What is Sheffield Famous For?
With two contradictory monikers, Steel City (thanks to it being the birthplace of stainless steel) and The Outdoor City, Sheffield offers a unique blend of industrial heritage and green spaces. It’s also one of the UK’s most popular student cities, thanks to its excellent universities, thriving music scene and affordable living. Want to know what Sheffield is famous for? Let's take a closer look.
Its music scene
Sheffield has almost dominated the UK’s music scene, producing more than its fair share of epic artists and bands. Here are just some of them:
Arctic Monkeys
The band that brought rock and roll to the millennials. They have grown from cheeky teenagers with witty lyrics about working-class life to bona fide superstars who have headlined Glastonbury three times, and have earned themselves a new generation of young fans.
Pulp
Britpop legends that are still making new music and drawing the crowds today. Fronted by geek-chic style icon Jarvis Cocker, their catchy melodies and singalong lyrics perfectly captured the banalities of everyday life.
Human League
With his asymmetric bob, lipstick and eyeliner, lead singer Phil Oakey was flanked by two effortlessly cool and disinterested backup singers. Together they produced some of the 80s greatest synth-pop anthems. You’ll know Don’t You Want Me, but it’s well worth a dive into the rest of their music.
Self Esteem
Although she hails from nearby Rotherham, Rebecca Lucy Taylor (aka Self Esteem) has adopted Sheffield as her hometown and has even been awarded an honorary Doctor of Music at the University of Sheffield. Her anthemic songs have uplifted and inspired a generation of women.
Def Leppard
You may not have heard of them, but your parents (or grandparents!) might have once rocked out to their gravelly vocals and powerful guitar riffs. Def Leppard are one of the best-selling rock bands – their 1987 album Hysteria sold over 20 million copies and featured hits such as Pour Some Sugar On Me and Animal.
World-class universities
Sheffield is one of the most popular cities to study in the UK. With two excellent universities and a buzzing student population, it’s known for offering a great student experience, as well as being one of the most affordable places to study.
The University of Sheffield
A Russell Group member, Sheffield is a research university with a global reputation for excellence, particularly in engineering, medicine and social science. It’s ranked 14th in the UK and 82nd in the world. On top of that, its Student Union has consistently been voted the best SU in the UK for many years.
Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield Hallam specialises in career-focused courses, hands-on learning and strong industry links. It was ranked sixth in What Uni’s University of the Year awards. Its student union is also highly rated, and outside of the universities, independent music venues such as Tank, Network and The Washington provide plenty of opportunities to get out and experience Sheffield’s legendary live music scene.
Green spaces
Despite its heritage as an industrial city, 61% of Sheffield is green space, making it the greenest city in the UK, and one of the greenest in the world. From the regal beauty of the botanical gardens to the dramatic landscapes of the Peak District, lucky Sheffielders have access to some of the most beautiful greenscapes in the UK.
Meersbrook Park
A beautiful park to the south of the city. With lush green grass and woodland areas, the real draw is the stunning panoramic views it offers over the city. Perfect for a warm summer’s evening.
The Peak District
Sheffield lies on the eastern edge of the Peak District National Park. In fact, a third of the city sits inside it. Home to dramatic rock formations, wild moorlands and rolling valleys, it’s easily accessible by bus and train. You can be out of the city and stomping up Higger Tor in 20 minutes.
Sheffield Botanical Gardens
Opened in 1836, there are 18 different gardens to explore, each with a different geographical or botanical theme, from the pastoral charm of the Four Seasons Garden to the tropical trees in the Victorian Pavilion. Spanning over 19 acres, you’re sure to find a quiet spot to sit and marvel at the beauty around you.
Norfolk Heritage Park
One of the oldest parks in the country, there are vast expanses of rolling grass to lounge on and tree-lined avenues to take a morning stroll. It’s also part of the Norfolk Heritage Trail, a three-mile loop which takes you on a journey through Sheffield’s past.
Sport and snooker
Sheffield has a strong sporting heritage, and even lays claim to being the home of two.
Football
Sheffield is widely regarded as the birthplace of football. In fact, a study by the University of Sheffield proved that the city does indeed have the oldest football clubs and grounds in the world, the oldest cup competitions, and it’s even where certain rules such as corners, crossbars and headers were introduced. The rivalry between the Blades (Sheffield Utd) and Owls (Sheffield Wednesday) is one of the fiercest (and oldest!), with any Steel City derby being a momentous event on the Sheffield calendar.
Snooker
Snooker is synonymous with the Crucible, where the World Championship has been played for nearly 50 years. From Alex Higgins to Steve Davis, all the greats have played here. Ronnie O’Sullivan and Stephen Hendry hold the joint record for the most Crucible titles, with seven each.
Climbing
Known as the spiritual home of climbing, this sport is huge in Sheffield. In fact, Team GB based themselves here in the build-up to the Tokyo Olympics. There are countless opportunities to climb and boulder in the city: Burbage and Stanage gritstone edges are within easy distance, as well as some of the UK’s best indoor walls, including a Tokyo Olympics replica hall at The Hangar.
Film and TV
The city’s grit and charm has been captured on TV and film in these memorable productions:
The Full Monty
Funny and heartwarming tale of a group of unemployed steel workers who, inspired by The Chippendales, and short of cash, decide to form their own male striptease act with the promise of going “the full monty”. For the film’s final strip scene, female students from Sheffield were shipped in to provide the baying crowd.
Four Lions
This black comedy follows the tribulations of five wannabe suicide bombers from Sheffield. Thanks to a combination of bad timing, incompetence and second thoughts, things don’t quite go to plan.
Doctor Who
Sheffield played a starring role in Jodie Whittaker’s tenure as the titular Doctor. Filming locations included Park Hill Flats, Norton Water Tower, Sheffield Interchange and Park Square Bridge.
This Is England ‘86
This TV spin-off from the 2006 film This Is England follows a group of working-class friends amid the mod revival scene. Filmed in the Gleadless Valley area, the show was lauded for its gritty realism and powerful performance from the likes of Stephen Graham and Vicky McClure.
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
Filmed on location in Sheffield, this film adaptation of the West End hit musical stars Sarah Lancashire, Sharon Horgan and Richard E Grant. It follows the story of Sheffield teenager Jamie, who dreams of being a drag queen.
Tasty foods
Sheffield is home to a surprising amount of tasty foodstuffs. Some of Sheffield’s specialities include:
Bassett’s Liquorice Allsorts
Bassett’s was founded in Sheffield in 1842 and still produces its iconic Liquorice Allsorts in the city today. Bertie is their famous smiley mascot; kids in the 80s were horrified by the adverts warning that one Liquorice Allsort too many and “you might turn Bertie.”
Henderson’s Relish
Also known as Hendo’s, this tangy, tasty condiment complements just about any meal. It’s similar-tasting to another sauce from Worcestershire, but Sheffielders won’t thank you for mentioning it.
Béres pork sandwich
This butchers was started in 1961 by a Hungarian refugee and quickly established a reputation for its freshly made pork sandwiches, which are still beloved today. There are 14 branches in and around Sheffield serving the hot pork sandwich: the breadcake is dipped into dripping, then comes apple sauce, stuffing, roasted pork and crackling.
The Rutty Butty
Another legendary Sheffield sanger, this carb-lovers' load is served up at The Rutland Arms on Brown Street. It’s a chip butty with melted cheddar, crisps and tomato sauce.
Thornton’s chocolates
A few years ago, there was a Thornton’s in every town and city. The Continental selection was ubiquitous at Mother’s Day, as was their treacle toffee on Bonfire Night and their chocolate bunnies at Easter. The chocolate makers opened their shop in Sheffield in 1911, but sadly their stores closed in 2021, when they were bought out by Ferrero.
Famous faces
With an impressive roster of singers, artists and actors hailing from the city. Sheffield’s cultural impact is pretty huge.
Sean Bean
One of the UK’s most famous Yorkshiremen, Sean Bean has appeared in countless TV and films; his most famous role probably being the fatally betrayed Ned Stark in Game of Thrones.
Helen Sharman, OBE
Chemist and astronaut Helen, was the first British astronaut (as well as the first Western European woman) to go into space. She was born in Sheffield and studied chemistry at the University of Sheffield.
Michael Palin
Monty Pythoner, beloved actor and travel presenter, Michael was born and raised in Sheffield and controversially supports both football teams!
Jessica Ennis-Hill
Four-time gold medallist in the heptathlon, local girl Jessica is the personification of Sheffield steel.
Emily Maitlis
Journalist and former newsreader Emily is perhaps now most famous for her interview with the disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Born in Canada, she moved to Sheffield as a child and studied at King Edward VII School. She is an honorary graduate of the University of Sheffield.
So what is Sheffield famous for? From its trailblazing music scene and iconic sporting venues to its gorgeous green spaces and strong cultural identity, it’s easy to see why it’s such a special place and why so many students choose to call Sheffield home.
Fancy making it your home too? Our Sheffield student accommodation offers spacious en-suite rooms, welcoming communal spaces and a full calendar of social events, so you’ll feel right at home from day one.
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