About Barnsley

Barnsley is where you can celebrate, experience and enjoy some of the best of what Yorkshire has to offer.

A place of discovery. There's something for everyone here.

Make it Barnsley

Barnsley is a brilliant town, with so much to offer. It's vibrant town centre is an exciting destination where you can eat, shop, meet friends and uncover hidden gems. Across the borough, you can explore market towns, wander stately gardens, spot wildlife or ramble in beautiful countryside. With so much to do, see, eat and learn here, Barnsley is truly yours to discover.

Proudly located in South Yorkshire, the first mention of Barnsley was in the Domesday Book in 1806. Visitors to Barnsley can experience its rich history that includes priories, stately homes, manufacturing and industry, alongside all that it offers today. From food and drink festivals to independent retailers, cycling trails, touring West End shows and so much more.

GET TO KNOW BARNSLEY

OUR HISTORY

Barnsley is a town in South Yorkshire, England, with a rich and diverse history that dates back to the Roman times. Referred to in the Domesday Book as “Barneslei”, its industrial heritage includes glass making (producing bottles and jars), the textile industry and coal mining. Barnsley is also known for its involvement in the English Civil War, the Chartist movement, and the Miners' Strike of 1984-85.

Many former industrial sites and historical locations can still be visited today; from the glorious gardens at Wentworth Castle Gardens to the working mill and country park at Worsbrough Mill, stately homes like Cannon Hall; Penistone’s 100-year-old cinema and the town centre’s 700-year-old market.

BARNSLEY NOW

Today, Barnsley is a vibrant destination for everyone to discover; a home for people to dine, shop, play and explore — with a buzzing town centre, charming villages and beautiful green spaces. It's a town that celebrates its culture and diversity, with a thriving arts and entertainment scene, growing community and friendly atmosphere.

Barnsley has the vision to become the place to visit in the region, with lots of developments ongoing across the borough, such as the Glass Works, the Digital Media Centres, and the famous Barnsley Markets. With convenient transport links to major cities across the UK, the town offers something for everyone; from independent and high-street chain restaurants and shops to museums and art galleries, music festivals, nature reserves and more.

Whether you’re a frequent visitor, returning after years gone by or here for the first time, there’s always something new to discover and another hidden gem to find. There’s more to Barnsley than you might think!

FUN FACTS ABOUT BARNSLEY!

• It's the birthplace of many famous people, such as the cricket legend Dickie Bird, the singer and songwriter Kate Rusby and the actor and comedian Shaun Dooley.

• Barnsley is home to the world's first bottle bank, which was installed in 1977 to encourage recycling and reduce waste.

• Barnsley is famous for its delicacies, such as the Barnsley chop, a large cut of lamb and Barnsley bitter, a local ale.

• It's home to one of only two UK Guggenbands.

• Ken Loach's 1969 film Kes, ranked the 7th greatest film by the British Film Institute, was set and filmed in several villages in Barnsley,

• George Orwell mentioned the town in The Road to Wigan Pier. He spent several days in the town, living in the houses of the working-class miners while researching for the book.

• The Arctic Monkeys studied music at Barnsley College, as did The Darkness

• Members of Saxon the heavy metal band were from Barnsley – items of memorabilia can be found in Experience Barnsley.