Sheffield
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The fourth biggest city in the UK and the least discovered. As Sheffield is not a usual place for tourists, many only use it as a stopover on there way to the Peak district - but it has so much more to offer!
From a local silver town to one steel boom of the industrial revolution and into the most treed city in europe, it remains a hidden jewel of Britain.
It is also the biggest and most connected city in the peak district, its borders a mean 2 hour casual walk from the city center ! thankfully due to a high number of retailers stocking fairtrade goods, Sheffield has been awarded Fairtrade city status
Howden House is on Union Street - In the City Centre, has a free information package about sheffield including maps!
Contents |
CouchSurfing Information
- Typical meets: For a movie, it's usually at the Showroom Cinema, which is close to the train station. For drinks we tend to start at the Devonshire Cat pub and go on to either some bars, a club or a house party if there's one going.
- Emergency Couch : Joe
- Local surfer musicians : The Limes and Ozzy Chris
Things to do & places to see
Town
In all honesty Sheffield's city centre is not as large as that of other Northern cities but it still has loads to offer in terms of shopping, nightlife and cultural activities.
- Food and Drink
- Baan Thai - A great thai restaurant.
- Blue Moon Café - Vegetarian café just next to the Cathedral right down in the centre of town.
- Cubanas - This is Sheffield's authentic Cuban hideaway, found on Trippet Lane. Good food, great music and a variety of Latin themed nights (including lessons for the less sure footed) make this place well worth a visit.
- Bungalows and Bears - Located in a converted fire house on Division Street and regularly hosting live music this bar is a fun place to chill out.
- The Old House - This is a bar on Division Street for those with a taste in music and good atmosphere.
- The Forum - Situated at the Devonshire Green end of Division street the Forum building houses the Forum bar and a number of small shops. It also regularly displays art installations and hosts a variety of music nights, including Salsa for all levels every Tuesday from 7.
- The Boardwalk - Somewhere towards the edge of the centre this bar has live music every night, including local and unsigned bands.
- Devonshire Cat - The famed 'Couchsurfer's Arms'.
- Kelham Island Tavern - Sheffield's permanent beer festival is found a little way out of the city centre but is well worth the effort. Regularly has live music including Folk and Blue Grass.
- Planet Zogg - Held at The Plug, this is Sheffield's monthly Psy-Trance night.
- Galleries, Museums & Theaters
- Millennium Gallery - (some parts are free) Arundel Gate. You can learn about the famous stainless steel industry that put Sheffield on the map.
- Lycaeum Theatre - Located between the Winter Gardens and the Crucible this historic venue hosts a wide range of musicals, plays and performance pieces.
- Graves Art Gallery - You can find this above the central library. It’s only small but they change exhibitions often so it’s always worth a look.
- Showroom - This is an independent movie house right next to the train station with a chilled out bar for pre-film drinks or food. Sheffield is home to the UK's largest specifically documentary film making industry and as such the Showroom puts on Docfest during November each year.
- Parks
- Devonshire Green - At the end of Division Street is a small, vibrant, boldly designed park which has recently undergone a £1.6m redevelopment. It is home to a skate park.
- Winter Gardens - As with the Botanicals they are a bit dull in winter but still worth a walk if you are in the city centre or on your way to the train station.
- Peace Gardens - Forming the surroundings on the west side of the town hall the peace gardens have plenty of places to relax on a sunny day and a hidden fountain in the centre.
- Cathedrals
- 3 ?
Broomhill
Broomhill can be considered one of Sheffield's urban villages and is a collection of cafés, pubs, restaurants and banks spread along Fullwood road and its surroundings. Most of the pubs and cafés are frequently populated by the masses of students living nearby which often lends places a lively and upbeat atmosphere.
- Food and Drink
- On a Roll - This is one of the finest sandwich shops in Sheffield. If you're not a vegetarian make sure you try the pork, cranberry and stuffing roll.
- Cream - Very trendy looking place on the corner with semi-panoramic views of Broomhill from upstairs. Its not cheap but its usually worth it. Has wi-fi for those travelling with laptops.
- Refresh Café - A warmly furnished internet café with four or five computers and a few sofas.
- Thyme Café - Open lunch and dinner weekdays and pretty much all day weekends. This place is good whether you're after just a coffee or a three course meal.
- Broomhill Tavern - Cheap and usually busy but out of all the pubs in Broomhill this probably has the most relaxed atmosphere.
Crookes
Crookes is a mostly residential district in the West of Sheffield which is spread over one of the city's seven hills. At the top of the hill there is Crookes high street which is home to two family butchers, an ethical grocers and a few pubs which cater more to locals than the student watering holes of Broomhill. There is also a branch of Halifax Bank with an ATM and a petrol station which has been converted into a massive charity shop.
- Food and Drink
- Just Natural - This ethical food shop stocks a wide range of fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts and herbs. The fresh orange juice is recommended.
- Spinrocs - Tasty Tapas and wine bar.
- Parks
- Crookes Valley Park - At the bottom of the hill, this carefully maintained park has a lake at its centre, two bowling greens and plenty of gently sloping hills for sunbathing during those precious few weeks of warm weather. A very scenic if a little overpriced place for a drink is the Dam House pub which overlooks the lake and park.
- Weston Park - This is an open plan park with a number of footpaths and a newly renovated bandstand which hosts musicians during the cheery weather months. This park is also home to Weston Park Museum(Weston Bank, opposite Children’s Hospital) which has recently been refurbished and is a great day to spend a rainy afternoon. It’s all very interactive and probably meant for the kids (but the interactive activities keep you interested for longer.) There is a focus on Sheffield and its residents throughout the years, a large section about nature in the UK and an exhibition on Ancient Egypt.
- Bole Hill Park - Found one blocks walk further over the hill from the high street, this park is affectionately nicknamed 'End of the world' park as the steep hill affords a fantastic view over the North West of Sheffield and the rolling hills beyond.
Hunters Bar
Hunters Bar is the name given to the roundabout at the end of Ecclesall road and is used to refer to much of the surrounding area including the Ecclesall road district. Whilst due to a high number of shops, restaurants and cafés Ecclesall road itself has an urban feel to it, once past Hunters Bar the city gradually gives way to countryside.
- Food and Drink
- Greedy Greek Deli and Take-away
- Coco tea house
- Lescar Pub - this charming and atmospheric pub is set a couple of blocks back from Ecclesall road next to a pool hall. The pub itself has a back room which has hosted many up and coming stars who have gone on to become famous stand-up comedians such as Ross Noble and Bill Bailey. The Lescar is the birth place of and still hosts the Last Laugh Comedy Club every Thursday night.
- poter brook
- Parks
- Endcliffe Park - Comprising of a large open field, two man-made lakes, and plenty of woodland, this park spreads along the river Porter from Hunters Bar roundabout to the Peak District. It is often the site of travelling fairs and other events.
- Botanical Gardens (Entrance at Clarkehouse Rd or Ecclesall Rd) - These are a lovely way to spend a sunny day, a must for visitors to Sheffield. It is not very impressive in winter but becomes colourful and alive during the summer months. Look out for performances and concerts there too sometimes.
- Sheffield General Cemetary has ten listed buildings and monuments and is the final resting place for around 70,000 souls. One of the listed monuments is that of a previous Master Cutler and part founder of the University of Sheffield Mark Firth.
Events and Music
The best way to get an overview of what's going on in Sheffield is to pick up a copy of Exposed magazine from one of the many shops in the city centre and around. The best thing about the magazine is that its free and can even be kept as a souvenir of your time in Sheffield!
Sports & Recreation
- The Crucible hosts world Snooker Championships.
- English Institute for Sport.
- Sheffield Steelers seem to be one of the best ice hockey teams.
- Ponds Forge host many world championships and olympic divers train here.
- Don Valley Stadium hosts a lot of top athletics meets.
- Skiing - The Sheffield Ski Village is much more than just a dry ski slope. The village includes a 'snow park' and this is home to the only half pipe in the country as-well as an assortment of rails and a high jump.
- Indoor climbing - The Edge, The Foundry and for bouldering (climbing without ropes) the Climbing Works and also a smaller (but still good) wall in the University of Sheffield's Goodwin Sports Centrewhich is open to the public.
Peak District
Sheffield is one of the outdoor capitals of the world due to its location next to the Peak District. There are a number of forums about climbing in different areas. There is also a local group and a nation wide group keen to explore it.
Transportation
- Into Sheffield
- The only train station is located in down town Sheffield right next to the bus depo and is well served from all over the country.
- Two main bus stations service Sheffield Sheffield and meadowhall, from meadowhall there is a light rail line that runs though down town and some suburbs
- You might also want to catch some of the many public buses that come though the peak district
- Closest airports are midlands, robin hood, Leeds and Manchester and the closest sea port is Liverpool
- Around the city and counties
- The two main bus companies are first and stage coach that run public buses far into the peak district
- The Super Tram that runs almost across the county
- Hitchhiking is do able from Manchester road and the M1
Other Information
- Internet cafe's
Refresh Café in Broomhill. Bt Phone book listing
- Laundry
Just up the hill from Hunters Bar roundabout is Gooman Sparks laundrette. This is usually at-least £4 for use of washing machine and dryer. Alternatively, closer to the city centre, there's a laundrette in the University of Sheffield's Union. You have to buy tokens from the Union shop (55p per token, x2 for wash, x1 for dry). Student ID is very unlikely to be asked for.
- Accommodation
Due to the low amounts of travellers visiting Sheffield there is not much in the range of budget accommodation. Although not cheap, in terms of atmosphere The Harley is the closest thing Sheffield has to a hostel. Set right in the centre of town at the top of West Street and very near to the University Tram stop the Harley is in a prime location for any stay in Sheffield. The Harley showcases a wide range of musical nights and accordingly guests are provided with ear plugs.
There are many bed and breakfasts in the peak district, for info about them see the peak district article.
- Health & Safety
- 2 large hospitals are located above sheffield university and can be reached by the number 80 and 52 busses or a short walk from the tram.
- Finland consulate
- note the polish consulate has closed.
- Non of us have ever been to the polise station but here is a phone book listing
- Trivia about sheffield
Sheffield has more trees per person than any other city in Europe[3]: 61% of the city is green-space;
