And now for something a little different…

Doncaster, a bustling town full of hidden gems

• Millennium Galleries, Sheffield

A CASTLE, a Minster, the largest market in the North of England, a famous racecourse, plus lots of traditional Yorkshire hospitality – Doncaster can be quite a surprising place to visit.

Thomsonfly.com customers can take a low fare flight directly from Faro to Robin Hood Airport, Doncaster-Sheffield, the UK’s newest purpose-built international airport, and be in the heart of this remarkable town within just 15 minutes.

In the town centre, Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery has a lively and varied exhibition programme in addition to its important regional collections. You can enjoy the impressive architecture of Doncaster’s Minster and many other churches, and relive the industrial heritage of railways and coal mining, which have played such a vital role in the Doncaster of today.

While in Doncaster, you must make sure you pay a visit to the market. In existence since Roman times, the market has stood on its present site since the Middle Ages and still remains the largest traditional market in the North of England, with over 570 stalls vying for attention.

Visitors should also take the time to visit Conisborough Castle. In 1994, following five centuries of neglect, two new floors and a roof were placed into the Castle Keep and today it is considered to be one of the finest examples of medieval architecture in Europe.

Brodsworth Hall is another must see. Once an opulent Victorian Hall, Brodsworth offers a fascinating insight into the changing fortunes of a previously wealthy Victorian family. Fifteen acres of garden, a rare survival from the Victorian Age, have been restored to their 1860s heyday and provide a collection of grand gardens in miniature – a delight in any season.

• Sheffield Botanical Gardens. Picture: Yorkshire Tourist Board

Sheffield – the greenest city in England 

Visitors to Sheffield will find a landscape that can’t fail to surprise. The Peace Gardens provide an oasis of calm while the architecture of the Winter Garden offers a dramatic backdrop to the award winning Millennium Galleries.

As the greenest city in England you are never far from one of more than 200 parks, woodlands or gardens, all of which form part of the Sheffield walking trails. Don’t miss the beautifully restored Victorian Botanical Gardens, with stunning glass pavilions or the peaceful riverside walks – and remember, you’re never more than five miles away from the Peak District National Park.

For something a little different, visitors should head for one of Sheffield’s real treasures, SPA 1877. Originally, the baths were created for medical reasons in 1836, but, by 1877, the building was also home to acclaimed Turkish Baths, hailed as the finest in the kingdom. A mammoth restoration programme has seen the Turkish Baths restored to their original glory and made even better with 21st century technology. There’s the traditional hammam, sauna, steam room, aroma steam room, plunge pool and ice cave, plus every new massage technique and beauty treatment you can think of.

In a city with a rich mix of culture and heritage, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to entertainment. The International Philharmonic Concert season, celebrating its Platinum Jubilee in 2005-2006, is welcomed back to the newly refurbished Sheffield City Hall. The Lyceum and Crucible Theatres play host to an entertaining programme of high drama and West End musicals, and the Hallam FM Arena is the place for top music bands.  

For further information about all the places mentioned, see www.sheffieldtourism.co.uk and www.visitdoncaster.co.uk. Flights and accommodation can be booked at www.thomsonfly.com. Those without internet access can book by calling 214 159 122.