SHEFFIELD

To many it remains one big “village.”

That, they say, is because despite its size Sheffield is accessible, compact - and neighbourly.
Yet it is the fourth biggest city in England, not to mention being the greenest with 150 woodlands and 50 public parks.

With an estimated total of over two million trees, Sheffield is said to have more trees per person than any other city in Europe.

But it retains that big city “feel” with top class shopping, brilliant nightlife and award winning theatres.
Still best known to many as a steel town, modern Sheffield has seen major changes to both its character and its industrial base.

Sheffield made its name with steel and despite cutbacks in that industry generally currently produces more per year than at any other time in its history. However, the industry is now less noticeable as it has become highly automated and employs far fewer people than in the past.

Changes in the industry have meant the release of some areas to other uses, among them being the creation of the Meadowhall shopping complex, a vast development with some of the biggest retail names in Britain and a magnet for shoppers from across a vast area of the north.

Other important shopping areas include High Street in central Sheffield which is home to many leading department stores as well as designer boutiques. The main city centre shopping areas are on The Moor precinct, Fargate, Orchard Square and the Devonshire Quarter. Department stores in Sheffield City centre include John Lewis, Marks and Spencer, Atkinsons, Castle House Co-op, Debenhams and Woolworths . Sheffield’s main market is the Castle Market, built above the remains of the castle. Shopping areas outside the city centre include Meadowhall , Ecclesall Road, London Road, Hillsborough and the Crystal Peaks shopping centre.

New projects are helping to change the city’s image and give 21st Century impact to areas which have grown “tired.”

One such development, the Heart of the City Project, has seen a number of public works in the city centre: the Peace Gardens were renovated in 1998, the Millennium Galleries opened in April 2001, the Winter Gardens were opened on 22 May 2003, and a public space to link these two areas, the Millennium Square, was opened in May 2006.

For sport and entertainment Sheffield has world class venues among them the Sheffield Arena which has regular appearances by leading international entertainers, and Don Valley Stadium. Galleries and museums include the Millennium Galleries, Lyceum Theatre and the Crucible Theatre.

Sheffield has a long sporting heritage going back to 1857 when a collective of cricketers formed the world’s first official football club, Sheffield FC. There are now two local clubs in the Football League both of whom play in the Football League Championship - Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday.

Sheffield also has close ties with snooker, due to the fact that the city’s Crucible Theatre is the venue for the World Snooker Championships. The English squash open is also held there every year. The International Open Bowls tournament is held in Sheffield at Ponds Forge.

The city also boasts the Sheffield Eagles Rugby League Club, Sheffield Tigers Rugby Union Club, Sheffield Sharks basketball, Sheffield Steelers ice hockey and Sheffield Tigers Speedway teams.

The Sheffield Ski Village is the largest artificial ski resort in Europe, and is due to undergo a major expansion soon. The city also has three indoor climbing centres.

Getting there:
From Northern Lincolnshire take the M180 to the M18. Stay on M18 for 18.83 miles.
At junction M1-J32 change from M18 onto the M1 in direction Leeds, Sheffield, M1 for 3.54 miles.
Leave M1 at junction M1-J33 in direction Rotherham, A630, Sheffield (centre).
Estimated distance from start of M180 60 miles. Driving time 1 hour 25 minutes.