Doncaster

Doncaster (locally nicknamed Donny) is a large town in South Yorkshire, England. It has a wide variety of shops and boasts spacious indoor and outdoor markets.

Understand

Tourist information

The tourist information centre is located on the High Street.

Get in

By plane

🌍 Doncaster Sheffield Airport (Robin Hood Airport DSA  IATA) (Near Finningley, 8 miles east of Doncaster). Flights from DSA are 1) short-haul by Flybe, eg to Amsterdam, Belfast City, Berlin Tegel, Dublin & Paris CDG; 2) to Poland, Lithuania and Romania by Wizzair, and 3) Med holiday destinations by the major package operators. The airport terminal is modern, and spacious given its limited traffic. (updated Aug 2018)

First South Yorkshire Bus X4 runs between the airport and Doncaster Frenchgate Interchange, the railway and bus station, taking 25 mins. Buses run to the airport every 30 mins Mon-Sat from 05:30 to 23:30, hourly on Sundays, with the last bus back to town at midnight. (Bus X19, which used to ply this route, now goes somewhere else.)

Stagecoach Bus X737 runs direct between the airport and Sheffield Interchange, taking 45 mins. It stops en route only at Bramley and Wickersley, both on the outskirts of Rotherham, and doesn't call at Doncaster. It runs daily, roughly hourly, but only in the evenings, which fits well with most flights to East Europe. Buses to the airport depart Sheffield 16:30-21:50, and return from the airport 17:20-22:40.

A cab to anywhere central in Doncaster should cost around £10-15.

Manchester Airport has global connections, competitive fares, and can be reached in under two hours by direct hourly train from Doncaster.

By train
Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in the United Kingdom.

🌍 Doncaster station can be reached from most of England and part of Scotland. For more information, please see below.

By bus

Bus services operate to Doncaster from all over South Yorkshire.

By car

There are plenty of car parks dotted around the town centre, with the two largest being the Frenchgate roof top and the Civic and Cultural Quarter. The M18 motorway passes through the outskirts of Doncaster as does the A1(M) motorway which provides Doncaster with excellent links to both the M1 motorway to London and the M62 motorway to Manchester and Liverpool.

Get around

By bus

Doncaster has a comprehensive network of bus routes, mainly run by First and Stagecoach. Park and Ride sites are available near Parrots Corner (Doncaster South P&R - service 55 to town centre), near Woodlands (Doncaster North P&R) and from Morrisons Balby (White Rose Way P&R - service 70 to town centre). The latter park and ride is most accessible for those coming from the M18.

See
  • 🌍 Conisbrough Castle, Castle Hill, Conisbrough, DN12 3BU (8 miles south-west of Doncaster), ☎ +44 1709 863329. Take bus number X78 from the Doncaster Interchange and wait until you see it to get off. adults £4.60, children £2.80, concessions £4.10.  
  • 🌍 Cusworth Hall, Museum and Park, Cusworth Lane, DN5 7TU, ☎ +44 1302 782342, e-mail: . Georgian house on the outskirts of Doncaster that hosts the museum of South Yorkshire life and set in picturesque landscaped gardens (updated Jun 2018)
  • 🌍 Brodsworth Hall and Gardens, Brodsworth, DN5 7XJ (4 miles west of Doncaster), ☎ +44 1302 722598. adults £9.60, children £5.80, concessions £8.60.  
  • 🌍 The Trolleybus Museumat at Sandtoft, Belton Road, Sandtoft, DN8 5SX. Certain weekends Mar-Nov only. The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft houses the world's largest collection of historic trolleybuses, together with a number of other vehicles including period motor buses. The Museum offers a fascinating day out for all the family. Open to the public on specific event days, generally between Easter and November, when visitors can ride on a selection of trolleybuses under the specially-erected overhead. Free conducted tours operate in one of a number of vintage motor buses. There are a number of other attractions including a 5-rated cafe, children's play area, 1950s / 1960s shop displays, a 1950s Prefab home and a cycle and lawnmower shop display. Many event days also feature themes and additional visiting attractions. Varies. (updated Nov 2015)
  • 🌍 South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum, Dakota Way, Airbourne Road, DN4 7FB, ☎ +44 1302 761616. A small museum but packed with exciting exhibits including the planes used in Britain's first airshow at Doncaster Racecourse. Adult: £6, Child (5-16): £2.50, Senior: £5, Family: £13.50. (updated Jan 2017)
  • 🌍 Yorkshire Wildlife Park (off Warning Tongue Lane - (SATNav use DN4 6TB)), ☎ +44 1302 535057. A great day out to see all manner of wild animals from Lions to Meercats, Camels to Warthogs. There's regulars talks & feeding times if you want to know more from the experts, and a great display from the birds of prey. During the summer months make sure you stay around until dusk, near closing time, as the lions will start to roar and it's got to be experienced to be believed. Over the winter period the opening hours are reduced but the ticket prices is also lowered to reflect this. All prices, times, directions etc can be found on their website.  

Do
  • Go to the races at 🌍 Doncaster Racecourse (Town Moor course), Leger Way DN4 5DYB (east edge of town off A18), ☎ +44 1302 304200. This has regular flat-racing April-Oct and jumps racing in winter. (updated Aug 2018)
  • Watch football (ie soccer) at Doncaster Rovers, who play in League One, the third tier of English football. They play at Keepmoat Stadium DN4 5JW, 2 miles south of town centre.
  • 🌍 The Dome Leisure Centre, Doncaster Lakeside, Bawtry Rd, DN4 7PD. Mon-Sat: 6:00am-10:30pm, Sun: 7:00am-7:00pm. Visit the largest leisure centre in South Yorkshire, offering ice skating in the UK's first split level ice rink and swimming in 'The Lagoons'. (updated Feb 2017)
  • 🌍 Bawtry Golf Club (wedding venue Doncaster), Cross Ln, Austerfield, DN10 6RF, ☎ +44 1302 711409. 8:00am-8:00pm. Come along to Bawtry Golf Club. A place for Golf, Business and Entertainment. Specialising in Functions of all varieties. 
  • Vue. Close to the Dome is a large Vue cinema and a bowling alley. (updated Feb 2017)
  • Cast, Waterdale. Theatre with cafe downstairs 

Buy

Doncaster has a wide variety of shops, including the recently extended and refurbished Frenchgate Centre, many department stores, several large supermarkets, two indoor markets, two outdoor markets, charity shops and a large retail outlet known as the 'Lakeside Village'.

  • 🌍 The Frenchgate Shopping Centre, St Sepulchre Gate, DN1 1SW, ☎ +44 1302 368335. Mon–Sat: 9:00am-5:30pm, Sun: 10.00am-4:00pm. Located in the heart of the town centre and connected to the train and bus stations. (updated Jan 2017)
  • 🌍 Lakeside Village, White Rose Way, DN4 5PJ, ☎ +44 1302 366444. An outlet shopping area located located about 1 mile from junction 3, M18. You can reach the M18 from the M1, M62 or A1. It boasts over 40 stores including Next Outlet, Marks & Spencer and Cadbury's. (updated Jan 2017)

Eat
  • Cooplands. Delicious, home made baked goods. Sausage rolls and a cracking chicken pastie. 

After a night out Burger and Pizza Jim's on silver street are both great for a greasy pizza or a box of curly fries.

Central Park, Relish and Zest in the town centre all serve delicious food. There is also a wide variety of Chinese and Indian restaurants.

Drink

On a whole Doncaster's drinking establishments cater for most peoples needs whether you want to sit down and have a quiet pint with friends and family or go out for a night with friends you will find somewhere to suit you.

Clubbing

The majority of clubs in Doncaster town center are free to enter and serve a variety of tasty drinks. The main bulk of Clubs and Pre-club Bars are situated on silver street. Here you have a choice of:

  • Aruba, 40-44 Silver St. Pre-club bar (updated Aug 2018)
  • La Barracca, 56-60 Silver St. Cocktail bar (updated Aug 2018)
  • Hogans, 24-28 Silver St. Sports bar and club (updated Aug 2018)
  • Mambos, 14 Silver St. Downstairs club (updated Aug 2018)
  • Courtyard, 36 Market Place. Lively Bar playing all genres of music from 90s pop and dance to UK Top 40 hits (updated Aug 2018)

Although there are many other venues on Priory Walk, some include:

Walkabout - Australian Themed Bar

Toast - Bar

Gatehouse - Wetherspoons

The Pad - Small Bar

Moods - Nightclub

Sugarlounge - Bar (try the bounty milk)

There are also some venues on Lazarus Court, although these are mainly aimed at 18 to 25 year olds, such as:

Priory - Busiest later into the night, priory is one of the favorites for many young people. Usually costs £6 entry.

Social - Priory's pre-bar. Before 11pm on a Friday buying a cocktail here will get you cheaper entry into Priory.

Rock-a-hula - Tiki bar

Also not to forget on the Hallgate there are many pubs including:

  • Goose - Large Bar
  • Lakota - Trendy Bar
  • Flares and Reflex - 70s & 80s Themed Bars

Before hitting the town there are many nice places to have a couple of drinks like Old Angel (near colonnades), Missoula, and Relish. There are a few more clubs in Doncaster slightly further out of Silver Street, Lazarus Court and Priory Walk.

Daytime drinking

During the day in Doncaster there are many varied pubs and bars open from 9am till late. Although the best area to concentrate on for a quiet drink would be the market place. You have nice selection of pubs where you can enjoy your drinks whilst either watching sport, listening to nice music or meeting new people. On the market place you have

  • The Red Lion (Wetherspoons) - nice quiet little place where you can enjoy a low-priced pint.
  • The Masons Arms - This is a traditional Tetleys Real ale house that dates back to the 1700s great for those who like history and historical documents which you will find dotted around the pub on the walls
  • The Black Bull - Large pub where you can sit inside or in the large beer garden.
  • The Courtyard - Large open plan bar which has a heated beer garden and a great atmosphere. Serving a wide range of Alcoholic and Non Alcohol Drinks including Coffee and Tea

Real ale

For those who love real ale then you should check out these pubs.

  • Courtyard - Has 3 ever changing guest ales and Mansfield cask always on
  • The Masons Arms' - They always have Tetleys Cask, Timothy Taylors Landlord, Old Speckled Hen and Black Sheep on
  • The Corner Pin - They have an every changing range of cask ales on tap
  • The Red Lion - as with most Wetherspoons they have an everchanging range of real ales.

Sleep

Premier Inn, Travelodge and Holiday Inn Express have hotels in the Doncaster area, all within easy reach of the town centre.

Stay healthy

Go next

Sheffield can be reached in under 20 minutes on the fastest trains.

Routes through Doncaster

Leeds ← Pontefract ←  N  S  → merges with → London
Kingston-upon-Hull ← merges with ←  NE  SW  → Rotherham → Sheffield
merges with ←  W  E  → Scunthorpe → Grimsby
END ←  W  E  → Scunthorpe
York ← Selby ←  N  S  → END


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