Anyone know Sheffield well?

[TheTurn0fTheScrew]

More specifically, on a scale of nought to Leeds, how evil/frustrating is your ring road and city centre driving generally?

I'm planning to visit to see an exhibition, and have the choice of driving or train. Parking plus petrol will cost about the same, so it's all about time and ease of travel. I'm AWFUL at navigating tricky city centre road layouts, even with satnav, but the train journey would probably take 30-45mins longer door to door.

What about using park and ride? Tram service is generally really good in Sheffield. Depending on where you are travelling from you can park in one of the car parks and get the tram in to the centre of town.

Hmmm, well I’ve been driving round it for 20 years so think I maybe forget how confusing it can be if you don’t know the road layouts. But yes I do think it’s more confusing than most other places. I’d probably do the train.

Thank you both. Park and ride is probably my least favourite option. IME previously (different cities though) I get the slight inconvenience of waiting for public transport, plus the ballache of most of the drive!

I think it's quite straightforward. I visit Leeds now and again and always struggle to leave due to road layout. Sheffield is fine. Where is your exhibition?

I would get the train. I find city centre driving intimidating and Sheffield felt tricky to me despite knowing the city well.

Where is the exhibition and where would you be travelling from? I don't think the ring road is that bad really. I come from Doncaster to Nether Edge fairly regularly and it's not an issue.

I don't like driving in the city centre so I would use the train or a tram park and ride.

The ring road is fine.

I go to Sheffield a few times a year, I drive in leeds regularly.
I hate driving in Sheffield.
park at Meadowhell and get the tram into the city. Trams are a brilliant service

The exhibition is Where We Live at the Millennium Gallery - I love that kind of East London Group influenced stuff. So right near the station.

I do feel like a pathetic excuse for a woman thinking about not driving, but even in Manchester where I live I only just venture inside the inner ring as all the one ways/bus only/tram only bits throw me completely, so I park a bit further away and walk an extra 10 minutes in.

while I have lots of you captive, I wouldn't mind if anyone can recommend a pretentious coffee shop for lunch, or the kind of quirky vintage/kawaii shop a moody 15yo girl might like to look round afterwards .

The exhibition is just across the road from the train station. I would recommend getting the train. It would be a far more relaxing experience. Parking can be limited and expensive. I know Sheffield really well and would still get the train.

Steam Yard is a nice coffee shop.

Train. The gallery is straight opposite the station and there's loads of annoying one way streets in the city centre.

Definitely get the train and a sulky teenage girl may enjoy West Street / Devonshire Gardens type area (very studenty, smells of weed on a sunny day 😂). Although there are also some nice coffee shops around Arundel Street (tamper is nice) which is sort of between the train station and the millennium galleries.

Marmadukes is nice for lunch.

Lots of the street food /food court type eateries for coffee: Kommune is good, Cutlery works in Kelham is a bit further out.

Definitely take the train. The Millennium Gallery is straight across the road and up a short hill.

Cafe wise - Honey and Fig on Westfield Terrsce (just off Wedt Street is small but the food is lovely. Get the tram to West Street and it's a one minute walk from the tram stop).

The Hygge Cafe at Fitzalan Square us good too. Bit of a longer walk, but still not far.

The cafe at the Showroom Cinema Cafe Bar is good too and very close to the station and the Gallery.

If you're vegetarian/vegan -The Blue Moon by the cathedral is a good choice.

I definitely second the Steam Yard

Brilliant - thank you all so much. You've given me permission to get the train without feeling like a complete wuss.

The cafe suggestions all look amazing as well - we will struggle to choose.

You could get to the park and ride at Nunnery Square really easily off the Parkway and get the transport from there. Would only take about 10 min, if that.

Absolutely train for millennium gallery. It's probably closer than a taxi.
And you can have a glass of something!

The Chakra Lounge is a great cafe and not too far from millennium gallery. It's also near Fred Aldous art shop and The Video Game museum which might appeal to your moody teen 😊