Have a 'merry Christmas day out' in Sheffield city centre 💫
📖 Article published 3 December 2025
Making magical memories with loved ones is the most special part of Christmas.
Whether you want to hit the shops, feast on festive treats, or enjoy the new sparkling attraction Light Up Sheffield, the city centre has it all this December 💫
This seasonal guide will keep you busy from morning to evening on a bumper day out.
Or enjoy one section at a time, over multiple visits, during the countdown to the big day.
All information in this guide was correct at the time of publication.
🎄 Christmas shopping and coffee in Sheffield city centre
🎠 Christmas lunch and fun in Sheffield city centre
✨ Christmas lights and after-dark drinks in Sheffield city centre
🎄 Christmas shopping and coffee in Sheffield city centre
No matter how long your Christmas gift list is, at one Sheffield store you can tick off every recipient.
The staff at award-winning independent lifestyle shop Within Reason, on Devonshire Street, are ready for their busy season.
“We’ve had receipts that stretch across the whole store at Christmas”, said manager Ryan Milner.
“It can become so busy, we have to do one person in, one out. We have people who come in and stay for quite a while, getting most of their gifts.”
The family-run store has a carefully curated selection of discerning products, from fine jewellery to toys, and cosy slippers to funky notepads.
Stunning ceramics, festive decor and luxury dressing gowns from sister company One Hundred Stars are also part of the mix.
The store has extra staffing to help more customers with their personal service during December.
Ryan added: “Our Jellycat range is always super popular, as are the kids’ gifts and the jewellery at this time of year.
“We open until 6pm, so we do get the people who finish work at 5.30pm. There’s always people who come in right at the last second on Christmas Eve!
“And we do get people coming in looking for recommendations; we can help them find something suitable.”
Within Reason has been open since 1993, but Sheffield has also welcomed several new openings this year.
For foodie, Korean beauty and lifestyle gifts, head to Korean superstore Oyeso on The Moor.
It has three floors, including a ramen library, aisles of sweet treats and a limited K Pop Demon Hunters (if you know, you know) range.
Pick up some sustainable fashion at the Charity Super.Mkt on Cambridge Street, also new for 2025.
It’s the UK’s first ever multi-charity shop, and is the perfect place to salvage something with sequins or a secondhand designer piece.
A few steps away, the new Launchpad Pop-Up Market will showcase the work of independent makers and traders in the former Monki fashion store until Saturday 20 December.
For Christmas essentials, you can rely on the city’s big high street names to deliver.
Partywear has arrived at Marks & Spencer on Fargate, along with their party and novelty food gift ranges.
On the same street, cosmetics retailer Lush has wrapped and ready-to-go gift boxes packed with supplies, including their seasonal favourite Snow Fairy range.
Orchard Square - home to Waterstones and TK Maxx, among others - is also decorated for the season.
And don’t forget Sheffield Christmas Market.
Featuring dozens of log cabin traders, four bars and entertainment (more on which later) it’s the ideal place to secure locally-made and quirky gifts for those hard-to-please people.
We loved the handprinted sweaters on offer from Sheffield sustainable clothing store Sabi & Soul, and relatable art at the Yorkshire Print Company. Both stalls are outside Sheffield Town Hall.
After all that, you’ll fancy a break from shopping at one of Sheffield city centre’s countless coffee shops.
For Christmas, enjoy a traditional mince pie, fake fire and cosy atmosphere inside 200 Degrees on Division Street.
Or indulge in a decadent drink at Chocolate Bar in Leah’s Yard, created by the city’s Bullion Chocolate. They specialise in craft hot chocolate, and you can choose from three sizes of marshmallow to sit on top.
Finally, J’adore Patisserie, on Norfolk Street, offers bite-sized cakes and Turkish coffee in a stunning setting that’s open until 7 pm for late night shoppers.
💫 More shopping: Sheffield city centre Christmas craft fairs, markets and workshops
🎠 Christmas lunch and fun in Sheffield city centre
Tucking into a street food feast at Sheffield Christmas Market always sparks that festive spirit.
This year, market visitors can choose from classics such as the Yorkshire pudding wraps and German sausage grill, as well as newcomers like Cubbrinis Crumble Pots.
Don’t miss the chance to toast your own giant marshmallows or soak up some après-ski vibes at the Alpine Bar, located in or around the Peace Gardens.
If you prefer to sit down (or let’s be frank, a chance to warm up), Sheffield’s newest casual food outlet is SpudBros Express on Fargate.
Hundreds queued to get their forks into the first loaded jacket potatoes served by this viral business sensation. Toppings include chill-based The Spudfather and a Tram Classic with garlic butter.
We asked in-store, but the jury is still out on whether they will offer a Christmas special.
When you're ready for a bigger treat, shift from street stalls to one of Sheffield city centre’s many restaurants offering a Christmas menu.
Our heads were turned by the great value set menu at Cosy Club on Holly Street.
Starters are a festive platter to share, including the ubiquitous pigs in blankets. Hearty mains include roast pork belly or Christmas pie.
Prices start at £28.95 per person, including desserts. There are gluten-free and vegan set menus available.
Craft beer specialist Vocation & Co on Devonshire Street also has a Christmas menu, featuring a dreamy imperial stout sticky toffee pudding.
Once you've enjoyed your meal, Sheffield’s city centre offers plenty of holiday-themed fun to continue the festivities.
You are never too old to jump on a carousel, and the traditional one installed at Barker’s Pool even offers lovely views of the new Christmas tree on Fargate.
It’s right next to a classic helter-skelter and Santa’s Grotto, where you can take little ones to meet Father Christmas.
Depending on when you visit Sheffield city centre, there are also dozens of seasonal highlights or events taking place.
Throughout December, The Showroom on Paternoster Row is hosting festive screenings of films, from the heart-warming family film Home Alone, to alternatives like Die Hard and audience picks.
Orchard Square shopping centre has installed new North Pole post-it boxes where visitors can pick up letters from retailers and write to Santa in Lapland.
On Thursday 4 December, local choirs will perform at Tudor Square.
You can also hear soul-stirring carols inside the Winter Gardens every weekend from Saturday 6 December - see full dates and times here.
Theatre lovers will love Aladdin (starring Damian Williams as the Dame and Sario Solomon as Aladdin) at The Lyceum from 5 December until 4 January 2026.
Meanwhile The Crucible is presenting A Christmas Carol, following the story of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, until January.
If you’d like some help getting those presents looking presentable, Sheffield Hospitals Charity is offering gift wrapping services inside The Moor Market on 5, 6, 12, and 13 December.
Food hall Cambridge Street Collective is also hosting a free reindeer meet and greet on Tuesday, 23 December, as part of a packed programme of events leading up to the big day.
💫 More events: Sheffield city centre Christmas performances and entertainment
✨ Christmas lights and after-dark drinks in Sheffield city centre
When the sun sets this month, Sheffield city centre will shine brightly with dazzling displays and evening activities.
New for this year’s festive calendar is free illumination event Light Up Sheffield, which runs from Friday 5 to Sunday 14 December and showcases Sheffield art at three iconic locations.
Sheffield Cathedral, Sheffield Central Library and Pounds Park will be lit up with breathtaking projections during the project, which is being organised by Sheffield BID, The Art House, Sheffield Cathedral and Sheffield City Council.
These projections include the distinctive work of Sheffield’s own Pete McKee, which will be beamed onto Sheffield Cathedral and the Central Library.
At Pounds Park, mural Reverie by Peachzz is to be brought to life with new digital elements.
Sheffield Cathedral is the only location where visitors can step inside during Light Up Sheffield.
There they’ll also be able to see a new Pete McKee, nativity-themed artwork created for the Cathedral, browse its popular Christmas Tree Festival and take part in the glow-in-the-dark family trail Glow Quest. Everything is completely free.
The Very Reverend Abi Thompson, Dean of Sheffield, said the Cathedral was ‘expanding’ its Christmas programme with new events.
She added: “We have done light shows at the Cathedral for some years, which have been really well enjoyed.
“But we wanted to do something that was new and that reached out, so people had the opportunity to enjoy the whole city centre and all the things that are on offer during the Christmas period.
“We’re working with a new company, Double Take, and they have done incredible light shows in other parts of the country, York and Aberdeen.
“It’s really exciting we are bringing this to Sheffield.”
After you’ve caught it all, sip on a Christmas cocktail at one of Sheffield city centre’s many bars.
Manahatta Sheffield in Fountain Precinct has launched new festive menu options, including the Candy Cane (vodka, Bailey’s and white chocolate) and a cherry chocolate espresso martini.
On Leopold Street, All Bar One has also launched a picture-perfect Christmas drinks range, including a winter mallow margarita and the stunning berry mallow sour.
The bar at Sheffield Plate food hall inside Orchard Square is also known for its themed drinks, and the venue is now open until 9pm on Sundays.
On Fargate there’s also a new drinks destination to visit - The Fargate.
This modern pub has a grand setting inside the former Yorkshire Bank building and is a welcome addition to the heart of the city centre.
Run by Thornbridge Brewery, you can expect homemade pizza, cask beers and unbeatable people-watching opportunities through the huge windows.
If mulled wine is more your cup of tea, then Bark’s Wine at Leah’s Yard is the place to be.
The wine shop has launched a collaboration mulled wine with Locksley Distilling, and there’s an orange version featuring Bullion Chocolate. Both can be pre-ordered.
It’s also available by the glass, to sip while admiring the magnificent Leah’s Yard Christmas tree or late-night shopping at the Clothes the Loop secondhand fashion store on 18 December.
If you like to work on an activity with your Aperol, the National Videogame Museum on Angel Street is hosting a festive social on 11 December.
There’s a pop-up bar, videogame-inspired bauble painting workshop with illustrator Tom J Newell, a makers’ market and all the museum’s usual games to play.
If you want to make a real night of it, warm up those vocal chords at a Merryoke! Session at Cavendish Sheffield on West Street.
Yes, it’s a Christmas themed karaoke night, on Wednesday 3, 10 and 17 December.
And no, there’s no limit on the number of Mariah Carey tracks…
💫 More drinks: Sheffield city centre venues to try this Christmas
Season's Greetings from Sheffield city centre 💫
