Barnsley is a large market town in South Yorkshire that’s surrounded by the Peak District, ancient villages and historic parkland. You can enjoy everything that the countryside has to offer, while also being close to the large cities of Sheffield, Leeds, Wakefield and Manchester.
Barnsley Interchange runs trains and buses, with regular services to the large nearby cities, so this is a great place to live for commuters. There are train services to Leeds every half an hour taking just 35 minutes, hourly services to Huddersfield, and four trains an hour to Sheffield. The M1 runs next to Barnsley so travelling and commuting by car is another easy option. There’s plenty of places within a short driving distance, including Wakefield, Rotherham and Doncaster.
Barnsley has a great selection of primary schools including St Mary’s Church of England Primary School, which received an outstanding Ofsted rating. There are also several secondary schools in the area, such as Barnsley Academy, which received a good Ofsted rating.
Barnsley is thriving. The Glass Works is a £178 million town centre redevelopment that includes a new town square, shopping and leisure spaces, community space and a central library.
The Glass Works includes Barnsley Market which is filled with independents, including butchers, fishmongers, cheesemongers as well as fashion stalls, footwear retailers and hairdressers. Market Kitchen above the markets has plenty of delicious options to eat out, including traditional breakfasts and international street food.
Barnsley high street has more independent shops mixed in among national retailers too. The Alhambra Shopping Centre hosts a great selection of well-known names such as Claire’s, Next, Primark and T K Maxx.
There’s a fantastic choice of places to eat and drink in Barnsley. Restaurants include The Secret Italian, Elephant & Castle (serving British cuisine) and Istanbul Kitchen & Bar. Enjoy late-night cocktails at Secret Bar, a club night at Volt Nightclub or beers at the micro-brewery, Jolly Tap on the Arcade. Old No.7 Barnsley is a fantastic traditional pub serving cask ales, lagers and bottled beers.
Barnsley has good amenities with its own hospital, plenty of GP practices and pharmacies, and a post office.
There are some excellent places to visit nearby for those wanting to get back to nature. Within minutes of the town centre, you can be up in the hills walking, fell running or mountain biking in beautiful countryside with spectacular views.
From museums to stately homes, art galleries and pre-roman ruins, there’s a wealth of things to explore in Barnsley. The Lamproom Community Theatre, The Cooper Gallery, Elsecar Heritage Centre, Cannon Hall Farm, and Worsborough Mill are just some of the fantastic local places to visit.
There’s plenty to do on the outskirts of the town too, such as spending a quiet, relaxing afternoon at Monk Bretton Priory or visiting the extraordinary Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Another option is to cycle along the Trans Pennine Trail, which goes all the way to Hull.
