Once hailed for its steel in the 19th century, the South Yorkshire city of Sheffield has evolved from its past and, perhaps surprisingly to some, ended up becoming a green haven. It was even named the second-greenest city in Europe after Oslo. There are, at this point, more trees than people in Sheffield. Let that sink in.

It’s something that I came to admire during my whistle-stop trip to the city, my very first visit. I stayed at the Radisson Blu Hotel, which is fairly new to the city, having only just opened its doors last year, but it couldn’t be in a more perfect location.

It’s instantly noticeable from its beautiful Victorian-era façade which overlooks the Peace Gardens and the town hall. It also means you get the most sophisticated of alarm calls thanks to the towering bells (but, thankfully, they considerately stop ringing out in the evening and early mornings).

Asking the check-in staff about the building’s history, I was told it used to be a grand department store and that all but the façade was replaced in becoming a hotel. They just couldn’t bear to part from it, and I can see why.

Its convenient location is literally just yards away from the main high street and near a selection of some of the city’s best restaurants on offer. It’s also near the Crucible Theatre and the Winter Gardens, an indoor botanical gardens and walkway which is just stunning to see and features thousands of plants from around the world.

In a small detail that many guests may not notice on first glance, there are even a few subtle nods to the hotel’s location near to the Peak District. The design featured on the main hallway carpets, for example, incorporates the topography of the area, whilst its use of natural and steel materials represents Sheffield’s industrial past and its green status today.

Checking in, I was told I had received a room upgrade which meant I’d got one of the façade rooms overlooking the town hall. It meant I was able to sit in the chair and take in the city centre surroundings, which perfectly blend new and old builds together.

The rooms (which start from £115 per night, including breakfast) are super spacious with big beds and lots of light coming in. There are also blackout curtains for the evening, as well as free wi-fi and a big flat-screen TV. In the bathroom, there’s a walk-in rain shower too.

One of the most stunning features of the hotel is its rooftop restaurant and bar. It’s perfect for cocktails at night or coffee in the morning and I found myself popping out there to enjoy life on the terrace on a couple of occasions.

The hotel restaurant menu is made up of a range of small and large plates, as well as the likes of pizzas, burgers, steaks and salads — with the most expensive dish being the 8oz dry aged sirloin steak for £22. The crispy chicken wings (£8), featuring a sticky Hendo’s glaze, were more-ish and divine, whilst the grilled harissa aubergine (£15) was another delight with beluga lentils, yoghurt and a parsley salad.

Throughout the week, the restaurant also serves afternoon tea and Sunday roasts, and is also where breakfast is served each morning, which is served buffet-style with a range of breakfast options, as well as pastries, fruit, breads and yoghurts.

Nothing I wanted to visit felt like a stretch too long to walk to. Whilst I didn’t stop for food there, the Cambridge Street Collective is the largest purpose-built food hall in Europe boasting around 20 different vendors across three floors. It’s a sight to behold, and a foodies’ paradise.

There’s also the quirky Leah’s Yard which is, quite practically, the definition of quirky. Full of charm and character, the area is like stepping back in time but with a selection of vibrant and forward-thinking independent shops, galleries, cafes and more. You can treat yourself to some wine from Bark’s, have a craft hot chocolate from Chocolate Bar and treat yourself to a book at La Biblioteka (I came out with a copy of Strange Pictures by Uketsu).

It’s one of those places which, although it looks quite dainty on the surface, you could easily spend hours perusing the delights and oddities, and chatting to the lovely shopkeepers about life at the same time. 

Nearby, on Division Street, is the lovely independent florist Plantology. Fun fact: the shop is immortalised on the Sheffield Music Map for being the very same spot where Jarvis Cocker once fell out of a balcony window onto the pavement outside back in 1985. It feels very Sheffield.

During my visit here, I was able to make my very own terrarium with a mixture of succulents and cacti. It’s a very unique workshop experience that I’d never really heard of being done anywhere else. And, I’m pleased to say my creation made it home safely and is (so far) thriving in my apartment.

I also made sure I spent some time in the Winter Gardens, one of the largest temperate glasshouses built in the UK and is home to around 2,500 plants. It’s full of space to sit and take in the beauty surrounding you, and then, when you’re hungry or parched, there’s a cafe and a restaurant nearby too.

Stopping off at Ego Mediterranean, which features a glass window where you can look into the botanical gardens and feel like you’re practically dining inside a jungle, I opted for Moroccan lamb for lunch, which was on the menu for £21.50.

Slow-cooked with a range of vegetables, and served alongside cous cous and pitta bread, it was divine, hearty and fulfilling. If I had more room, I could have quite easily lapped up a desert. Depending when you visit, you can enjoy three courses for £34.95, and there’s also a Monday menu which features two courses for £22.95.

Before leaving the city, I made the 30-minute journey to the Tropical Butterfly House, which is a family-run zoo featuring meerkats, porcupines, wallabies, and lemurs. As the name suggests, there’s also a spacious butterfly house which you can walk through and admire hundreds of flutters.

Tickets cost £63 for a family of four, which is certainly much cheaper than some of the bigger names in the world of British zoos. I got to feed the meerkats during my visit and it was such a lovely experience. There’s also an on-site café, which looked like a cosy little spot to sit outside and take in the surroundings on a nice day.

All in all, I was really impressed with Sheffield. I feel like I only scratched the surface of what I could see there and I definitely want to head back there to soak up the bars, the music scene and experience some more of those museums and galleries I didn’t manage to have the time to explore this time round.