Sheffield: moving to the Steel City
In the heart of South Yorkshire, sits the wonderful northern city of Sheffield. A bit of a hidden gem, the city’s popularity has been steadily growing due to the unique quality of life on offer here.
Here you’ll find a special mix of bustling vibrant urban life, alongside natural beauty and wild open space. With one third of the city classed as urban, one third rural, and the rest Peak District National Park, Sheffield really does have the best of everything.
The city has embraced a culture of creativity: lead by a strong economy built on independent businesses and a large student population, the art and entrepreneurial spirit is infectious here. The city has born great cultural icons such as bands Pulp and the Arctic Monkeys, and the art scene here is the biggest outside of London.
Sheffield offers world class universities, great job opportunities, competitively priced housing, an infamous music and arts scene, and the most trees per person of any European city! With 3 million trees, and a city population of 570,000, there are 4 trees per resident. Plus, walking the famous Seven Hills will keep you fit!
Sheffield is the perfect home for the adventurous spirit: if you are looking for a multicultural, creative city lifestyle with access to nature in under 30 minutes from your front door, search no further. This is the unique vibrant city, with a community feel, that’s perfect for you.
Sheffield: the modern history of an ancient town
Like many of the northern cities in the UK, Sheffield grew from a market town to a stronghold of the industrial revolution. Known as the Steel City, it’s production of stainless steel and crucible was infamous. But just like many of the industrial cities, when demand reduced the economy wavered.
The city is also famed for being home to the world’s oldest football side. Sheffield FC is FIFA’s oldest recognised team, credited for having created much of the modern game’s rules and regulations. Founded in 1857, the team still play at the Coach and Horses Ground.
Sheffield’s identity is now entrenched in its return to glory: the city has grown 60% since 1997 and has experienced a real period of rejuvenation during the 21st century. The city now boasts a healthy economy, great amenities, and a real balance between nature and modern development.
Sheffield: the culture of a vibrant city
Sheffield really does offer an exceptional lifestyle, with something for everyone.
For lovers of the great outdoors, close proximity to the Peak District and the large amount of green space in the city itself is perfect. You can spend time out in nature: hiking, walking, biking, horseback riding and climbing trails are all on your doorstep. The River Don has even recently seen the return of otters, so nature spotting is a real treat here.
The city is home to an excellent selection of bars and restaurants, including a real focus on craft beers. Thanks, in part, to the large student population, there are many affordable but excellent places to try around the city. There are also the fine dining options expected in a large city. The food available reflects the multicultural population, so you are sure to find your favourite dish and discover new ones.
Football fans are spoilt – living in the home of modern football, they can visit the oldest FIFA recognised team in the country (Sheffield FC), as well as both Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday.
The musical history of the city is a key part of its identity. Here’s a short list of just some of famous names that began their musical career in Sheffield:
• Pulp
• Arctic Monkeys
• Def Leppard
• The Long Blondes
• Moloko
• Human League
This rich music history is reflected in the Sheffield Walk of Fame. Music is an inherent part of life in Sheffield, with live music venues and gigs all over the city, every night of the week. You’ll find everything from folk music, rock and roll, to electronic music.
If you want to get to know the city better before you move, try our Area Orientation service. Our local experts will curate a perfectly tailored day for you, to explore the areas and places of interest we think best suit you. We make moving home easy.
Things to do in Sheffield – our local guide
Here’s Santa Fe Relocation’s list of top things to do once you’ve moved to Sheffield:
• Visit Chinatown – it may be an unofficial Chinatown, but the restaurants here are incredible. This is our favourite spot for some traditional Chinese food and culture, and some really well priced delicacies.
• Scour the antiques quarter – this could be where you discover a hidden treasure, or just a great place to find unique items for your new home.
• Enjoy a craft beer in the Kelham Island Tavern – this wonderful pub has been named CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year not once, but twice.
• Go to a gig – our favourite locally owned, independent music venues are The Harley, The Leadmill, and the Picture House Social.
This is just to get you started – the city is brimming with experiences to discover that will keep you busy and entertained.
Sheffield: where to live
There’s a mix of apartments, terraced and detached houses in Sheffield in most areas of the city. However, if you are looking to live very centrally, there is a larger number of new build apartments and conversions.
Wherever you choose, be happy in the knowledge that house prices across Sheffield are 75% less than in London. The average detached home here costs £335,000, while the monthly rent for a one bed in the city centre starts at a very competitive £500 per month (prices correct as of March 2019).
With so many great areas to live in, choosing where to move to can be a bit daunting.
Here’s a list of great locations for all lifestyles, as recommended by Santa Fe Relocation:
• Ecclesall Road – a very trendy area of the city with a strong café culture, properties here are highly sought after. Popular with families and students.
• St Pauls Square – a real hotspot for those looking for luxury apartments and impressive views over Sheffield city centre. This is a great location if you enjoy a lively social life, within walking distance of bars and restaurants.
• Crookes – this area is great for families, close to the city centre, and offers a wide variety of homes.
• Walkley – this is an up and coming area (good if you’re looking for a bit of an investment), that’s within walking distance of the city. Great for families, with beautiful Victorian terraced housing and excellent schools.
• Nether Edge – popular with young professionals, this suburb has a great community feel and good amenities. Think festivals, fairs and farmers markets.
Take the stress out of finding your new home. Our Home Search service can help you find the perfect home for your move to Sheffield. At Santa Fe Relocation, we make moving home easy for you.
Family life and education in Sheffield
Sheffield County Council has a large number of good schools, across a two-tier education system. There are 114 primary schools to choose from, and 28 secondary schools in the city. There are also a number of independent schools.
For those interested in higher education, the city is home to The University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University, which host 55,000 students at any one time between them.
If you need help finding the right school for your family, trust our School Search experts. We take the stress out of the process, leaving you with more time to enjoy your move.
Travel information
Sheffield has an excellent public transport system and transport links, with buses and the Supertram servicing the city and surrounding metropolitan boroughs.
Travel by car is good, outside of the rush hour peak times. Off peak, you can easily get from the city centre to the M1 in 10 minutes, but like all UK cities peak hour driving will encounter longer traffic waiting times.
Links by train are great between Sheffield and many of the UK’s most influential cities. It is just 2 hours by train to London St Pancras, 48 minutes to Manchester, and you can reach both Edinburgh and Cardiff in under 4 hours.
For international and domestic flights, there are a selection of airports. Doncaster Sheffield airport is the closest to the city, however Leeds Bradford Airport, East Midlands Airport and Manchester Airport are all within an hour of the city centre.
How can we help with your move to Sheffield?
At Santa Fe Relocation, we are experts at what we do. We don’t just pack, move and unpack your belongings. With a dedicated move co-ordinator at the helm, we arrange everything you need for a smooth and stress-free move. We can help connect you with schools, storage, even a handyman to make sure everything about your move is perfect.
At Santa Fe, we make moving home easy for you. So why not get a free moving quote and see how we can improve your move.
