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Sheffield Botanical Gardens, Sheffield

Companionship careSouth Yorkshire

Days out in South Yorkshire for an older parent

Nine places in South Yorkshire that make a good day out for an older parent, from Sheffield Botanical Gardens to RSPB Old Moor. For each one: what its own access information confirms, what it costs, how long to allow, and the carers nearby who drive and could take them.

Researched by PrimeCarers from each place’s own website and access information  ·  Updated September 2026

Sheffield Botanical Gardens. Photo: St BC, CC BY 3.0

Nine days out across six towns

The best places to take an older parent in South Yorkshire

Three of them are free to visit or to walk around. The access information for one describes a step-free route, and six confirm an accessible toilet. Where a place does not publish its access, we say so.

Sheffield Botanical Gardens, Sheffield

Photo: St BC, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Garden · Sheffield

Sheffield Botanical Gardens

Sheffield Botanical Gardens is a Victorian garden with themed plant collections, lawns and a row of restored glass pavilions holding plants from around the world. There is a café by the Clarkehouse Road gatehouse.

The gardens are on a slight slope with some steps, but there is always an alternative wheelchair friendly route, and Blue Badge parking is at the top of the drive off Thompson Road.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

What their access information confirms

  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Sheffield

Millennium Gallery, Sheffield

Photo: Paul Harrop, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Gallery · Sheffield

Millennium Gallery

The Millennium Gallery in Sheffield city centre has the city's collection of metalwork and silver, the Ruskin collection and changing exhibitions, beside the Winter Garden glasshouse. Entry to the permanent galleries is free.

The gallery is step-free throughout with a lift, an accessible toilet on the ground floor, benches and folding stools, and wheelchairs can be borrowed on request.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Sheffield

Wentworth Woodhouse, Rotherham

Photo: Andrewrabbott, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Historic house · Rotherham

Wentworth Woodhouse

Wentworth Woodhouse near Rotherham has the longest country house frontage in England and is being restored by a charitable trust, with state rooms, gardens and the Camellia House open to visitors. The Butler's Pantry Café and gift shop are on the ground floor.

An accessible shuttle runs from the car park, a temporary lift reaches the first-floor state rooms, a wheelchair and a garden mobility scooter can be borrowed, and there are accessible toilets in the house and at the Camellia House.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Rotherham

Brodsworth Hall and Gardens, Doncaster

Photo: Christopher Down, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Historic house · Doncaster

Brodsworth Hall and Gardens

Brodsworth Hall near Doncaster is a Victorian country house kept by English Heritage much as the family left it, faded furnishings and all, surrounded by restored formal gardens with a fern dell and a summerhouse. There is a tearoom and a shop.

The whole ground floor is level, the original Victorian lift reaches the family bedrooms, there is ramped access to the tearoom and a golf buggy runs between the car park and the hall.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry, free for English Heritage members

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Doncaster

Conisbrough Castle, Conisbrough

Photo: Richard Nevell from London, United Kingdom, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Castle · Conisbrough

Conisbrough Castle

Conisbrough Castle has one of the finest circular Norman keeps in England, standing on a hill above the River Don, and inspired Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe. A visitor centre tells its story, and the keep has been given new floors and a roof.

Seating is provided on each level of the keep and in the visitor centre, although wheelchair access inside the keep is restricted, so the carer can plan a look at the grounds and visitor centre first.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry, free for English Heritage members

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Conisbrough

Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Doncaster

Photo: Adam King 4damk, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Animals · Doncaster

Yorkshire Wildlife Park

Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster has walk-through reserves with polar bears, lions, giraffes, lemurs and many other animals on a large site. There are several cafés around the park.

Manual wheelchairs and electric mobility scooters can be booked, there are accessible toilets throughout the park including a Changing Places toilet, and the cafés have level or double-door access.

Time to allow
A full day
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Doncaster

Wentworth Castle Gardens, Barnsley

Photo: Klaus with K. Blue fringing removed by Digon3 13:34, 24 August 2007 (UTC), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Garden · Barnsley

Wentworth Castle Gardens

Wentworth Castle Gardens near Barnsley is a National Trust garden with 18th-century parkland, follies, formal gardens and a restored Victorian conservatory. There is a visitor centre, the Long Barn Café and a second-hand bookshop.

An adapted shuttle takes visitors round the site, powered mobility vehicles can be borrowed from the visitor centre, and there are Blue Badge bays and adapted toilets in the café and conservatory.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry, free for National Trust members

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Barnsley

Cannon Hall Museum, Park and Gardens, Barnsley

Photo: Dave Gorman, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Barnsley

Cannon Hall Museum, Park and Gardens

Cannon Hall at Cawthorne near Barnsley is a country house museum with period rooms and collections, set in parkland with lakes and a walled garden. The Pavilion café in the park and the Pear Tree Pantry in the walled garden serve food and drinks.

Accessible parking is near the Pavilion café, the Victorian kitchens can be reached step-free through the walled garden, seating is available throughout the hall and there are accessible toilets in the hall and at the café.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free, parking charged

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Barnsley

RSPB Old Moor, Wombwell

Photo: Stephen Craven, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nature reserve · Wombwell

RSPB Old Moor

RSPB Old Moor in the Dearne Valley near Wombwell is a wetland nature reserve of lakes, reed beds and meadows on former mining land, with bird hides looking out over the water and a visitor centre by the car park.

A carer can plan a short walk from the visitor centre to the nearest hide and spend time sitting there watching the birds.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Check prices

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Wombwell

Regular groups and events in South Yorkshire

Something to go back to every week or every year, from our research into what older people enjoy doing in South Yorkshire.

  • Music · GrimethorpeConcerts by a former colliery bandGrimethorpe Colliery Band, from the former pit village near Barnsley, still plays regular concerts in local halls and churches as well as touring. A carer can book seats near an aisle, arrange the lift there and back, and stay for the interval cup of tea.Details
  • Dancing · SheffieldThursday tea dances in the City Hall ballroomWeekly afternoon tea dances in the art deco ballroom, a fixture for decades with organ music and sequence, waltz and quickstep. A carer can book a date, help with the coats and shoes and sit at a table for the numbers that are too much.Details
  • Photography · PenistoneA long running camera club at PenistonePenistone Camera Club, running since 1967, meets for talks, competitions and exhibitions and takes members of all abilities. A carer can drive to the meeting, help carry the kit and stay for the evening if company makes it easier.Details
  • Reading · SheffieldOff the Shelf Festival of WordsOne of the longest running literary festivals in the country, held across Sheffield venues each October and November with author talks and readings. A carer can pick one afternoon event, book seats in advance and handle the travel and parking.Details
  • Sports · SheffieldWalking football for over fifties around SheffieldThe Sheffield and Hallamshire Walking Football League, founded in 2015, runs three divisions for players aged 50 and over across more than twenty teams. A carer can find the nearest session, sort the lift and kit and watch from the side with a drink ready.Details
  • Sports · DoncasterSt Leger Festival at Doncaster RacecourseFour days of flat racing each September built round the St Leger Stakes, the oldest of the five Classics. A carer can book a seated enclosure, arrange drop off close to the entrance and keep the day to a couple of races.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them in South Yorkshire

At a glance

The nine places side by side

What each place’s own access information confirms. “Ask” means it does not say, not that it is missing.

PlaceTimeCostStep-freeToiletCafé
Sheffield Botanical GardensSheffieldan hour or twoFreeAskAskYes
Millennium GallerySheffieldan hour or twoFreeYesYesAsk
Wentworth WoodhouseRotherhamhalf a dayPaid entryPartlyYesYes
Brodsworth Hall and GardensDoncasterhalf a dayPaid entryPartlyYesYes
Conisbrough CastleConisbroughan hour or twoPaid entryAskAskAsk
Yorkshire Wildlife ParkDoncastera full dayPaid entryAskYesYes
Wentworth Castle GardensBarnsleyhalf a dayPaid entryPartlyYesYes
Cannon Hall Museum, Park and GardensBarnsleyhalf a dayFreePartlyYesYes
RSPB Old MoorWombwellan hour or twoCheck pricesAskAskAsk

Where the places are in South Yorkshire

The county’s boundary, numbered as on this page, with the main towns for reference.

AnstonPenistoneThorneBawtryAskernBrierleyDoncaster123456789
  1. 1Sheffield Botanical Gardens, Sheffield
  2. 2Millennium Gallery, Sheffield
  3. 3Wentworth Woodhouse, Rotherham
  4. 4Brodsworth Hall and Gardens, Doncaster
  5. 5Conisbrough Castle, Conisbrough
  6. 6Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Doncaster
  7. 7Wentworth Castle Gardens, Barnsley
  8. 8Cannon Hall Museum, Park and Gardens, Barnsley
  9. 9RSPB Old Moor, Wombwell

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs in South Yorkshire

Carers in South Yorkshire charge £19 to £20 an hour through PrimeCarers, typically £19, with our fee included. A four-hour outing is about £76 for the carer’s time. Entry, food and parking are extra, and travel costs are only payable if you agree them with the carer in advance, in writing. The cost of home care in South Yorkshire has the full figures.

Photographs on this page are from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each one.

Questions

Questions families ask about days out in South Yorkshire

Sheffield Botanical Gardens in Sheffield, Millennium Gallery in Sheffield, Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham, Brodsworth Hall and Gardens in Doncaster, Conisbrough Castle in Conisbrough, Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster, Wentworth Castle Gardens in Barnsley, Cannon Hall Museum, Park and Gardens in Barnsley and RSPB Old Moor in Wombwell. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

The access information for Millennium Gallery describes a step-free route. Millennium Gallery, Wentworth Woodhouse, Brodsworth Hall and Gardens, Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Wentworth Castle Gardens and Cannon Hall Museum, Park and Gardens have an accessible toilet. Millennium Gallery, Wentworth Woodhouse, Brodsworth Hall and Gardens and Yorkshire Wildlife Park lend wheelchairs. Access changes, so ring ahead about anything your parent depends on.

Sheffield Botanical Gardens, Millennium Gallery and Cannon Hall Museum, Park and Gardens. Parking is often charged even where entry is free.

Yes. A companion carer can drive your parent there, walk at their pace, help with the toilet and meals, and bring them home. 41 of the carers with a rate near South Yorkshire drive. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £19 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care in South Yorkshire shows who is available.

Often. Many attractions let a carer or companion in free, or at a reduced price, with a disabled visitor, and some ask for proof such as a letter or a benefit award. It varies, so check each place’s access or prices page before you go.

Where the nearest carers live

From the profiles of the carers based within about 45 minutes of South Yorkshire

Where the nearest carers live. A carer close to home can manage a longer day out.

Companionship care in the counties around South Yorkshire

Days out in the areas around South Yorkshire

Companionship care by town in South Yorkshire

Each town page shows the carers who list it as home, with their rates and reviews.

Find a carer who could take them out in South Yorkshire

See carers near South Yorkshire who drive, with their photos, interests, rates and reviews. Talking to them is free and nothing is booked until you say so.

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