South Yorkshire
The city is some distance away from some of its South Yorkshire neighbours.
Sheffield was ideally placed for steel production when it had local sources of iron ore and coal. With several rivers to provide water-wheel power for grindstones it became a top location for knife production and had become England's main centre for cutlery making by the start of the 17th century.
Much has been spent in the past few decades in remodelling areas which had already become run-down through the gradual near-collapse of the steel industry and in ensuring that Sheffield became a modern city made more attractive with new gardens and squares.
One kick-start for modernisation was the
Sporting events provided boosts for Sheffield after it had been marred by tragedy. Two years after the Hillsborough football stadium disaster in 1989 resulted in now 97 deaths, the World Student Games in 1991 provided a reason to build new sporting complexes such as the Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield Arena and the Ponds Forge International Sports Centre with its Olympic-size swimming pool, deep diving pool and huge events space. The £29m Don Valley Stadium, however, has not survived. The venue was demolished in 2014, but an Olympic Legacy Park has been created as a result of the London 2012 Olympic Games. The park incorporates Ice Sheffield, which was another major boost for the city in 2003. The £15m arena boasts two Olympic-sized ice rinks which are used for leisure skating and ice hockey games.
The Sheffield City Council area extends way beyond the city limits into neighbouring villages and countryside, some of which falls within Peak District National Park. The modernised city of Sheffield offers one potential base for exploring this great scenic area.
City features
Sheffield presents the opportunity to shop until you drop. The Meadowhall Shopping Centre, about 4 miles north east of the city centre, is one of Britain's biggest indoor shopping centres and home to nearly 300 high street retailers. Sheffield also has bustling city centre shopping stretching from Fargate, Orchard Square and Barker's Pool, along Pinstone Street to The Moor and offering department stores, big high street names and local traders. 
Those with a love of traditional market shopping can visit the Moor Market in the city. It opened its doors in 2013 to offer a variety of market goods from independent traders. There are also open stalls at The Moor and King Street.
Sheffield has a central Post Office in Wilkinson's store at Haymarket and branches around the city and its districts.
Sheffield has bank and building society branches.
There are many pharmacies throughout the city and its districts.
The city has a vibrant centre with a large selection of pubs, bars and nightclubs and there also many pubs and bars throughout its districts.
There are many cafes throughout the Sheffield area.
Sheffield has a huge selection of restaurants, catering for all tastes.
A full range of cuisines is provided by the selection of takeaways throughout the Sheffield area.
The city has a central library at Surrey Street and branch libraries in its districts.
For museums in the area see below.
For entertainment in the city see below.
The city has many schools and colleges. For its two universities see below.
Places of worship: Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, United Reformed, Baptist, Islamic, Jewish, Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist, other
Five rivers come together near Sheffield City Centre. At Malin Bridge, 2 miles north west of the city centre, the River Rivelin joins the River Loxley, which continues for about a mile before joining the River Don, near Hillsborough. In the city centre, under the railway station, the Porter Brook joins the culverted River Sheaf which continues to join the River Don.
The Sheffield and Tinsley Canal, opened in 1819, provides a 4-mile link from the Sheffield Canal Basin, or Victoria Quays, to the navigable River Don. Entertainment
Sheffield City Hall
Barker's PoolSheffield City Hall offers musical concerts, big name artists from music and comedy, operatic performances and a ballroom venue.
Sheffield Arena
Broughton LaneWith a capacity for up to 13,600 people, Sheffield Arena has become a major venue for musical superstars and sporting greats, including the Sheffield Steelers ice hockey team. Opened in 1991, it was originally used for gymnastics at the World Student Games. It has been rebranded several times to suit its sponsors, most recently from the FlyDSA Arena to the Utilita Arena in 2021. The venue is about 3 miles from the city centre in the direction of Rotherham.
The Crucible
Norfolk StreetVenue of the World Snooker Championships for more than 40 years and also for major touring shows and local artists, The Crucible was opened in 1971. The Crucible, Crucible Studio and neighbouring Lyceum Theatre are run by Sheffield Theatres.
Lyceum Theatre
Norfolk StreetNear to The Crucible, the Lyceum Theatre, the city's last Edwardian auditorium was saved from demolition in the 1970s and given a major renovation between 1988 and 1990 and a further restoration in 2014. It is run by Sheffield Theatres in conjunction with The Crucible and Crucible Studio staging touring West End shows, pantomimes and other artists.
Library Theatre
Tudor SquareLocated at Sheffield's Central Library, close to its larger theatre neighbours, the 260-seat council-run Library Theatre offers the opportunity for an eclectic mix of smaller stage events, which have included everything from wrestling to burlesque, together with local theatre.
Further details at the
Library Theatre The Leadmill
Leadmill RoadThe Leadmill on the edge of the city centre has become Sheffield's most renowned live music venue and nightclub with a history of some very well-known names having performed upon its stage. In 2022 they continue to do so while The Leadmill fights a campaign against its possible closure within a year.
Sport
Sheffield United
'The Blades' play Championship football at Bramall Lane. Sheffield United Sheffield Wednesday
'The Owls' play League One football at Hillsborough Stadium. Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Eagles
The Eagles play Rugby League at the Sheffield Hallam University Sports Park, Bawtry Road. Sheffield Eagles Sheffield Tigers
The Tigers play Rugby Union at Dore Moor, Hathersage Road. Sheffield Tigers Sheffield Steelers
Sheffield's ice hockey team play at Sheffield Arena with some games at Ice Sheffield Sheffield Steelers Universities
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is based in an area around Brook Hill and Western Bank at the west side of the city centre. The university received its royal charter in 1905 as a successor to the University College of Sheffield establishe eight years earlier, but has roots in the Sheffield Medical School dating back to 1828.
University of Sheffield Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield Hallam University is centred on a city campus at Howard Street, close to the rail and bus stations in the city centre, and a campus at Collegiate Crescent, off Eccleshall Road, about a mile to the south west of the city centre. Sheffield Hallam University emerged from Sheffield Polytechnic in 1992 but can trace its history through mergers of several educational establishments and back to the Sheffield School of Design, founded in 1843. It is the largest of the universities of Yorkshire in terms of the number of students it has enrolled.
Sheffield Hallam University Museums
Weston Park Museum
Tells the story of Sheffield through the ages, from pre-historic times to the present day.
More information at the
Museums Sheffield - Weston Park Museum Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet
About 4 miles south west of the city centre, Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet provides a recreation of life at an 18th century industrial works. The site is a former agricultural tool maker's works and what was once the largest water-powered industry on the River Sheaf.
Further details at these
Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust Kelham Island Museum
Alma Street, Sheffield
About half a mile north of For more details see the Kelham Island Museum website.
Kelham Island Museum National Emergency Services Museum
The Old Police/Fire Station, West Bar, Sheffield
Three floors of exhibits housed in Sheffield's old police and fire station building provide a fascinating insight into the history of the 999 services. More than 40 vehicles are among items on display. The museum provides learning experiences and activities for all ages and occasional talks by historians and authors who write on an emergency services theme. The museum is usually open each day except Mondays and Tuesdays, but check the museum website for full details and prices. For more information visit the National Emergency Services Museum website.
National Emergency Services Museum National Videogame Museum
Castle House, Angel Street, SheffieldSituated in the heart of Sheffield, the National Videogame Museum has a changing treasure trove of exhibits about the relatively modern but rapidly-evolving phenomenon of computer gaming together with the opportunity to play some of the showcase games. The museum opens each day except Monday and Tuesday in term time and every day during school holidays in Sheffield. Check out the current admissions policy and prices at the museum website.
Further information at
National Videogame Museum Places to visit
Sheffield Winter Garden
Surrey StreetOpened in 2003, this massive award-winning 22-metre-high greenhouse in the heart of the city is home to more than 2,000 plants from around the world. It is situated next to the city's Peace Gardens and Millennium Galleries.
Peak District National Park
The vast area of the Peak District National Park starts just four miles west of Sheffield city centre, stretching from Yorkshire into Derbyshire and beyond. For more details see our 
Travel
Sheffield station
Sheffield railway station offers inter-city, regional express and local services and also has a tram stop. Around 9 million rail passenger journeys start or finish at the station each year.
Station managed by: EAST MIDLANDS RAILWAY. Operator/s: EAST MIDLANDS RAILWAY, NORTHERN, TRANSPENNINE EXPRESS, CROSS COUNTRY, STAGECOACH SUPERTRAM.
NATIONAL RAIL - Departure and station infoExternal link to National Rail live departure board for services at this station (opens in new tab).
Meadowhall Interchange station
Meadowhall RoadMeadowhall Interchange, close to the Meadowhall shopping centre, offers regional and local rail services. Trains, trams and buses all connect Meadowhall to the city centre about 4 miles away.
Station managed by: NORTHERN. Operator/s: NORTHERN, TRANSPENNINE EXPRESS, STAGECOACH SUPERTRAM.
NATIONAL RAIL - Departure and station infoExternal link to National Rail live departure board for services at this station (opens in new tab).
Bus and tram travel
Further bus information at Travel South Yorkshire external website.
Travel South Yorkshire including Sheffield Interchange services Sheffield Interchange live departures
Sheffield Interchange services Sheffield Interchange live departures Further bus information at Travel South Yorkshire external website.
Travel South Yorkshire including Arundel Gate live departures
Arundel Gate live departures Road travel
Sheffield city centre is just a few miles from the M1 motorway providing convenient links south to the East Midlands and London, north to Leeds and North East England and via the M18 north east towards East Yorkshire and Hull. Less easy to reach by road is Manchester, 33 miles to the west north west, which would require a journey of nearly 1hr 30min using winding single carriageway moorland roads (an average speed of around 22mph based on the crow-fly distance). The motorway alternative would be a journey of 72 miles taking at least 1hr 50min (18mph).
Doncaster Sheffield Airport (Robin Hood Airport) Finningley
Emergency services
South Yorkshire Police South Yorkshire PoliceSouth Yorkshire Fire and Rescue
South Yorkshire Fire and RescueYorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Local government
Metropolitan district council
Sheffield City CouncilSheffield City Council's area extends several miles beyond the edge of the city, including rural areas, particularly to the west and north-west of the city where the district includes part of the
The council's 84 elected councillors are elected three per ward across 28 wards.
One councillor per ward is elected in each of three years out of four for a four-year term.
Political composition after May 2024 election:
84 members
Link to Sheffield City Council website.
Sheffield City CouncilCounty strategic authority
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined AuthorityCovers combined services including public transport, housing, infrastructure and regeneration and adult education in
Barnsley
Doncaster
Rotherham
SheffieldElected mayor:
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined AuthorityPolice and Crime Commissioner
This role becomes the responsibility of the elected South Yorkshire mayor after the May 2024 election. South Yorkshire Police and Crime CommissionerFire Authority
South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue AuthorityThe fire authority is made up of elected members of each of the four metropolitan district councils of South Yorkshire - Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.
South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue AuthorityParliamentary constituencies
Sheffield CentralElected MP:
Sheffield Hallam
Elected MP:
Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough
Elected MP:
Sheffield South East
Elected MP:
Sheffield Heeley
Elected MP: