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Barnsley’s Best Bits - An Insider's Mini Guide to Living in Barnsley

Kellie Cade

Oct 18, 2024

A proud town in South Yorkshire, there’s so much to discover and experience in Barnsley.

A rich history, diverse shopping experience, great food and drink, welcoming community and beautiful landscapes, it’s a town which has everything going for it. And that’s why here at Strata, we’ve chosen to build our next collection of homes, Legacy, in this vibrant and thriving town. Let’s take a quick tour of this town’s highlights and some of the best places to have on your radar.

Barnsley's history and heritage

Looking to find out more about Barnsley’s history? Then why not stop by Barnsley Museum & Discovery Centre to find out more about the town’s history. Located in the Town Hall, which is itself an impressive building in classical architectural style and clad in Portland stone, the museum explores working, home and family life in Barnsley over the years. With new objects and stories regularly added to the museum’s collection, it’s the ideal place to discover more about the town’s fascinating history.

Further down the road in the village of Cawthorne (just 6 miles from Barnsley’s town centre), you’ll find Cannon Hall Museum Park & Gardens. Set within 70 acres of spectacular landscape, the museum is home to a collection of fine furniture, paintings, ceramics and glassware waiting to be explored. But it’s just not the past that can be discovered here… Cannon Hall is an excellent family day out too! At Cannon Hall Farm, visitors can admire the many animals which call the farm their home. From goats, highland calves, alpacas, donkeys right the way through to shire horses, it’s the ideal place to admire the animals.

Located within the former ironworks and colliery workshops of the Earl Fiztwilliam, Elsecar Heritage Centre is another fantastic destination well worthy of a visit. It’s one of the UK’s first model villages, with a visitor’s centre and regular tours which share the village’s unique history. Many of the former Victorian engineering shops now house independent shops and artisan studios, and there’s an antiques centre full of fascinating finds to explore too!

Arts and culture in Barnsley

Located in the heart of Barnsley town centre, the Cooper Gallery is a great place to visit with over 400 works to take in and admire. Paintings, sculpture and ceramics make up the collection of fine art displayed within the gallery, and they have regularly changing exhibitions as well which showcase the work of different artists. You’ll also find an excellent gift shop here too, with an assortment of gifts hand crafted by local artists.

A landmark in the UK art scene in the village of West Bretton, Yorkshire Sculpture Park is just a 20 minute drive away from Barnsley. Celebrating modern and contemporary sculpture, the sculptures are set within the 18th century estate of Bretton Hall and includes both indoor and open-air exhibition spaces. A truly unique venue with some of the best sculptures the world has to offer, it’s a must visit destination right on Barnsley’s doorstep.

Food and drink in Barnsley

The Market Kitchen, located in The Glass Works, is a great spot to swing by after a day shopping around Barnsley’s famous markets, independent shops and high street favourites. There’s a wide range of foot outlets to choose from, so whether it’s pizza made with fresh, local ingredients, an authentic Thai street food experience, classic Indian dishes or a traditional English breakfast you’re after, you can be rest assured the Market Kitchen has you covered.

Looking for a great cup of coffee? Stop by Old George Coffee House, which has its flagship store on Eldon Street as well as a base within the Town Hall. It’s one of Barnsley's most popular independent coffee shops, and is the perfect place for a spot of lunch.

If you’re looking for a fine dining experience in Barnsley, then the Beatson House in the picturesque village of Cawthorne is a must visit. The restaurant is housed in beautifully converted 18th century cottages, and boasts a menu of dishes made with fresh and local ingredients, primarily from local farmers and producers within the Yorkshire region.

So, if you’re looking to make the move to the town of Barnsley, then make sure you’re the first to know about Legacy, our latest collection of homes coming to Barugh Green, by joining the wait list now.

Image: https://old-george.co.uk/