There’s tons to see and do in Sheffield (see our Visit Sheffield by Train page). But if you fancy venturing a bit further afield, see our pick of destinations that you can get to by train from Sheffield for a short day trip.

From quiet walks to scenic countryside, historic buildings, culture, restaurants and shopping, you’re bound to find something to enjoy.

You can plan your train journey here, and don’t forget if you have a Railcard you can get 1/3 off your rail fares. If you require additional support when travelling, the Passenger Assist service can help you.

Day trips from Sheffield in 1 to 2 hours

Harrogate

Small but perfectly formed, Harrogate is a popular destination famous for its spring water(external link, opens in a new tab), which was discovered in 1571 and which is still going strong now.

Visit the 7th century Ripon Cathedral(external link, opens in a new tab) – the oldest structure of any cathedral still in use in England today – which boasts an Anglo-Saxon crypt, or Skipton Town Hall(external link, opens in a new tab), which has a museum, art gallery and visitor centre. 
 
Nearest station: Harrogate

Saltaire

Saltaire Village(external link, opens in a new tab) is a World Heritage Site named after Sir Titus Salt, who built a textile mill called Salts Mill(external link, opens in a new tab) in the 1850s.

Positioned adjacent to the Leeds and Liverpool canal, the mill is now a great place to shop and eat, but the highlight is a spacious art gallery which hosts one of the largest collections of David Hockney’s art.

Nearest station: Saltaire

Halifax

Located near the east Pennine foothills, on the edge of glorious countryside, Halifax boasts a Grade I listed building and plaza that wouldn’t look out of place in Italy. The Piece Hall(external link, opens in a new tab) was originally used as a cloth hall to make hand-woven textiles, and is now a cultural venue packed with boutiques, restaurants and cafés.

Visit Halifax Minster(external link, opens in a new tab) to see the tomb of Anne Lister, widely regarded as “the first modern lesbian” and immortalised in Sally Wainwright’s Gentleman Jack TV series, or stroll around People’s Park(external link, opens in a new tab), a 12.5 acre site that has a children’s play area and a bandstand.

Nearest station: Halifax

Hull

Officially ‘Kingston upon Hull’, but invariably shortened to ‘Hull’, this charming port city sits on the north bank of the Humber Estuary.

Marvel at the Humber Bridge(external link, opens in a new tab), an extraordinary feat of modern engineering that was officially opened back in 1981 and that now welcomes over 30,000 crossings a day (fun fact: there is enough wire in the bridge to go around the Moon more than 6 times) and visit The Deep(external link, opens in a new tab). This education and conservation charity makes its own salt water and really cares about the welfare of its animals: its mantra is, ‘For the oceans, for their future.’

Nearest station: Hull

Grimsby

It’s lovely just to wander along the seafront of this fishing port on the east coast of Lincolnshire, but if you want to find out more about the town’s history, visit the award-winning Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre to be transported back to the 1950s, when the port was at its busiest.

Grimsby Minster has a redeveloped courtyard with permanent artworks on display while The Time Trap Museum offers tours of a former police cells.

Nearest station: Grimsby Town

Liverpool

Most famous for The Beatles, Liverpool is also a cultural destination with fantastic museums, art galleries and theatres as well as magnificent architecture like the Royal Liver Building(external link, opens in a new tab), Europe’s first skyscraper and the perfect place to get a citywide view of Liverpool.

Visit the stunning Museum of Liverpool(external link, opens in a new tab), on the banks of the Mersey, which has permanent Beatles, sporting and regional archaeology collections or catch a show at the historic Cavern Club(external link, opens in a new tab), which hosted the Beatles, as well as the likes of Bo Diddley, the Rolling Stones and Arctic Monkeys.

• Read more about Liverpool on our Visit Liverpool by Train page.

Nearest station: Liverpool Lime Street