Luckily, Sheffield has so many green spaces scattered across the city. So grab your blankets and your picky bits, here are some of the best picnic spots in Sheffield!
1. Endcliffe Park
Picture your ideal picnic location: beautiful grassy spaces, ducks quacking in their ponds, gorgeous trees – that’s Endcliffe Park. It is picture-perfect for your picnic. You can access it via Ecclesall Road, which means you pass a variety of cafes, giving you plenty of opportunity to grab something to take to your picnic!
Endcliffe Park is one of Sheffield’s most popular and loved green spaces. It’s big, open, and peaceful. Because it’s so open, it doesn’t feel too overcrowded; there’s space for everyone.
It also lies along Porter Brook, so if you’ve got a burst of energy after your picnic, you can explore the other Porter Valley Parks that surround it.
2. Botanical Gardens
Just down the road from Endcliffe Park, the Botanical Gardens has 18 different gardens, all with different botanical themes.
It is one of the most beautiful and unique picnic locations in Sheffield. There are colourful flower displays, shaded areas, and a cafe. The gardens are very well kept, it’s a lovely place to spend your time, especially if you prefer a calmer atmosphere. Despite being close to busy student areas, it feels more peaceful and tucked away.
3. Weston Park
Weston Park is ideal for University of Sheffield students as it is right in the heart of the campus. It has a lot of nice, flat, grassy areas, which is all you really need for a good picnic – everything else is just an added bonus.
Because of its location, its great for a uni of students to have a post-lecture hangout, or a little break in between everything. If you fancy doing something after the picnic, there’s a free museum that’s worth a look around, tennis courts, and a cafe. It’s an excellent afternoon out.
4. Crookes Valley Park
Crookes Valley neighbours Weston Park and is another fantastic picnic location – I’ve had my fair share here, it’s superb. There’s a large lake in the centre with ducks and plenty of grassy areas to enjoy the view.
It’s a go-to spot for students, being near Crookes and Uni of Sheffield. On sunny days, it gets very busy but it’s a fantastic atmosphere – it feels like one of those classic university experiences you hear about, with the hustle and bustle of excited students, particularly around Varsity and other big events.
5. Devonshire Green
One of the best things about Dev Green is its location – it’s right in the city centre, just off Division Street. It’s very convenient if you’re having a spontaneous picnic and need to quickly grab some drinks and snacks. There are small supermarkets like Sainsbury’s nearby for some last-minute bits, as well as plenty of cafes to take something away.
Despite being central, it still manages to feel calm amongst the busy streets. The grass is flat and open, so it’s ideal for laying down your picnic blanket and settling comfortably with your food.
The atmosphere is also great: social and lively, but rarely overwhelming. And there is a skate park. It adds to the fun feel of the place, and even if you’re not skating yourself, it’s entertaining to watch.
6. South Street Park
Easily one of the coolest spots in Sheffield; it gives you a view of the whole city. It’s quite a dynamic place, found behind the train station, and is great for a bit of people watching.
Whilst the hill is steep, mid-way there are some ledges and a grassy patch at the bottom where you can set up your blanket and your food, and just watch the city. It’s gorgeous; night and day. It’s very close to Sheffield Hallam’s City Campus, which you can see from the hill, so it’s great for a nice post-lecture hangout.
South Street Park has a different character from the other picnic spots in Sheffield; instead of being surrounded by trees, you’ve got the city skyline. You’ve got plenty of options to choose from as South Street Park is right next to Sheaf Valley Park that includes Clay Wood Bank, Skye Edge, and the Cholera Monument Grounds.
Let’s hope this good weather keeps up, and soon enough, you will not be able to find me hunched at my desk, but on a grassy hill with my friends, the sun and some chicken bites. In Sheffield, the perfect picnic spot is right around the corner.
