Pictures of Doncaster

in the county of South Yorkshire

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About Doncaster

Doncaster lies in what was once a great sweep of Yorkshire coalfields. It is home to one of the finest racecourses in the country where the classic St.Leger Stakes has been run each September since 1776, making the race four years older than the Derby.

The town developed at the side of the River Don, a hub of the inland waterway system which is lively with all types of sailing craft, it is popular for fishing and for studying the natural life of the water, including swans, ducks and moorhens. Sometimes in the morning mist there is the odd heron to be seen, and the reeded bushes along some of the tow paths provide a habitat for several species of wildlife.

Doncaster can trace its history back to the Romans and possibly beyond. It is known the Romans built fortifications here about 71AD. When the Romans left Britain, they were followed by the Saxons and the Normans, and by the 12th century Doncaster had become a busy market town with a charter presented by King Richard in 1194. During the 13th and 14th centuries several religious orders set up in the town, these were mainly monastic, consisting of Franciscan friars and an order of Carmelites.

By the time of the 17th/18th centuries the town had become a significant coaching town with numerous coaching inns providing sanctuary for travellers and a resting place for horses. Doncaster as a centre for travellers was able to expand more rapidly when the rail-line reached the town in 1849. This brought greater opportunities for the transportation of goods, and gave the population the option of speedier travel to places previously out of reach. When the Great Northern Railway moved its engine works to the town, not only did it become the major employer in the area, but it brought greater prosperity. Interestingly, this is the town that built the famous Flying Scotsman, and in 2003 she returned to Doncaster for a face lift and a fresh coat of paint before going on show to celebrate 150 years of rail in Doncaster. Another feature of Doncaster is Butterscotch, this succulent sweetmeat has been made in the town since early in the 20th century.

Looking around Doncaster you cannot fail to see the 170 ft, many pinnacled tower of St.George's Church, for this serves as a gracious landmark seen from most parts of the town. The church replaces an earlier medieval church gutted by fire in 1852. The new church, designed by Sir Gilbert Scott was completed for dedication in 1858.

Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery opened in 1909, this is a mine of information relating to the town's Roman period. It has displays of Roman ornaments, and from Saxon times there is a variety of weapons and 300 million year old fossils.

The town has many attractive Victorian and Edwardian buildings remaining from its most illustrious periods. Included in these is Cusworth Hall, an imposing 18th century house set in magnificent parkland which was once the home of the Battie-Wrightson family. It also has plenty of tourist attractions, amongst these is Aero-Venture based at the former site of RAF Doncaster. This is singularly atmospheric with a treasure trove of aviation history, military and commercial light aircraft collections, and a jet engine collection including De Havilland Ghost, Rolls Royce Avon and Conway. You can be entertained by a WWII front exhibition and amongst other things, see aircraft under reconstruction. Several cockpits are left open for you to get a feel of what it might be like to be a "real" pilot, this is especially thrilling for children.

Doncaster's 18th century Mansion House contains an ornate banqueting hall, and a wide staircase with a handsome wrought iron balustrade. Inside it contains many treasures, these are usually on show on any one of the Mansion House open days held during the summer.

For anyone wishing to explore on foot there are town trails taking you to see the most historic and scenic parts of Doncaster. There is Theatre and Cinema, the Arndale Centre provides excellent shopping, and at the heart of Doncaster visitors will find cafe's, pubs, clubs, multi-cultural restaurants and the usual mix of take-a-ways.

The tradition of welcome which has existed since Doncaster was a coaching town in the 17th century continues to this day and visitors will find no shortage of hospitable accommodation, this includes hotels to suit all tastes, guest houses and bed and breakfast.

Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Doncaster

Doncaster Minster	(0.4 miles, 0.6 km)	Pictures
Cusworth Hall & Museum	(2.1 miles, 3.3 km, direction W)	Pictures
Sprotbrough Flash Nature Reserve	(2.9 miles, 4.6 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Brodsworth Community Woodlands	(4.2 miles, 6.8 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Brodsworth Hall	(5.2 miles, 8.4 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Conisbrough Castle	(5.2 miles, 8.4 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Hatfield Water Park	(7.1 miles, 11.5 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Dearne Valley	(7.6 miles, 12.2 km, direction W)	Pictures
Thrybergh Country Park	(7.6 miles, 12.3 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Roche Abbey	(8.5 miles, 13.7 km, direction S)	Pictures
Howell Wood Country Park	(9.7 miles, 15.6 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Langold Country Park	(10.4 miles, 16.8 km, direction S)	Pictures
Anston Stones Wood	(12.2 miles, 19.7 km, direction S)	Pictures
Ulley Country Park	(12.5 miles, 20.1 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Monk Bretton Priory	(12.7 miles, 20.5 km, direction W)	Pictures

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Recommended towns near Doncaster

Sprotbrough, in the county of South Yorkshire (2.5 miles, 4.1 km, direction W)
Sprotbrough lies in the valley of the River Don, it is a lovely rural location with fertile fields and meadows leading from leafy lanes whose hedgerows are full of wild plants and flowers.
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Wadworth, in the county of South Yorkshire (4.0 miles, 6.5 km, direction S)
This is a pleasant South Yorkshire village lying in lush countryside a few miles from the city of Rotherham.
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Braithwell, in the county of South Yorkshire (6.3 miles, 10.1 km, direction SW)
Braithwell lies at the centre of a largely rural community, the surrounding landscape is mostly of farms and leafy lanes siding fields full of grazing cattle and sheep.
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Tickhill, in the county of South Yorkshire (6.3 miles, 10.1 km, direction S)
This is a pleasant, somewhat sprawling village lying in rural countryside a short distance from the market town of Maltby
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Stainton, in the county of South Yorkshire (6.3 miles, 10.1 km, direction S)
This picturesque South Yorkshire village was mentioned in the Doomsday Book, but there is considerable evidence that it existed as a settlement long before 1086.
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Maltby, in the county of South Yorkshire (7.6 miles, 12.1 km, direction SW)
The town was mentioned in the Doomsday Book, and several historic properties can be found in the region from shortly after this time, of these, of particular note are the handsome ruins of Roche Abbey, a Cistercian foundation of 1147.
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Thrybergh, in the county of South Yorkshire (8.4 miles, 13.5 km, direction SW)
Thrybergh is a pretty South Yorkshire village with a history stretching back to the time of the Doomsday Book, for centuries it was little more than a small rural village with scattered housing and farms.
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Laughton en le Morthen, in the county of South Yorkshire (10.1 miles, 16.3 km, direction S)
Once a mining hamlet, Laughton-en-le-Morthen is now thriving village with stylish housing expanding out from its medieval centre.
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Whiston, in the county of South Yorkshire (11.1 miles, 17.9 km, direction SW)
Whiston is surrounded by fine countryside, leafy lanes lead towards Morthen and Wickersley.
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Rotherham, in the county of South Yorkshire (11.5 miles, 18.5 km, direction SW)
This town was formerly a Saxon market town which remained largely unaltered until the Industrial Revolution.
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Snaith, in the county of East Riding of Yorkshire (12.4 miles, 20.0 km, direction N)
This small town appears to be almost surrounded by water, it developed along the banks of the River Aire and to the east is the Ouse.
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Eggborough, in the county of North Yorkshire (12.5 miles, 20.2 km, direction N)
This is a typical Yorkshire village settled close to the meeting point of North and South Yorkshire.
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Gringley on the Hill, in the county of Nottinghamshire (12.6 miles, 20.2 km, direction SE)
This charming hill-top village lies in spacious countryside close to the Chesterfield Canal. It shows an abundance of picturesque red-brick properties including out lying farms with ancient barns and dovecotes.
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Epworth, in the county of Lincolnshire (12.6 miles, 20.3 km, direction E)
The birthplace of John Wesley and Charles Wesley, early leaders of the Methodist movement
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Pontefract, a Historic Market Town in the county of West Yorkshire (13.8 miles, 22.3 km, direction NW)
Pontefract has a ruined castle which has seen many tragedies, Richard II was murdered there in 1400, and later it was the scene of bitter, bloody battles between Roundheads and Royalists.
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Nearby travel help

Doncaster Station	(0.5 miles, 0.8 km)
Bentley (South Yorks.) Station	(1.9 miles, 3.0 km, direction NW)
M18 Junction 3	(2.4 miles, 3.9 km, direction S)
A1(M) Junction 36	(2.5 miles, 4.0 km, direction SW)
Sheffield City Airport	(13.7 miles, 22.0 km, direction SW)
Leeds Bradford International Airport	(32.4 miles, 52.1 km, direction NW)
Doncaster to London	(145.5 miles, 234.2 km, direction S)

Hotels & Accommodation in Doncaster

Hotel Name	Approximate distance from Doncaster center
The Regent Hotel	(0.1 miles, 0.2 km)
Danum Hotel	(0.2 miles, 0.3 km)
Metro Inns Doncaster	(0.7 miles, 1.1 km)
Grand St Leger Hotel	(0.8 miles, 1.3 km)
Sleep Inn Doncaster	(1.4 miles, 2.2 km, direction SE)
Express by Holiday Inn Doncaster	(2.3 miles, 3.6 km, direction S)
Holiday Inn Doncaster A1(M) Jct 36	(2.6 miles, 4.1 km, direction SW)
The Old Rectory	(2.7 miles, 4.3 km, direction W)
Campanile Hotel Doncaster	(3.4 miles, 5.4 km, direction SE)
Best Western Mount Pleasant Hotel	(5.2 miles, 8.4 km, direction SE)
All hotels in Doncaster