Go Green or Go Home

Sheffield, despite popular belief, is actually one of the greenest cities in the UK. Given its industrial past, the city is home to over 2 million trees, meaning there are four trees to every resident in Sheffield, it is the highest ratio of trees to people in Europe! A whopping third of the city sits within the Peak District National Park with another 650 green and open spaces that have transformed a once smog-filled industrial skyline to one of England’s greenest cities.

Phlegm: Not as gross as it sounds

Sheffield is home to the world famous street artist ‘Phlegm’, who creates his art in the form of mural pieces on urban landscapes such as run-down and disused spaces. His work consists of monochrome illustrations created through his captivating imagination where each drawing forms part of a grand narrative across the world! Make sure to follow this trail so you can check out some of his work across the city.

Hendo’s

Definitely something you’ll need to know about coming to Sheffield, is Henderson’s Relish. In a city divided by football teams, universities, politics etc. the one thing we can all agree on is that Henderson’s is the greatest condiment known to man. Walk into any chippy, cafe or bar, you’ll find it ready to be served on, quite frankly, anything! Henderson’s Relish is a family owned business and has been brewed here for more than 100 years and has truly made its mark on the steel city.

The Curse of the Crucible

Right in the city centre sits the world-famous Crucible Theatre, home to world-class productions and groundbreaking theatre productions. Crucible is also an innovation developed by Sheffield, which is where the theatre gets its name. Being such a small theatre, you’re never more than 20 metres from the action, it’s also the home of the World Snooker Championship. The tournament has been hosted at the theatre for the last 47 years but a strange coincidence has followed alongside that with no player being able to defend their first title win, hence the Crucible Curse.

From Steel to Strikes

Sheffield is home to the world’s oldest and second oldest football clubs - Sheffield F.C. and Hallam F.C.. Hallam F.C. has played at their grounds in Crosspool since being formed in 1860, earning Sandygate Road pitch a place in the ‘Guinness Book of Records’. This is just the city you want to be in as a football fan, with the famous ‘Steel City’ derby now between Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday being such a huge local event, it’s something you don’t want to miss out on!

You’re not from New York City, you’re from Rotherham

Liverpool has The Beatles, Manchester has Oasis and The Smiths, London has The Rolling Stones, so what? In Sheffield we’ve got the Arctic Monkeys, Def Leppard and Pulp to name a few. The city has produced some of the most iconic bands in recent years with many recording and producing albums at the famous Yellow Arch Studios! The city is also home to iconic music venues such as The Leadmill, O2 Academy and Utilita Arena, as well as smaller venues such as Delicious Clam and Picture House Social.

Did you know that Arctic Monkeys drummer, Matt Helders, owns part of Fagan’s Irish Bar on Broad Lane?

Eye Catching or Eye Sore?

The architecture in the steel city has the same principles as marmite: you either love it or hate it. And there are definitely some notable buildings that have the people of Sheffield divided on opinion. More notably, The Hubs, home of our incredible SU, was voted ‘World’s Ugliest Building’ in 2011 by a poll online! We think it’s cute so we’ll ignore that, but originally it was built as the ‘National Centre for Popular Music’ which closed after just over a year due to lack of customers. A shame really but it meant the SU has had a recognisable home for the last 20 or so years for students from all over to enjoy the facilities of.

Sheffield Legends Walk of Fame

Outside of the Town Hall, in the city centre, lie plaques on the floor - if you blink, you’ll miss them. The Sheffield Legends plaques pay tribute to local celebrities who have achieved national or international acclaim. The idea started in 2005 and since then has just kept growing, nominations are considered by an independent selection board and chaired by the Lord Mayor. Some names include actor Sean Bean, Olympian Dame Jessica Ennis and world champion boxer, Clinton Woods. Make sure to check it out and see if you can recognise any of the Sheffield Legends!

Tramlines, the Heartbeat of Sheffield’s Summer

Starting out in 2009 as a free gathering on Dev Green, Tramlines is now an internationally known festival that boosts the South Yorkshire economy year on year. 40,000 people attend Tramlines Festival over the 3rd weekend in July where they can see a whole range of music, family entertainment, comedy, poetry and DJs. Its main commitment is promoting, supporting and engaging with the City of Sheffield! Each year the festival hosts the ‘apply the play’ scheme, this scheme welcomes emerging performers and bands with the chance to play across Tramlines stages. So if you’re coming to Sheffield and are trying to get your band noticed - this is your chance to do so! Since 2018, Tramlines have hosted 171 local bands and artists across all stages including the mighty ‘Sarah Nulty Main Stage’!

Lights, Camera, Sheffield

Over the years, Sheffield and its surrounding areas have been the filming locations of many films and TV shows. From The Full Monty to Doctor Who, Mission Impossible to This is England, the historical buildings and big city energy have attracted directors from all over! Due to this it has also brought many famous faces this way including Kate Winslet, Tom Cruise, Robert Carlyle, Benedict Cumberbatch, Stephen Graham, and Richard E Grant to name just a few! As a true film fanatic, these are definitely some locations you’re going to want to visit whilst you’re here.

Sheffield’s rich history, vibrant culture and unique quirks make it an incredibly exciting place for you to start your university journey! From its stunning green spaces and thriving music scene to its industrial heritage and welcoming community, Sheffield offers a blend of experiences that will definitely enhance your student life.

With over 65,000 students across the city and Hallam being one of the largest and most diverse uni’s in the UK, you’ll be sure to find something that suits you. Welcome to Sheffield, and here’s to making unforgettable memories!