is in south yorkshire that has a population of over 525,000. recently, Sheffield has seen some extensive redevelopment & now has some pretty modern structures, including the Millennium Galleries.

Unlike numerous massive cities, sheffield has a diverse geography. its situated at the confluence of 5 rivers & most of the city is built on hillsides with views into the city centre or out to the country side. with an estimated two million trees, Sheffield boasts more trees per person than any european city. In fact, 61 % of the city is green space.

Sheffield won world wide fame throughout the nineteeth century for its production of steel. in actual fact, most innovations in the steel industry were developed in sheffield, including crucible (now the name of one of the city’s theatres) & stainless steel. however, world wide competition caused a decline in these popular local industries during the seventies & 1980s. at this time, the coal industry collapsed nearby, which caused massive unemployment & affected Sheffield’s population.

In recent years, Sheffield’s economy has recovered &, thanks to its booming music & film scene, it has become renowned as a cultural centre.

As we have already mentioned, Sheffield is a city of culture. This means that it has got plenty of snazzy museums & galleries to explore.

One of the finest museums is Bishop House. built around 1500, Bishop House is the most well preserved wood framed home in Sheffield. it is located at the top of Meersbrook Park & has been home to numerous different families over the years[/MARK Now its open as a museum & contains some beautiful period furniture, which gives you a real feel ofold england.

Sheffield boasts some pretty greenery to enjoy & it’s one of the most green cities in the uk. In fact, it has 78 public parks & ten public gardens to explore, which means that it’s a fantastic city for lovers of the great outdoors.

Alternatively, you could pay a visit to Sheffield’s excellent stores In the city centre, you will find a wide range of high street stores, which include makeover & hmv. in addition to these, you will also find a vast range of designer stores.

Sheffield is renowned for its nightlife, especially its nightclubs. in fact, the super nightclub Gatecrasher began here. However, it has nightclubs that cater to other types of music too, including numerous metal clubs.

In addition to exciting nightclubs, Sheffield also boasts a handful of snazzy bars & wonderful live music venues, which means that it can cater to every taste.

Sheffield has fantastic road links and can be reached easily from most major uk cities. as well as this, the city is well-served by rail, with regular trains running from Sheffield train station to a wide range of locations throughout the uk.

There is also an airport close by, Doncaster Sheffield Airport. The airport is situated 18 miles from the city centre and is served mainly by cheaper airlines, including Thomsonfly.

is a city in south yorkshire that has an impressive population of over 525,000. recently, Sheffield has seen some extensive redevelopment and now boasts some pretty modern buildings, including the Millennium Galleries.

Unlike numerous big cities, sheffield is geographically diverse. it’s located at the confluence of 5 rivers and most of the city is built on hilly ground with views of the city centre or out to the countryside. with an estimated pair of million trees, Sheffield boasts more trees per person than any european city. In fact, 61 per cent of the city is green space.

Sheffield achieved world wide fame during the 19th century for its production of steel. in fact, most innovations in the steel work industry were conceived in sheffield, including crucible (also the name of a theatre in the city) & stainless steel. however, world wide competition caused a decline in these popular local industries during the seventies & 1980s. similtaneously, the national coal industry collapsed nearby, which caused huge unemployment & affected Sheffield’s population.

In recent years, Sheffield’s economy has recovered &, because of its thriving music & movie scene, its become renowned as a cultural centre.

There are lots of stuff to do in Sheffield, which include some exciting museums & galleries. One of the best is the Millennium Galleries, which is close to the train station. These art galleries have permanent exhibitions based around the themes of art, nature & people. in addition to these, there’s touring exhibits including a recent Vivienne Westwood retrospective.

Alternatively, you could visit the Graves Gallery or Bishop’s House.

Sheffield has some gorgeous green spaces to enjoy and it is one of the most green cities in britain. In fact, it has 78 public parks and ten public gardens to explore, which means that it is a great city for lovers of the great outdoors.

Alternatively, you could visit Sheffield’s excellent stores In the city centre, you will find a vast range of high-street stores, including new look and zavvi. as well as these, you will also find a wide variety of designer stores.

Sheffield is renowned for its night life, which means that its a fabulous location to visit for an evening out. in actual fact, the city boasts numerous inns, bars, and nightclubs.

Sheffield is home to fabulous bands including the arctic monkeys, pulp, the last shadow puppets and ABC. if you want to catch the next big thing, you can pay a visit to one of the city’s fabulous live music venues, including the plug.

Sheffield boasts fabulous road links & can be reached easily from most major british cities. as well as this, the city is well-served by rail, with regular trains running from Sheffield train station to a wide variety of destinations throughout the uk.

There’s also an airport close by, Doncaster Sheffield Airport. The airport is situated 18 miles from the city centre & is mainly served by discount airlines, such as Thomsonfly.

There are many popular areas of England yielding to people looking for cost effective and flexible accommodations. Self catering facilities give you and your family the freedom to cook, sleep and stroll around to experience the local life whenever you feel the desire. Self catering holiday destinations give you a much cheaper option as opposed to hotels and bed and breakfasts. There are a variety of rural localities that provide self catering family holidays in the UK including the West Midlands, South East, North East, Yorkshire and Humber.

The West Midlands of England are characterised by open countryside landscapes providing a pleasant rustic holiday for you and your family. The West Midlands covers counties such as Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire. Attractions that you should not miss include Warwick Castle, Stratford Upon Avon, and Alton Tours. Warwick Castle lies on the banks of the River Avon and attracts many visitors per year. Birmingham is the second largest city of England which also highlights self catering family holidays.

England’s South East area is the most populated section with urban highlights in spite of its predominantly agricultural economy. There are charming forests and woodlands in Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, and Hampshire for typical outdoor self catering family holidays. An alternative option would be to embark on a seaside adventure at Brighton with its newly introduced extreme mountain boarding sport and many sights and attractions to look out for. Because there is so much to do and long duration holidays at a hotel are expensive, self catering family holidays give you the freedom to make time to see all the sites you want.

The North East district is on Scotland’s border, a lovely destination for self catering family holidays. This section of England consists of Durham, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and the Tees Valley. The area is characterised for its stunning scenery with extensive cliffs, moors, salt marshes, and the largest man made forest in Europe. Self catering family holidays planned in this region should not leave out the interesting visits to the castles and ancient monasteries. Saltburn has an inclined tramway running since 1884 and is know to be the oldest remaining water-balanced cliff lift in England. It is a great way to catch the coastline views set in the north-east.

The Yorkshire and Humber region is set in the North East of England composed of atleast 8 counties and over 15 districts. York is the oldest and most essential city of Yorkshire full of the historical and beautiful architectural qualities a destination should include for interesting self catering family holidays. Most of the self catering cottages available in the Yorkshire area are within walking distance of the main market square. Drop in to the York Minster which is the largest Gothic cathedral in Western Europe.

Whichever place you decide to visit make sure you embark on self catering family holidays to avoid the crowds, expensive fares and tight schedules which make vacations seem like a marathon! Take the time to relax, take in your surroundings and indulge in self catering family holidays.

Self catering UK holidays refer to accommodations in villas, flats, apartments, cottages and anywhere else besides a hotel. This type of accommodation does not have anyone looking after your needs or desires, nor are there any meals provided. You are given a place to stay for a certain period of time to utilise and spend a holiday in. Self catering UK family holidays are becoming increasingly popular with their cost effective and flexible schedule advantages. They are considerably cheaper than staying in a hotel, you get to look around and experience the local goods to take back and cook a delicious home cooked meal within your accommodation. This arrangement is ideal for families with children who are comfortable with a home-like environment. You have the flexible control over your schedule of when you would like to eat, what you would like to eat, when you would like to rest or sleep and how long you would like to spend time outside experiencing the local life and attractions. There are a variety of unique dwellings and interesting accommodations to plan self catering UK family holidays.

Cornwall is a wonderful county in the South West region of England with abundant, romantic wild moor countryside. Cornwall is marked as a world heritage site for its ancient mining district. The sandy beaches and heavenly breezes coming off the Atlantic Ocean make it obvious why the likes of D.H. Lawrence and Virginia Woolf were once attracted to this region. Cornwall is also full of entertaining historical attractions such as the Pendennis Castle dating back to the reign of King Henry VIII. This place is ideal for older couples, young families with children and anyone else looking to get away to a quiet charming secluded setting. Cornwall also holds the largest natural lake in England known as Windermere. There are 18 islands you can visit within this lake on a houseboat. Holiday houseboats are one of the many interesting options to utilise for self catering UK family holidays. Houseboats contain the ideal comforts of a modern house and generally have a capacity for up to 4 people. Houseboats features spacious areas including 1 master bedroom with a fully running toilet and shower, one spare bedroom, a kitchen fully equipped with microwave, oven and fridge. Don’t be surprised to see other modern technological gadgets such as televisions, computers, and video players on your houseboat.

Head to Cartmel if you have a liking for sticky toffee pudding which is their local specialty and a desire to experience traditional living in a log cabin. Cartmel is a relatively small terrain on the banks of the River Eea. Cartmel is full of the small ancestral buildings, a market square for shopping and the desire to involve yourself with the local culture. Local activities include fishing, horse riding, tasting the local wines, village bonfires and so much more. Log cabins are excellent accommodations for self catering UK family holidays if you enjoy being surrounded by nature, wildlife and breathe taking views. Log cabins are available with traditional as well as modern features as per your convenience and liking.

Camping barns have also become increasingly trendy for self catering UK family holidays. Old Traditional barns have been renovated to become places for people to stay and are especially catered to large groups from 10 to 32 people. Camping barns are also known as bunk barns and can range from simple rustic living spaces to a luxurious enhanced modern abode. Camping barns are prevalent in Cumbria which is set in the North West region of England. Cumbria is a territory rich with mountains and numerous majestic castles which can still be visited today. Cumbria is characterised by Hadrian’s Wall which is situated on the northern side bordering Scotland. This wall was built by the Roman Empire in 122 AD to keep out the raids from the earlier inhabitants of Scotland. Hadrian’s Wall is an important monument representing a major part of England’s heritage. Other things to do in Cumbria include visiting the museums, pony trekking, mountain biking and fishing.

Herefordshire is located in the West Midland region of England. Herefordshire is a rural and lowly populated area which heavily depends on its agricultural economy to sustain a way of life. Herefordshire’s local farmers offer an exuberant supply of fruits such as apples and pears and their cider speciality. Herefordshire is famous for its yurt and tipi living spaces essentially designed for self catering UK family holidays. Yurt is a round tent which is highlighted for its eco friendly aspects and lavish camping features. Most comprise of gas camping stoves functional within enclosed yurts for barbecues and bonfires. The tipis available in Herefordshire also are made of organic and environmentally safe materials and consist of an elastic matter stretched around a wooden cone like frame. This is a setting for individuals willing to familiarise with self catering UK family holidays and outdoor living.

Early in 2008 the travel industry gives a dire warning of hard times for the year ahead, prices rising, and bookings looking poor.

But 2008 has so far been a good year, with the Easter holidays period showing no signs of a slow down, and summer bookings for traditional favourite holiday areas looking healthy.

Nearly all traditional travel agents and on-line travel sites report a surge of interest with many translating into bookings around the Christmas period, but this was before the real extent of the credit crunch was headline news on almost every news bulletin.

ABTA, The British Association of Travel Agents, who safeguard consumer interests for the travelling public in the UK, put the rise in holiday bookings for 2008 from British tourits who frequent the Mediterranean down to the awful weather in the country last summer.

The weather ABTA refer to were floods that affected large parts of England, claimed four lives, and left a hundred thousand homes without water for two weeks in parts of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Insurance companies have warned that the floods will ultimately cost small businesses millions, and insurers have processed tens of millions in claims from homeowners. The British government has given emergency aid to the worst affected areas to help with the cost of the clear-up. Yorkshire in the north of England saw some of the heaviest flooding, with thousands of homes left without power and three people dying.

Included in the holiday areas that have benefitted from good 2008 bookings are Malta, Tenerife, Menorca, Majorca and Lanzarote - some of the favourites from previous years.

Early reports from Malta suggest that the holiday island had a best ever year for tourism in 2007, and is now considering how she can broaden her appeal to entice more tourists to the Mediterranean sunshine isle. Malta Airport saw a record number of passenger flights arriving in 2007 thanks to the low cost airlines bringing in extra visitors, and 2008 looks set to be busier still as more competition arrives.

The Canary Islands have hosted a winter festival of classical music which boosted visitor numbers and hopes for a good summer too.

The fourth largest island of the Canary Islands Lanzarote, famed for its red mountains, hosted several of the festival’s concerts. Lanzarote is well known for its picturesque volcanic landscapes. It is perhaps also just as well known for its futuristic appearance and controlled development of wildlife and plant life.

Another of the Canary Islands, Tenerife, is known for its great winter climate and attracts nearly three and a half million tourists a year. Most of Tenerife’s tourism comes from the United Kingdom, followed by Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Italy and France, among others.

The island is home to many excellent holiday resorts, including the Playas de las Americas and Los Cristianos. In fact, recent legislation was passed to ensure that any future resort construction must either be of five-star status or offer resort luxuries like golf courses or banquet facilities.

It is likely that both Tenerife and Lanzarote will see their overall tourism numbers up for 2008 based on the first few months, and if bookings continue as they have been can look forward to a good surprisingly good year - it could be the 2009 holidays trade which will suffer more from poor economies if people don’t book for next summer in January or so.

New official statistics show that over 65,000 foreigners visited Malta in 2006, with the figure set to increase for this year.

The rise in overseas students learning English is the fourth rise in as many years, and increasingly plays a contributory role to the island’s economy. The language schools in Malta are privately run, with no subsidy from central government.

Speaking at the opening of a language school, the minister for tourism commented that the learning of English is one of Malta’s main tourism segments that contribute significantly to the island’s tourism industry. He added that this sector is run by private enterprise since all English language schools are privately owned and offer not only work for full time and part-time teachers but are also a source of revenue to host families.

With many students counting their time in Malta in months rather than the weeks from traditional tourism, a student studying English is particularly valuable for the economy.

The increase in foreign language students visiting Malta to learn English is being partly driven by the opening of new routes from various countries to Malta, including low cost airlines.

The overall number of visitors including the language students for Malta is up nearly ten per cent this year, thanks mainly to the extra arrivals being delivered by the low cost airlines. And the extra holiday makers couldn’t have come at a better time as the island has seen steadily decreasing tourists numbers in recent years - the ultimate factor in the decision to allow the flights in.

With tourism numbers up, tourism chiefs have seen the magic bullet that has driven the statistics, and embraced the concept of low air fares whole heartedly.

While Malta has previously received most of their visitors from the UK, the idea of diversification has become possible as low cost airlines operate from most European countries, and the island is already receiving flights from Germany and Spain.

The country has let it be known that they will welcome applications for flights from Scandanavia and other areas of Europe, which would help the language schools increase their numbers even more.

Before the new flights began last November, estimates suggested that the low cost airline could add an extra 80,000 tourists to the island in 2007, but this figure has been radically upgraded to double that.

The airline that first brought low cost airlines to Malta has done well enough to start new routes to the island.

Ryanair, the Irish based low cost airline, were the first airline to win the right to fly to Malta from the island’s main markets for tourism of Ireland and the UK.

The first route launched has been running between London’s Luton Airport for nearly a year, while the Dublin route had its inaugural flight in March. Both routes have attracted good seat occupancy levels, with tourist numbers in Malta rising.

A new route will run between Bremen in Germany to Malta and will be a welcome addition for Malta’s attempt to attract more German tourists to the island.

Operating three times a week, it is hoped that the first flights will begin in the autumn.

Not only has the choice of airline and airports serving Malta widened considerably, but the airline of choice for many business and holiday travellers, Air Malta, has fought back against the new low cost airlines with reduced fares and offers of their own.

In their traditional market of flights from the UK to Malta, the airline started a new route from Liverpool’s John Lennon airport in May, serving the north-west of England.

As part of their offensive to retain current passengers and to tempt new ones to use the airline, Air Malta are offering clients the opportunity to book flights in advance for this autumn and winter with prices starting from around 20 Euros (around US $25). Which is all good news for new students wanting to learn English at Malta’s schools, but also for the schools themselves which are proving to be an island success story.

is the 4th largest city in the uk & boasts a population of 525 800. the city now boasts a thriving economy & relatively low cost of living, so you will be able to live life to the full here.

Sheffield boasts lots of culture & entertainment, which include fantastic theatres, museums & art galleries. it’s the greenest city in england, with fifty public parks. Crime statistics also demonstrate that its one of england’s safest cities.

Sheffield is located near Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham & the Peak District.

The Sheffield area has been there sinceat least the last ice age. however, it was throughout the 18th century with the birth of the steel works, that the city really grew. Indeed, the town was named as a borough in 1843 and given city status in 1893.

In the early 1970s, many of the city’s steel works were shut thanks to world wide competition. although this caused massive unemployment, Sheffield was later revitalised and it is now a busy, futuristic city that’s well known for its music, great music and gorgeous park spaces.

You’ll find loads of great things to do in Sheffield. In fact, the city has some great museums and galleries, which are well worth visiting. These include the wonderful graves art gallery, which has some great work by artists such as Cezanne, Turner and Sam taylor-wood. It also hosts frequent touring exhibitions.

A handful of other great museums and art galleries are the Millennium Galleries and Bishops House.

Sheffield has plenty to offer fans of shopping. the city boasts meadowhall, which is a huge shopping mall with over 240 stores. The shopping mall was opened in 1990 & was one of the very first out of town malls in britain.

However, Sheffield city centre has some wonderful stores, too. in actual fact, you’ll find everything there, from high street stores like new look, to unusual independent stores.

Sheffield is well-known for its nightlife, particularly its nightclubs. in actual fact, the super club Gatecrasher began here. However, it has clubs that cater to other types of music too, which include many indie clubs.

As well as great clubs, Sheffield also has a handful of fantastic bars & fabulous live music venues, so it really caters to every taste.

Sheffield boasts fabulous road links & can be reached easily from most massive uk cities. in addition to this, the city is well served by rail, with frequent trains running from Sheffield train station to a vast range of locations throughout great britain.

There is also an airport close by, Doncaster Sheffield Airport. The airport is placed 18 miles from the city centre & is mainly served by cheaper airlines, including Thomsonfly.

It is believed that last year sales of caravans and camping equipment reached an all time high. The contribution of two billion pounds to the UK economy can be seen as part of the increased popularity of caravan and camping holidays. Now the nation’s favourite holiday pastime; research has also highlighted a perceived link between camping and caravan holidays with the benefits of healthy living.

It is believed that each day camping and caravan holidaymakers spend almost thirty pounds. Included in this figure is petrol, food and drink sales and when considered that there are around seventeen million caravan and camping holidays being made each year this figure is considerable.

Although this does not include pitch sales and fees; it is estimated that if it did the figure would be closer to fifty pounds a day. Considering that pitch fees are used to develop sites and employ local residents the contribution to local economies is also vast.

A survey has further detailed caravan and camping holiday spending. It is believed that fifty seven percent of holidaymakers spent their money in pubs while almost the same number spent money in local eateries. UK tourist attractions have also benefited in terms of ticket sales with almost seventy percent visiting a variety of attractions regularly. An outstanding eighty five percent of camping and caravan tourists walked to their destination highlighting the benefits to the environment this type of holiday has.

Of the seventeen million caravan and camping holidays taking place annually the average stay is estimated to be four days. Over these four days the amount poured into local economies through food and drink sales as well as entry to local attractions is believed to be one of the major factors bolstering rural incomes. Without this steady stream of holidaymakers it can be surmised that the large contribution in many rural economies is a vital element in their survival.

Campers rather than those staying in a caravan are believed to be even more likely to add to local economies. Because of a lack of facilities and storage when tent camping, shops and restaurants around campsites make more sales of subsistence products than those near caravan parks. With the popularity of this type of holiday growing rapidly rural economies will benefit further.

In terms of the supposed link between camping and caravan holidays and a healthier lifestyle the supposition seems to hold water. A survey used data from the general public as well as regular camping and caravan holidaymakers; it found that ninety seven percent of those who camped or caravanned regularly felt that being outdoors had a positive impact on their lives. The research also found that campers and caravanners were more likely to undertake activities such as walking, swimming and cycling than members of the general public.

Comment on the research has stated that it demonstrates what camping and caravan holidaymakers had believed for years. The contribution to the local economy through food and drink sales and local services keeps rural economies alive and provides jobs for those in the localities. The research also showed that campers and caravaners are driven by a desire to explore new places, visit attractions and sample local food.

Camping and caravan holidays are fundamentally about spending time in the marvellous British countryside, so the link between these types of holidays and a healthier lifestyle is unsurprising. This type of holiday not only provides freedom and choice but is also part of a healthy lifestyle. As a result there is little wonder that sales of tents and caravans are skyrocketing as more people try to join the hoards seeking this lifestyle choice.

’s the 4th biggest city in the uk & boasts a population of 525 800. these days, the city boasts a prosperous economy & quite low cost of living, which means that you’ll be able to live life to the full here.

Sheffield boasts lots of culture & entertainment, containing fantastic theatres, museums & galleries. it is the greenest city in britain, with 50 parks. Crime statistics also demonstrate that its one of england’s safest cities.

Sheffield is situated close to Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham & the Peak District.

The Sheffield area has been there sinceat least the last ice age. inspite of the cost, it was within the eighteenth century with the arrival of the steelworks, that the city really prospered. Indeed, the town was named as a borough in 1843 & given city status in 1893.

In the early 1970s, a number of the city’s steelworks were shut thanks to world wide competition. even though this caused mass unemployment, Sheffield was later revitalised & it is now a bustling, futuristic city that is well known for its music, excellent music & sensational park spaces.

There’s loads of stuff to do in Sheffield, including some exciting museums and galleries. One of the best is the Millennium Galleries, which is close to the railway station. These art galleries have permanent collections based on the themes of art, nature and people. as well as these, there are touring exhibits for instance a recent Vivienne Westwood retrospective.

Alternatively, you might want to visit the Graves Gallery or Bishop’s House.

Sheffield has many to offer lovers of shopping. the city has meadowhall, which is a major shopping centre with over 240 stores. The shopping centre was opened in 1990 & was one of the very first out of town shopping centres in england.

However, Sheffield city centre boasts some wonderful shops, too. in fact, you’ll find everything there, from high-street stores love facelift, to quirky independent stores.

Sheffield is renowned for its art galleries, particularly its night clubs. in actual fact, the super club Gatecrasher began here. However, it has clubs that cater to other types of music too, which contain many rock clubs.

In addition to exciting clubs, Sheffield also has sometimes exciting bars & superb live music venues, which means that it caters to every taste.

Thanks for perusing our sheffield guide. If you need any more information or advice, please contact your locality visitor information office.