Kelham Island started life as one of the first industrial districts of Sheffield with factories and houses jostling alongside each other. At the heart of the area is the River Don and the goit that created the original ‘island’. 800 years later, Kelham Island has been named Britain’s greatest urban neighbourhood and its pubs were listed by the New York Times as one of the best places to visit in the world.

Led by a local resident Anders Hanson, this tour will tell you the story of Kelham Island’s origins growing from countryside the heart of the city’s metal working industries. It will show you some of the great architecture and art such as Green Lane Works, Cornish Place and Globe Works. You’ll discover the life of one of Britain’s foremost anti-slavery campaigners, a notorious murderer, and a groundbreaking poet. At the heart of all this is the industrialists, manufacturers and workers whose wares were world famous, putting Sheffield on the map, but often at great personal cost.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Walks are £10 and take around two hours. You need to book online in advance.

Walks start outside Kelham Island Museum next to the Bessemer Converter (S3 8RY - map here) and finish nearby. The distance is around 1.2 miles (2 km).

We recommend arriving by public transport or taxi. It’s often not easy to find car parking spaces in the area, and it means you can take advantage of one of the local pubs, cafes or restaurants afterwards. If you are driving the easiest place to park is a 5 minute walk away at Brookshaw Park, a pay and display car park opposite the Kelham Island Tavern on Russell Street (S3 8RW - map here). You are only able to use the museum car park if you are planning to visit the museum on the day.

Most of the walk is accessible, however one part of the walk involves a uneven surface with cobbles. Well behaved dogs are welcome.

You can also find the answers to more general Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

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WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT KELHAM ISLAND WALKS