offers a range of walking routes through woodlands and open fields (Graves Park).
It’s also home to a rare breed farm (Graves Park Animal Farm), making it a fun destination for families.
A 15-mile loop through some of Sheffield’s most beautiful parks and woodlands (The Sheffield Round Walk). This walk offers a mix of urban and rural scenery, perfect for a day out.
The stretch from Endcliffe Park to Forge Dam, a 4-mile circular trail (Endcliffe Park To Forge Dam), is ideal for those looking for a shorter stroll (and great for families). The route follows Porter Brook and offers picturesque views, play areas, and cafes along the way.
A tranquil 2.5-mile walking path that winds along the River Rivelin (Rivelin Valley Trail). This nature and heritage trail links Sheffield to the Peak District National Park. It is rich in history with old mills and dams, and it’s perfect for spotting wildlife.
With the Peak District on our doorstep, Sheffield has many wonderful walks close by. The Stanage Edge walk offers stunning panoramic views of the Peak District (Stanage Edge). This approximately 4-mile trail can be challenging, but it is well worth the effort for the breathtaking scenery.
If you’re looking for company, Good Companions is a friendly Sunday rambling club based in Sheffield (Good Companions Rambling Club). It has a varied programme, with walks of about 8–10 miles (mostly in the Peak District) planned for each Sunday.
Because many of their walks can be reached by public transport, everyone can join in the fun.
To be fit and healthy you need to be physically active. Here are a few of the healthy activities available for younger adults around Sheffield.
Running with a group is a great way to stay motivated and meet new people. The running community in Sheffield is thriving, and there’s a club for every runner type, from competitive athletes to social runners (Running Clubs And Groups In Sheffield).
Whether it’s track, road, fell, or cross country, hard training or light exercise, there is something for you. While some running clubs are organised for the competitive runner, others nurture a community feel, for example, Steel City Striders (Steel City Striders) organises dozens of annual fun events.
Other clubs, like Totley AC (Totley AC), take advantage of the proximity of the Peaks to organise Sunday morning country runs.
For a more adventurous activity, try climbing. It’s a great way to build strength and endurance. Most climbing gyms cater for climbers of all ages, abilities, and inclinations.
The Depot Rock Climbing Gym is run by climbers for climbers (Depot Rock Climbing). Its aim is to promote a healthy lifestyle while building a strong, inclusive, and diverse community.
The Climbing Hangar hosts a large bouldering wall (with weekly zone resets) and a replica of the Tokyo Olympics competition wall (The Climbing Hangar). It also provides a fully equipped gym and training area. Other venues include The Foundry (The Foundry) and The Climbing Works (The Climbing Works).
The Awesome Walls Climbing Centre (Awesome Walls) is considered a National Performance Centre for climbing.
If you prefer the outdoors, try Pure Outdoor (Pure Outdoor), an award-winning outdoor activity centre in The Peak District. This is perfect for those who have never climbed outdoors, and even those who have never climbed before.
A day-long introductory session offers time on the outdoor crags of Hope Valley with a professional instructor and the use of equipment.
Orienteering is an exciting outdoor adventure sport that exercises mind and body (British Orienteering). Orienteers navigate between checkpoints or controls marked on a special map. Because there is no set route, the skill and fun come from finding the best route.
Orienteering is great fun, exciting, and suitable for all ages and levels of experience.
Orienteering events for all ages and skill ranges are held most weeks across the city (Sheffield’s Orienteering community). With so much greenspace, Sheffield is an ideal place to take up orienteering, and the surrounding Peak District countryside provides a more challenging terrain for the experienced.
South Yorkshire Orienteers run Saturday events every month for children and adult beginners in Endcliffe Park, Western Park, and Ecclesall Woods (amongst other places), and they also run coaching sessions (South Yorkshire orienteers).
Cycling on a regular basis is a great way to stay physically active. This low-impact exercise is fun, cheap, and environmentally friendly. Moreover, cycling can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
Sheffield offers an extensive network of cycle paths for you to explore. There are routes for every proficiency level, including newcomers (Cycling Guide).
Whether commuting to work in the city centre (Cycling In The City Centre), or enjoying a leisurely ride through the city (Cycle Routes Around Sheffield), there’s a cycling route for you.
If you’re feeling more adventurous, there are many opportunities for road cycling and mountain biking around Sheffield and its surroundings (Cycling Around Sheffield). The surrounding countryside offers some amazing routes and epic views.
From gentle rides down country lanes and through woodlands to challenging hills, the surrounding countryside has it all.
Mountain bikers should check out Ride Sheffield (Ride Sheffield), a group that works to improve trails and riding for mountain bikers in and around Sheffield and the Peak District.
Regular activity helps protect against serious diseases such as obesity, heart disease, cancer, mental illness, diabetes, and arthritis. Here are a few of the exciting healthy activities recommended for older adults around Sheffield.
Yoga helps improve flexibility, strength, and mental clarity. Many studios additionally offer gentle or chair yoga classes designed specifically for older adults. These classes focus on improving mobility and relaxation.
Sheffield has several yoga studios offering classes for all levels. R1SE Yoga is a dynamic and innovative Yoga and Pilates studio that offers classes with a twist (R1SE Yoga). Sheffield Yoga Centre is a hub of excellence for the instruction and advancement of Iyengar Yoga (Sheffield Yoga Centre).
This studio believes Yoga should be accessible for everyone, and its team of trained instructors makes this belief a reality. Yoga Nature Sheffield (Yoga Nature Sheffield) was established in 2004.
This niche small community yoga school provides classes, workshops, and events that delve into a diverse array of authentic yoga practices.
A slower-paced version of football, walking football is perfect for older adults looking to stay active and social. This activity can help improve your balance and coordination. It’s also an excellent way to improve your mental health and reduce stress.
Contact the SUFC Community Foundation Walking Football organisation for information (SUFC Community Foundation Walking Football).
Tai Chi is a gentle and relaxing form of exercise for all ages and levels of fitness. This activity is excellent for balance and coordination, helping to reduce the incidence of falls in elderly adults. Tai Chi can also help with patient rehabilitation.
There are several Tai Chi groups in Sheffield open to new members. The Sunday class at White Crane Tai Chi (White Crane Tai Chi) is for beginners and offers an opportunity to learn a gentle Chi Kung-based exercise plan.
Classes at Mindful Tai Chi (Mindful Tai Chi) in St Mary’s Community Centre, Walkley are run on Tuesday afternoons (for beginner level) and Wednesday afternoons (for intermediate level).
The aim of classes at Wu Tai Chi (Wu Tai Chi) is to increase the energy & relaxation, fitness & strength, and the overall well-being of their students. They also have specialised classes for elderly adults, and for those suffering from poor circulation, blood pressure, heart disease, or balance disorders.
Aqua aerobics classes offer a low-impact workout that’s easy on the joints, making it ideal for older adults. These classes also offer a great cardio workout. All aqua classes take place in the shallow end of the pool meaning you don’t need to be able to swim to give it a go!
Aqua aerobics classes are available at many local pools (Aqua Aerobics through Sheffield City Trust), including the Concord Sports Centre, Heeley Pool and Gym, Hillsborough Leisure Centre, Ponds Forge, and Springs Leisure Centre.
Women’s only aerobics is available at The Zest Centre (Women Only Aqua Aerobics).
The physical, psychological, and social benefits of organised sport are well known (Developing Life Skills Through Sports).
The sports halls of the Sheffield City Trust host a variety of events and clubs (Sheffield City Trust). From badminton to football, squash, racketball, basketball, netball, and table tennis, indoor courts are available to book throughout the year.
A few of the sporting activities readily available around Sheffield are listed below.
Tennis is a great social sport for maintaining health, fitness, strength, and agility.
You can play tennis in Sheffield’s parks with the Sheffield Parks Tennis Pass (Play Tennis In Sheffield Parks). Each of their newly refurbished courts is available for just £1 a time. The courts are easy to book, and there’s a selection of locations across the city.
If you already know your way around a court, join the Hallamshire Tennis Club (Hallamshire). Members have access to excellent facilities (outdoor tennis courts, indoor tennis courts, and squash courts) and regular social events.
Golfing is a great way to get out, get moving, and lead a healthier lifestyle.
The Sheffield City Trust offers a flexible membership package (Sheffield City Trust). Sheffield and its surroundings also host a range of private golf clubs (Top 10 courses In Sheffield). Abbeydale Golf Club is known for its beautifully maintained course and welcoming atmosphere (Abbeydale Golf Club).
The Hallamshire course (Hallamshire Golf Club), nestled between the City of Sheffield and the Peak District National Park, is blessed with spectacular views.
Badminton is another great social sport.
You can play Badminton socially or competitively in Sheffield at a leisure centre or one of the badminton clubs. You can book Badminton courts through the Sheffield City Trust (Sheffield City Trust).
They have five Centres to choose from, Concord Sports Centre, Sheffield Coleridge Road, Hillsborough Leisure Centre, Ponds Forge, and Springs Leisure Centre.
There are also several Badminton clubs around Sheffield. Abbeydale Park Badminton Club is one of the largest in Yorkshire, and it has a thriving junior section (Abbeydale Badminton Club). It also runs both junior and adult coaching sessions.
The Sheffield Forum Badminton Club (SFBC) is a social badminton club that meets twice a week in the heart of Sheffield (SFBC). It welcomes members of all proficiency levels.
Swimming is a low-impact activity with many physical and mental health benefits. Done properly, swimming offers an excellent full-body workout.
The leisure swimming pools at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre and Hillsborough Leisure Centre are the perfect place to spend a relaxing and fun time with family or friends (Sheffield City Trust).
They also offer a range of Swimming activities, including lane swimming, Swimtag, Female Only sessions, Accessible Swimming sessions, Mobility Swim sessions, and Swimming Lessons (Swimming Activities).
Sheffield also offers a range of healthy leisure activities.
You can get a fantastic cardio workout by joining a salsa class.
Many venues in Sheffield offer weekly salsa nights. The Mambo Collective runs Salsa and Mambo classes and events throughout the Sheffield and South Yorkshire area (Mambo Collective). They also cater for all levels, from complete beginners to advanced dancers.
RCDance is renowned in Sheffield for creating a relaxed and entertaining learning environment (RCDance). Havana Salsa has a talented team of Salsa teachers, and energetic Latin music, and they provide an authentic Salsa experience (Havana Salsa).
If you are free on Saturday afternoons, try Salsa Saturday afternoons at the Cubana (Cubana), situated in a sleepy city centre back street.
You can also get some exercise for the body and soul walking around our galleries and museums.
Sheffield has several museums focusing on its industrial past (Sheffield Museums), including the Kelham Island Museum, and the Weston Park Museum. You could also visit the Art & Design collections at the Millennium Gallery (Millenium Gallery) and the Art House Gallery (The Art House).
On weekends, the Artspace collective hosts open days for local creatives to show their wares and skills (Artspace).
An active mind is a healthy mind.
To keep an active mind, try a new hobby. Try a pottery class, a woodworking course, or even a stained glass course. The Friday night and Saturday daytime pottery workshops at the Art House are perfect for beginners (The Art House).
The Art House also holds Art courses and workshops (The Art House). For the more adventurous, try the craft courses and workshops at the museum (Craft Workshops At Sheffield Museums Trust).
Healthy eating is important for building strength, protecting the heart, preventing disease, and psychological well-being.
For amazing food and a fantastic ethos, visit the Hidden Gem Cafe (Hidden Gem Cafe). This cafe funds a “local, unique, and very special charity that offers people with learning disabilities a chance to reach their full potential in life”.
Alternatively, try South Street Kitchen by Park Hill Flats (South Street Kitchen). They offer great food, vegan options, and a lovely atmosphere.
If you’re looking for a family day out, here are a few healthy activities we recommend for families around Sheffield.
This is one of our favourite days out with the family (Abbeydale Miniature Railway). Great for kids who enjoy a ride on miniature locomotives.
Pound’s Park is a great new park in the centre of town (Pound’s Park). It includes a children’s playground with large towers, stainless steel slides, climbing structures, playhouses, a seesaw, wheelchair-accessible play equipment, and more. It also has water play features for those sunny days.
The National Emergency Service Museum offers a great family day out (The National Emergency Service Museum). Their exhibits offer learning & playing, exploring & discovering, and relaxing & fun experiences. There is something at this museum to entertain visitors of all ages.
The Surf City Leisure Pool at Ponds Forge includes a Leisure Pool, a Baby and Toddler Pool (with slide), and a Wave Machine.
The Beach Leisure Pool at Hillsborough Leisure Centre Pool includes a Leisure Pool, a Baby Pool, a Slide and Flume, a Pirate Ship, and a Wave Machine. More information is available through the Sheffield City Trust (Sheffield City Trust).
Sheffield offers a wealth of activities to help you stay healthy and active. From scenic walks and adventurous sports to relaxing family days and dynamic dance classes, there’s something for everyone.
Whether you’re looking to improve your fitness, relax and unwind, or try something new, Sheffield has it all. Explore the city’s offerings and find the activities that best suit your lifestyle and interests.
Embrace the healthy living options available in Sheffield and enhance your well-being today.
