Moving from London to the north, I found Sheffield to be a city full of pleasant surprises. Although it felt small at first, I found a nice mix of student life, parks and scenic walks, plenty of restaurants and cafes, affordable living and accessibility to the Peak District. Only a bus or tram away, you can leave the city behind on a day of hiking or exploring beautiful villages and then back again into town.
About Sheffield
Sheffield is famous for its history in steel and famously known for music (The Arctic monkeys) and being an "Outdoor City" with it’s close links to the Peak District. It has two main universities, The University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University.
Accommodation
First years in general, go into university accommodation, either via the University which is quite expensive or private accommodation. Many first years at the University of Sheffield live in either Ranmoor or Endcliffe which are huge student villages surrounded by green spaces and picked because they have a great social atmosphere, events, shops, and a bar.
City centre options, including St Vincent’s Place and Allen Court, are great for international students or those who don’t want to be too far away from shops and transport, especially if your university buildings are near The Diamond.
Second and third year students often move into shared houses. These are often the cheaper option and popular once you know the friends you’d like to live with. Crookesmoor is a common student area, with many student houses a short bus ride from campus. Broomhall is another population option close to both the city centre and the university.
The average rent price is around £100–£150 per week for a shared house room and around £175+ for campus accommodation.
To discover accommodation options, click here.
My favourite spots
I love walking around the city centre and especially the Winter Garden, which feels like a warm indoor nature escape during cold months.
A favourite spot is Park Hill, located right behind the train station, with incredible views at sunset. My favourite memory is Bonfire Night and being able to watch the fireworks with a view of the whole city.
Bole Hill is another on the list and a short bus ride from Endcliffe Village. I’ve loved taking a walk here and having a picnic with my friends.
Student nightlife and bars
Nightlife in Sheffield is vibrant and very student-friendly. It has affordable drinks and special student deals. West Street is the heart of nightlife, located very close to the Sheffield Students' Union. Places like West Street Live offer cheap drinks whilst clubs such as Corporation, Tiger Works, The Viper Rooms, and Popworld are some of the favorites. Societies often offer discounted drinks during socials. Wednesday nights are usually the busiest as it’s the University social night. Don’t forget to get a late-night kebab from Aslan’s.
Pubs are scattered across the city. The Francis Newton on Ecclesall Road is cosy and close to campus. Kelham Island and bars like Bunk and Forum around the city centre are favourites. Societies often run bar crawls, so you can easily meet lots of new people.
Best places to eat and drink
Sheffield's food is arguably one of its highlights. London Road is one of the top spots for food, and personally, my best spots are Munchies, Calis, Chai Green, Mr T's, and Taco Mex.
In the city centre, on Division Street, you'll find Rudy's Pizza, doing classic Napoletana pizza. Cambridge Street Collective is another you have to try. It’s a big food hall with plenty of choices, a bar, and an iconic photo booth. Downstairs, visit 'Tiny Shop' which I love for its unique ice cream with tapioca.
Near the Diamond Building, Frog Café and boba places like Als Goncha are well recommended.
Cafes and study spaces
As well as bars, Ecclesall Road is also home to many cafés and restaurants. If you like matcha, you have to try Made Matcha and Pom's Kitchen. The banana bread matcha is amazing. You can still try lots of food places on a student budget. The ‘Too Good To Go’ app offers discounted surprise bags of lunch, dinner, and treats and I've found so many tasty treats myself.
There are loads of nice places to study or socialise at a café in Sheffield. A favourite for working and socialising with different locations offering comfy seating is Hygee Café. Caffè Nero opposite the Town Hall also has some nice views. If you want a quick sweet treat, check out the city centre Insomnia Cookies. They generally give you your first cookie free via their app.
Shopping in Sheffield
Sheffield has a good mix of high street and independent shops. Division Street is great for thrift and second-hand sustainable shopping, with stores like Vulgar and Glass Onion. The Moor has very well-known shops, including Primark and H&M.
A must-go-to is Meadowhall, one of the UK’s largest shopping centres. You will find restaurants, cafés, a cinema, and it is accessible by tram and train, right at the University
tram stop. It is also a popular place for students to work. Ecclesall Road also hosts thrift stores and independent boutiques, including the British Heart Foundation, where I’ve found many good deals.
Galleries and culture
Kelham Island Museum provides an excellent insight into the industrial history of Sheffield. Millennium Gallery and Weston Park Museum are also free to enter and much nearer to Sheffield University.
For theatre lovers, a number of live productions are staged at Crucible Theatre and an escape room, arcade games and a place to hang out.
Ten Pin Bowling in Sheffield city centre is also good for a student budget as they often have various deals. As well as bowling they offer laser tag, escape rooms and a good place to hang out.
Ice Sheffield, reached by tram, has two Olympic-sized pads and public skating is moderately priced, including skate hire. If you want an arty, more relaxed option, I suggest Off The Canvas Café, an art café where you can order an art experience as well as food and drink.
For something a bit more thrilling, BattleKart Sheffield is a bit pricey for a student budget but super popular and fun for a celebration.
Walks and parks
Sheffield is proud of its "Outdoor City" nickname, with lots of parks and greenery. Endcliffe Park and Weston Park provide charming walks and running opportunities or places to picnic, and Park Runs runs at weekends. It also does not take too long to get to the Peak District and maybe try find the fluffy highland cows in Bamford Edge. Other popular day trips to take are Ladybower Reservoir, and Castleton. Sheffield will always have something to suit all hobbies and budgets and host the perfect student lifestyle.
