I haven’t graced the north of the UK anywhere near as much as I would’ve liked, but I’m getting around to it, gradually. Earlier this year I visited York, about a year ago I went to Manchester, and I wanted to head right back as soon as I was on the train home.

A week ago, I was lucky enough to be sent to Sheffield to see what it’s all about.

Spoiler alert: I loved it.

My mum’s parents were Yorkshire born and bred, and she was born in Hull, so whenever I do get up north and hear that soft and friendly accent, I feel kind of at home, despite never really exploring my roots.

I was asked to take part in the #MercureCitySwappers campaign – I gave my 3 tips for a blogger heading to Bristol, and I got some bloggers’ tips for my trip to Sheffield.

So here’s my little guide to the lovely northern city of Sheffield.

Where to stay in Sheffield

I stayed in the four star Mercure St Paul’s Hotel & Spa – right smack bang in the middle of pretty much everything which was on my Sheffield to do list. I walked into a huge, bright lobby and was greeted by friendly staff who told me everything I needed to know and sent me off in the direction of my room for the night.

Which, by the way, was humungous.

My gorgeous room had a massive bed, a bathroom with a bath and shower, and even a separate little lounging area with two armchairs and a desk. The views over the red bricked buildings and rooftops were amazing, especially when I woke up to soft pastel skies the next morning.

I went for a swim in the hotel pool before making myself a coffee with the Nespresso machine and relaxing in my room for a little while, enjoying the views, the space, and the silence.

I also had dinner and breakfast in the hotel restaurant, both of which were lovely. The staff were very attentive.

What to do in Sheffield

The first place recommended to me was the Winter  Gardens, and luckily this was right next to my hotel. In fact, the restaurant overlooked it.

It’s a large, modern glasshouse full of tropical looking plants, as well as a place to get a coffee and some shops. One set of doors leads to the next recommendation on my list.

The Millennium Gallery is right next door to the Winter Gardens, and has various exhibitions as well as a great little shop.

At the moment you can find the Handmade For Christmas shop, and a Made In Sheffield exhibition, among other things. I loved wandering around all the weird and wonderful locally made things.

I didn’t have time to check out any of the theatres, but the Crucible, Lyceum, and Theatre Delicatessen were on the list.

One recommendation that was given to me while I was up there was to head to the pavilions in the Sheffield Botanical Gardens. A lifelong friend and I headed there for a little wander, and I’m really glad we did. It’s such a calm place, and a nice place to escape the cold on a winter’s day. All the plants are gorgeous, not to mention that light.

Where to shop in Sheffield

I was told to head to the Devonshire Quarter in Sheffield for some good shops – here you can find some vintage shops, and Moonko.

Moonko is a shop full of beautiful things – prints, stationery, plants and home accessories. I couldn’t resist buying a couple of Christmas presents while I was there, as well as one for myself. They also sell online, if you can’t get to Sheffield.

Another wonderful shop I stumbled upon was La Biblioteka, which sells lots of beautiful books and magazines. If you’re looking for something niche or something a little bit special, chances are they’ll have it here.

You’ve of course got the classic Christmas market in the centre at the moment (I heard Joni’s mince pie macaroons are good) and on the first Friday and Saturday of every month there’s the Peddler Market, where you can find indie food, cocktails and crafts.

Where to eat and drink in Sheffield

One of the bloggers suggested that I go to Steam Yard for coffee and a donut, and while the donuts looked amazing (those Oreo ones especially) I couldn’t quite manage one. I very much enjoyed the surroundings, though, and it seemed like a very popular place, with a queue taking up half the shop.

Somewhere which was recommended to me on Twitter was Marmadukes Cafe Deli – I headed straight there as soon as I arrived in Sheffield, to warm up with some soup and a coffee. I had one of the last bowls of parsnip soup, and it was delicious.

While I was enjoying my post-lunch coffee, a very sweet little pup came in, but more on her later.

Mama’s & Leonies was a place also recommended to me on Twitter, but unfortunately I didn’t have time to check it out this time around. I hear they do very good authentic Italian food, and just look at that beautiful brick building on a cobbled street.

Somewhere I did have time to check out however, was the Great Gatsby bar. Y’all know I can’t resist a taco, so I popped in here for a little lunchtime treat. I went for the fish taco and a duck taco – both were so tasty.

It seems like a pretty cool place, and they had posters up for some events that I would’ve loved to go to, had I been staying longer.

My final recommendation relates to the sweet little pup I mentioned earlier. After posting a photo on Instagram of my lunch at Marmadukes, and having a little look at their profile, I spotted the very same little dog (Maggie) and she had her own profile. Turned out, her owner Sam Binstead runs a very nice little coffee shop, so I went there for a coffee and a chat before meeting another pal.

Upshot Espresso is a really great space – so bright, lots of seating, amazing coffee and good food. They do some amazing looking donuts on Fridays, which I unfortunately missed out on being there on a Monday/Tuesday, but I did spend a great deal of time looking at them on Instagram.

You also have the added bonus of Margaret Howl being around for a little tickle, and who can resist that little face?

I was lucky enough to have another quick snuggle with her before hopping on the train back to Bristol.

I loved my time in Sheffield – it seems like quite a small and very friendly city. There’s lots going on if you know where to look, and I’d love to visit again for a little longer next time. It’s also not far from the Peak District, which I definitely need to adventure around.

If you’re thinking of visiting, check out Mercure’s Sheffield hotels.