Sheffield Town Hall

The Town Hall sits bang in the middle of Sheffield, impossible to miss with its heavy Victorian stonework and that tower looming over the city centre. Built in the 1890s, it's a proper statement of Victorian civic pride - all red brick and sandstone, with a clock tower you can hear from half the city.

Inside, the main draw is the ornate marble staircases and the banqueting hall upstairs, which still hosts events and the occasional tour. The building's an active council seat rather than a museum, so you won't be able to wander about freely, but the exterior alone tells you everything about what Sheffield thought of itself during its industrial heyday. The front steps are where locals hang out and tourists photograph that impressive facade.

It's worth a proper look if you're into Victorian architecture or city history, though you'll spend maybe twenty minutes taking it in unless you've booked a guided tour. The real value is as a centrepiece to understanding Sheffield's past - this building says more about the city's confidence than any plaque could.

If you're basing yourself at Wyming Brook Farm Campsite just outside the city, it's a straightforward drive in. Even East Peak or Fox Hagg Farm make it an easy visit. The Town Hall sits alongside the city museum and galleries, so you can easily spend a half-day poking around the cultural quarter. Go on a weekday morning if you want quieter photos - weekends get rammed with shoppers.