Why visit Doncaster?
Set in South Yorkshire’s old industrial heartlands, the large town of Doncaster is well worth an overnight visit. What lies behind its enduring appeal? This place is home to history, fab family-friendly days out and has lots of transport links to other Yorkshire hotspots, making a camping or caravanning trip in the Doncaster area a smart choice indeed.
Fab family-friendly attractions
With a wide range of family-friendly attractions, Doncaster is a real people-pleaser. We’ve selected a couple of our favourites below, but for more ideas scroll down to our longer list of things to do in Doncaster.
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Fly down to Doncaster’s South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum to see a collection of volunteer-run exhibits about airbound antics of yesteryear. The whole place is great for kids (who can climb into the cockpit) as well as grownup plane buffs, who will likely appreciate the museum’s extensive collection of wartime memorabilia.
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On the eastern edge of town, Yorkshire Wildlife Park has some of the finest animal enclosures in this part of the UK. The animals here range from endangered big cats to cuddly capybaras and all have plenty of room to run free.
A hub for Yorkshire city breaks
Doncaster is also a handy place to stay if you're after an à la carte tour of Yorkshire's finest towns and cities.
The leafy university town of Sheffield – where you can stroll through parks, bounce through botanical gardens and wander past weirs – is roughly half an hour away by road and slightly less by train, while grand old walled city of York is an hour by car or 20 minutes by rail.
Slightly further afield, the bustling city of Leeds (45 minutes), the handsome spa town of Harrogate (an hour) and maritime centre of Hull (an hour and 10 minutes) are all within easy reach too.
Doncaster’s history and heritage
Doncaster gets bonus points for being so well-connected, but this proud Yorkshire town is also home to a wealth of history and heritage of its own.
Given the ‘caster’ suffix that denotes a Roman fort in its name, it makes sense that Doncaster has relics that cover thousands of years of history, from the spectacular stained glass of Doncaster Minster to the turrets and towers of Conisbrough Castle, built shortly after the Norman Conquest.
The best things to do in Doncaster
In town
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Check out multimedia exhibits, local artworks and precious artefacts at the Danum Gallery, Library and Museum.
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Get set for a day of high-adrenaline excitement at Doncaster Racecourse.
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Take yourself off to the Doncaster Dome arena for a trip to its waterpark, a live show or to test your balance at the UK’s first split-level ice rink.
Top attractions within 20 minutes’ drive of Doncaster
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Experience time standing still at Brodsworth Hall and Gardens (15 minutes’ drive) – inside, everything has been left as it was more than 100 years ago, while outside there are gorgeous Victorian gardens to explore.
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Aim for agricultural days out at Boston Farm Park (20 minutes), a family-friendly option close to Doncaster town centre with a petting zoo, mini maze and hay bale pyramid.
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Try locally-produced sweet treats at Sunnybank Gardens (20 minutes), an ice cream farm that’s also home to miniature golf, a play barn and top-rated tea rooms in an old cowshed.
Delve deeper
Doncaster’s best nature reserves
There’s plenty of green space in Yorkshire (why else would they call it God’s own country?) and Doncaster is no exception.
For wild wetland habitats that are great for birdwatching, head to the Humberhead Peatlands National Nature Reserve (20 minutes' drive) and RSPB Adwick Washland (15 minutes), or stay within the town limits with a trip to Potteric Carr (two miles from the town centre).
For a casual ramble, there's also Denaby Ings Nature Reserve on the river Dearne (15 minutes) or Barnburgh (15 minutes), a village with a circular walk up to scenic crags.
Fishing breaks in the Doncaster
Doncaster is an angler’s paradise, with a dozen or so top fishing lakes located within a 15-minute drive of the town centre.
Finding a place to cast your line won’t be a struggle here, but if you’re interested in getting in touch with a club then look up Doncaster and District Angling Association, a long-established fount of fish-related local knowledge.
Click here to browse campsites near Doncaster with on-site fishing.
South Yorkshire’s best spa and wellness treatments
Holidaying in Doncaster? Opting for outdoor accommodation like static caravans or glamping rather than a conventional hotel is likely to help save you a fair bit of cash – money that could be put towards a luxurious spa or wellness treatment in the Doncaster area.
The town and surrounding villages have a good number of day spas, exclusive leisure centres, beauty parlours and other venues to make your holiday that little bit more indulgent. You could even opt for a campsite or glampsite near Doncaster with an on-site hot tub…
Here’s how
So you’ve decided to book a trip to Doncaster? Great – now it’s time to find a place to stay. We’ve got everything from bargain back to basics plots to electric pitches to keep your gadgets on the go throughout your trip, so have a scroll through the sites on this page or see below for some of our most popular options:
No availability? Try expanding your search to take in all of South Yorkshire, or look for further inspiration in nearby West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire or Derbyshire.
