Looking to rent a student property in Sheffield for the first time? This guide will cover the pros and cons of the most popular Sheffield student accommodation areas, to help you decide which is best for you.
Sheffield is the UK’s 4th largest city and is known as the ‘Steel City’ for the crucial role it played in the Industrial Revolution. Yet it is also famed for its green spaces, with a third of the city falling within the boundaries of the Peak District national park. Most importantly, it’s a great place to be a student!
As you’ll be making Sheffield your home for the next few years, it’s time to get the inside info on the best spots to live, public transport, shopping and of course not forgetting the places to have fun.
Sheffield City Centre
The most obvious place to start is Sheffield city centre as it's close to both of the universities. You'll also find a wide array of restaurants, bars, clubs and shopping. One thing to know is that the city centre is pretty spread out. If you live near the cathedral district, it's going to be busier both night and day. If you prefer a slower pace, living near the theatre district and the train station can be a better option.
Due to being centrally located to everything, many of the student apartments in Sheffield City Centre tend to be more expensive. If you don't mind paying for the convenience, this can be a great area. However, there are cheaper options that are not very far from the centre that still offer a great social life and amenities.
Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane may sound familiar because it is home to Sheffield United Football Club. It's located an easy walk from the centre and the train station, as well as the universities. Since the area isn't quite as densely populated with students, the rental prices of your student accommodation will be lower than what you'd find in the city centre.
Crookes
The terraced houses perched high on the steep hillsides of the Crookes area of Sheffield make perfect student houses and apartments. Students from both Sheffield Hallam and The University of Sheffield choose this area and you tend to find yourself living in a bubble because there are more students than locals.
A word of caution, though: Sheffield is famous for its seven (often steep) hills, and Crookes is situated on one of them. So walking to and from the university will be a good opportunity to improve your fitness!
Crookesmoor
As one of the greener areas of Sheffield, Crookesmoor is a popular area for student housing serving both universities. Many of the students live in terraced student houses. The cost of living is relatively cheap here. You'll find a few pubs, and smaller restaurants throughout the neighbourhood, so you won't have to venture far to find what you're looking for. Also, the hills are just as challenging as they are in Crookes.
Broomhill
Broomhill is one of the most popular student accommodation areas with students of The University of Sheffield. It's walkable to Endcliffe, one of the student villages. When you're searching for private housing for year two and beyond, this area can be a natural choice. Plus, you're never more than a 15-minute walk to your lectures regardless of which university you’re at. Within Broomhill, you'll find restaurants, supermarkets and shops – all filled with a bustling student community. There is no shortage of pubs and bars, too.
Ranmoor
Ranmoor is likely where you'll find the most first-year students because this is where one of The University of Sheffield student accommodation villages is located. The good news is that you'll find all sorts of residential and private student houses for students outside of their first year, too. As well as local amenities an added perk is that it's only a short bus trip from the Peak District, which makes Ranmoor a fantastic place to live for those that love the great outdoors.
Ecclesall Road
Also known as ‘Eccy Road’, Ecclesall Road is about four miles long and is by far the most popular student accommodation area in Sheffield. It's home to a large number of bars, restaurants and indie stores. That means it shouldn't come as a big surprise that there is also plenty of student properties. It's more convenient for the students of Sheffield Hallam, but if you're at The University of Sheffield, you'll have to walk a little bit further to reach the campus. The good news is there are good bus links from here.
When you're not hitting the books, you'll probably spend your time on Eccy Road brunching or huddling around a latte in the many coffee shops.
Sharrow
Sandwiched between Ecclesall Road and London Road is the neighbourhood of Sharrow. There's a bit of something for everyone here. If you fancy yourself to be a foodie, there are restaurants of virtually every cuisine. It's relatively laid back but you're close enough to the city centre when you feel that you need a bit more of the bright lights.
Norfolk Park
The most historic suburb of Sheffield is the City Road area, which includes Norfolk Park. It provides you with some distance from the more boisterous student suburbs. However, you are close enough by bus to get in on all of the excitement when you feel the need.
With so many different neighbourhoods, there really is something for everyone. You simply have to decide how much you want to spend on Sheffield student accommodation, and how important it is for you to be close to the action. You can also view an overview of the properties available in each of the areas above, in our Sheffield Student Accommodation guide.
When you're searching for student accommodation in Sheffield, contact the team at Claypenny Properties today. We can make sure that you're located right where you want to be to make the most of your time at uni.
