Barnsley
Things to do in Barnsley, South Yorkshire
Photo © Phil of the North'sh, Google Maps
Barnsley sits where the Pennine foothills begin to soften into the South Yorkshire plain, giving the town and its surrounding villages a landscape of green ridges, farmland and old mill valleys. It's a former mining and industrial area that has grown into its countryside setting, with parkland, farm attractions and quiet lanes never far from the town centre.
The area's parks and estates are a big part of what draws people here. Wentworth Castle's Park and Gardens give a sense of the grand landed estates that once shaped this part of Yorkshire, and Cannon Hall Farm and Cannon Hall Museum sit within their own grounds, popular with families for a day spent among animals, gardens and old rooms alike. In town, Experience Barnsley and the Cooper Gallery cover the area's history and art, and there's indoor entertainment too, from Playzone Barnsley to the Wacky Warehouse at Chestnut Tree, plus quirkier outings like Chocolate Experiences with JJA Snack.
Barnsley works well as a base for exploring the wider South Yorkshire countryside without giving up the convenience of a well-connected town, close to the M1 and with the hills of the Pennines rising just beyond the rooftops.
Where to stay in Barnsley(13)
All hotels in Barnsley →About staying in Barnsley
Much of the accommodation reflects that mix of town and country. In Barnsley itself you'll find hotels such as Churchills Hotel, Ibis Styles Barnsley and the Premier Inn Barnsley Central, handy for the M1 and the shops and restaurants of the centre. Just outside, options like Burntwood Court Hotel, Mercure Barnsley Tankersley Manor Hotel and Home Farm rooms in the grounds of Wentworth Castle put you closer to open ground and historic parkland. Self-catering cottages, including the Smallshaw Cottages collection, Cote Farm, Shepherds Nook and Station House Retreat, are scattered through the villages around the town, many with a working farm or open fields for a neighbour, while Winter Hill Grange offers a campsite base for those who want to be outdoors properly.
Burntwood Court Hotel
Common Road, Barnsley
Churchills Hotel
1 High Street, Barnsley
Holiday Inn Barnsley M1 Jct 37
Barnsley Road, Barnsley
Ibis Styles Barnsley
Whinby Road, Barnsley
Mercure Barnsley Tankersley Manor Hotel
Church Lane, Barnsley
Premier Inn Barnsley Central M1 J37
Gateway Plaza, Barnsley
Premier Inn Sheffield Barnsley M1 Jct36
Maple Road, Barnsley
The Fairway
Elmhirst Lane, Barnsley
Things to Do in Barnsley(20)
All attractions in Barnsley →
Where to Eat in Barnsley(72)
All restaurants in Barnsley →About eating out in Barnsley
Eating out runs from cafes to proper sit-down meals. Bennetts Bites at Locke Park and Angels Cafe are good for a daytime stop with the park close by, while Annie Jayne's Cafe and 200 Degrees Coffee Shop cover coffee and brunch in the town centre. For something more substantial, Bistro Romanos and Bar Ruelle offer a proper evening out, and with well over seventy restaurants listed across the town, there's plenty of room to try somewhere new each visit.
Attractions Near Barnsley
All attractions in Barnsley →Worth the trip — within 50 miles of Barnsley.
3 mi
Leapfrogs Play Gym
Skelmanthorpe · ⭐ 4.7
6 mi
Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Wakefield · ⭐ 4.6
6 mi
Play Valley Rotherham
Rotherham · ⭐ 4.7
6 mi
Wentworth Garden Centre
Wentworth · ⭐ 4.6
6 mi
Anglers Country Park
Wakefield · ⭐ 4.6
6 mi
Jungle Monkeys
Sheffield · ⭐ 4.8
6 mi
Whistlestop Valley
Huddersfield · ⭐ 4.7
6 mi
Penistone Paramount
Penistone · ⭐ 4.8
Camping in Barnsley(1)
All campsites in Barnsley →
Self-Catering Cottages in Barnsley(10)
All cottages in Barnsley →
Smallshaw Cottages
4 cottages · from £717
Warden’s Cottage
2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £577
Cote Farm
5 bed · sleeps 10
Shepherds Nook
2 bed · sleeps 3 · from £423
Station House Retreat
3 bed · sleeps 5
Waters Edge
1 bed · sleeps 4 · from £433
Woodland’s Clough
2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £561
Common questions about Barnsley
How many campsites are there in Barnsley?
We list 1 campsites in and around Barnsley.
How many holiday cottages are there in Barnsley?
We list 10 self-catering cottages in and around Barnsley.
Can I take a dog to a holiday cottage in Barnsley?
Yes — 9 of the 10 Barnsley cottages we list allow pets.
Are there large holiday cottages in Barnsley for groups?
Yes — the largest cottage we list in Barnsley sleeps 10.
Where can I stay in Barnsley?
We list 13 hotels, B&Bs and guest houses in and around Barnsley.
What is there to do in Barnsley?
We list 20 attractions and things to do in and around Barnsley.
Where can I eat in Barnsley?
We list 72 restaurants, pubs and cafes in and around Barnsley.
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