Kelham Island Walks explore the past and present of Kelham Island and Neepsend area of Sheffield. They're led by local residents with a passion for the area and who know it really well.
Three different tours are available, on alternating dates. The Kelham Island and Neepsend walking tours focus on the history of the two neighbouring areas of Kelham Island and Neepsend and bring to life the people, buildings and key moments from their history. The third tour is all about the art that can be seen around the area, including a tour of local artist studios.
Tickets need to be booked in advance. Tours take around two hours.
Private tours can also be arranged by emailing [email protected].
The tours:
Kelham Island Walking Tour
Kelham Island started life as one of the first industrial districts of Sheffield with factories and houses jostling alongside each other. This tour will show you some of the great architecture, you’ll discover the life of one of Britain’s foremost anti-slavery campaigners, a notorious murderer, and a groundbreaking poet. At the heart of all this is the industrialists, manufacturers and workers who put Sheffield on the map, but often at great personal cost.
Neepsend Walking Tour
Neepsend is Kelham Island's edgier twin across the river. It's got the same industrial history, but is quite different from its neighbour. This walk is the story of how Neepsend grew from a small hamlet by the river, (a history much older than Kelham Island's), to a thriving and lively working class community. Today it is a vibrant part of Sheffield but its past is still there to see if you know where to look. It isn't glamorous, but it's life in industrial Sheffield.
Kelham Island & Neepsend Art & Studios Tour
This tour is an opportunity to be guided by a local artist through the art that can be seen in and around Kelham Island and Neepsend. The tour highlights street art by some of the famous and not so famous, and introduces public-commissioned sculpture and historic work that stretches back to the days when Kelham Island was at the heart of Sheffield’s industry. This tour also includes a visit Kelham Island Arts Collective (KIAC) to see the studios of inspiring artists whose work can also be seen throughout the local area.
