Information About Doncaster

Doncaster .... Discover the Spirit

With a brand new, state of the art shopping complex, superb leisure facilities, wonderful heritage sites and unspoilt countryside, Doncaster, has a wide range of experiences for visitors offering a surprising mix of urban excitement and rural charm. The delights of a revitalised and bustling town centre compliment the borough’s picturesque villages, small market towns and acres of unspoilt countryside.

Doncaster is rapidly becoming a key location within the region, positioned centrally within the UK and located close to the major motorway networks and providing transport links, air, rail and road second to none. With London only 90 minutes away by rail and an ever-increasing number of flights into Robin Hood Airport, Doncaster is an ideal place to visit or use as a base while seeing what else the region has to offer.

The recently completed Frenchgate, a £200 million shopping complex, is the 18th largest in Britain. With direct access to bus and rail services, the centre is the first of it’s kind in the UK and boasts over 130 stores including all of the famous High Street brands. Just a stone’s throw from Frenchgate is Doncaster Market, widely believed for centuries as a site first used as a market by the Romans; the largest traditional market in the North of England has over 400 stalls offering a vast array of fresh food and produce. A visit to Doncaster market for National Seafood Week 2004, prompted celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson to compliment the food market when he said: “I wish there were more markets like Doncaster Market”.

The historic Mansion House, one of only three Civic Mansion Houses in the UK and probably the most imposing of Doncaster’s historical buildings, designed by the architect James Paine, is reminiscent of 18th century grandeur. The Mansion House is open to all once a year when the Civic Mayor holds an open day during the summer, however, private group visits can be arranged through the Mansion House Manager.

Doncaster Racecourse, home to the world’s oldest Classic horse race, The St Leger, is currently undergoing a £55 million redevelopment, which includes a new grandstand, world class conference and exhibition facilities and a 4 star hotel. The course will reopen in August 2007 in time for the four day St Leger Festival held every September. Just across the road from the Racecourse is Doncaster Lakeside, a 300-acre site offering a whole range of retail, leisure and recreational facilities. The Lakeside Village retail outlet has over 48 stores offering discounts of up to 60% off RRP. The Lakeside Dome is one of the UK’s top leisure centres, facilities include a seven pool swimming zone, a split-level ice rink, climbing wall and a multi use sports hall that regularly plays host to live family entertainment and concerts. Doncaster’s new £32 million Lakeside Sports Complex, incorporating the Keepmoat Stadium due for completion in December 2006, will provide a full range of first class sporting facilities including a 15,000 seat football/rugby/events stadium, a 350 cover restaurant and athletics track.

Over 70% of the borough of Doncaster is rural and has a tremendous array of historic homes, parks, woodlands, wetlands and nature reserves. Brodsworth Hall and Cusworth Hall (recently beautifully restored) are both stunning and fascinating stately homes nestled within superb award winning landscaped gardens. Explore the Don Gorge and the nearby Conisbrough Castle, which featured in Sir Walter Scott’s novel Ivanhoe, cycle or walk the riverside paths from Sprotbrough Lock; close by is Sprotbrough Flash nature reserve, which along with Denaby Ings, Thorpe Marsh and Potteric Carr, is owned by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

Five Great Places to visit:

• Brodsworth Hall and Gardens – This once opulent Victorian Hall offers a fascinating insight into the changing fortunes of a previously wealthy Victorian family. The 15 acres of superb landscaped gardens, a rare survivor from the Victorian era, have been restored to their 1860’s heyday.
• Conisbrough Castle – Grand fortress and stone keep, considered to be one of the finest examples of medieval architecture in Europe.
• Doncaster Market and Frenchgate – A cross section of retail therapy for all.
• Doncaster Racecourse – currently undergoing a £55m redevelopment, reopening August 2007.
• Cusworth Hall and Park – home of the Museum of South Yorkshire Life amid beautifully restored gardens.

Five Fantastic Activities:

• Wind Surfing, Sailing, Canoeing and sub aqua at Hatfield Water Park.
• 'The Ridge' climbing wall at Doncaster Dome provides the perfect environment for climbers of all ages and abilities.
• Voted the 'Best Paintball Site in Britain', Bawtry Paintball Fields, a great day out.
• Golfers will find 12 courses within the Borough of Doncaster, many of which are open to both members and non-members. Owston Hall Golf Club played host to the 2004 PGA Europro Tour.
• Brockholes Farm Visitors Centre and Riding Centre provides a real day out in the country. A combination of working farm, zoo and riding school the centre has an incredible range of animals and rare breeds. Indoor and outdoor floodlit riding schools.

Five Picturesque Towns and Villages:

• Bawtry - the picturesque gateway to Yorkshire and the neighbouring village of Austerfield, the birthplace of William Bradford one of the Pilgrim Fathers, founders of the 'New World' in the United States.
• Tickhill - a classic English country town with an original Market Cross, castle ruins and a range of interesting boutique shops.
• Fishlake – a pretty village encircled by a five-mile heritage trail.
• Sprotbrough – in the spectacular Don Gorge, its riverside paths run alongside the famous Trans Pennine Trail.
• Hooton Pagnell – its brown limestone houses were built on a ridge with superb views over the Dearne Valley