Locations
Life With NowNewsInternational Students
Enquire now

Affordable Summer Stays in Sheffield: Why Exchange Works is Perfect for Your Visit 

Back

Sheffield really does offer the best of both worlds. You can find all of the excitement of city life, with rich culture, fantastic shops and top-class food and drink. But as the greenest city in the UK, a stay in Sheffield means you also have the Peak District right on your doorstep, where you’ll find some of the best walks, views, and climbing places in the country. There’s a reason why TimeOut magazine named Sheffield the second-best city break in Europe last year! 

If you’re lucky enough to be visiting Sheffield in summer, perhaps to explore your new university city, for a summer internship, or just for a staycation, you’ll get to enjoy this greenery at its finest! Here’s our top recommendations for how to make the most of your trip:

 

Explore the City 

Sheffield is an extremely walkable city, which means you can tick off historical landmarks, arts and cultural hotspots, beautiful green spaces, and delve deeper into the city’s industrial past, all in one day:

  • Street Art: Sheffield is covered in it. Walk down almost any street in the city centre and you’ll stumble across something beautiful on the wall. While some walls have been transformed by local street artists, others are the handiwork of globally renowned artists. You can even take a street art tour of the city if you want to find out more. 
  • The Millennium Gallery: A destination for art, craft and design, The Millennium Gallery is one of the most-visited free attractions in England. Among other things, the gallery is famous for its metalwork exhibitions, which showcase the material that made Sheffield world-famous in new and interesting ways. 
  • Sheffield’s Gardens: Take a stroll around not just one, but two, beautiful gardens in the city. Sheffield Botanical Gardens boast 18 themed gardens, Grade II-listed glass pavilions, and a rare bear pit complete with an 8ft bear sculpture. If it’s raining, then the Sheffield Winter Garden has you (literally) covered. The largest urban glasshouse in Europe is multi-award-winning and is home to over 2,500 plants from around the world. 
  • National Videogame Museum: Sheffield is full of unique experiences, and the National Videogame Museum is one of them. The UK’s only museum dedicated solely to video games, it is home to over 100 playable exhibits, spanning from retro arcade games to modern consoles. A must for keen gamers! 

Food and Drink 

Sheffield was recently named the ‘foodie capital of the UK’, and has long been known as the ‘real ale capital of the world’, so it has plenty to offer!   

  • Kelham Island, formerly the beating heart of the city’s industry, is now a vibrant area known for its independent eateries and microbreweries. 
  • Cambridge Street Collective is Europe’s largest indoor food hall, offering a choice of almost 20 different cuisines under one roof. 
  • Abbeydale Road Beer Festival takes place from 31st July–3rd August, with craft beer tap takeovers along Abbeydale Road.
  • Sheffield Food Tours offers guided tours exploring the city’s best restaurants and bars for those looking to delve deeper into Sheffield’s food scene.

Music 

Some of the biggest names in music are due to descend on Sheffield this summer. From current chart toppers to more retro vibes, you’ll be sure to find something that makes you want to sing and dance your heart out (or at least nod along to the tune!). 

  • Tramlines Festival returns to Sheffield’s Hillsborough Park from 25th-27th July, with acts including Kasabian, The Last Dinner Party, The Lathums and Sigrid. If you’re looking for affordable accommodation in Sheffield during Tramlines weekend, look no further! We’ve got you covered at Exchange Works.
  • 90s Fest Weekender, perfect if you’re after something more nostalgic (or ‘retro’, if you weren’t around the first time!). Enjoy tribute acts and themed entertainment from July 12th-13th at the Don Valley Bowl. 
  • Rock N Roll Circus, an alternative music festival from 27th-28th August, will also be held in the city, with Queens of the Stone Age headlining. 

The Great Outdoors 

Sheffield is the only major UK city with a national park within its boundary, so it’s little surprise that it’s known as ‘the outdoor city’. 

  • Peak District – Sheffield is on the edge of the Peak District, which is a haven for walking, climbing and mountain biking. Some of the most popular routes include Stanage Edge (also the UK’s top spot for rock climbing), Mam Tor and Kinder Scout. 
  • Hathersage – Nestled within the Peak District are a plethora of towns and villages that are brimming with character, things to do and fantastic pubs. Hathersage is an excellent day trip from Sheffield, just 20 minutes away by train. On a hot summer day, Hathersage Lido has got to be one of the most beautiful open-air pools in the UK.
  • DC Outdoors – If you’re after some wild adventures in the heart of the city itself, DC Outdoors offers a range of activities on Sheffield’s waterways, including stand-up paddleboarding and canoeing at the historic Victoria Quays.   

By now, you’ll be ready to book your trip to Sheffield! Just a five-minute walk from the train station, Exchange Works is in a prime location and offers the perfect accommodation solution for summer visitors.

At a fraction of the cost of city hotels, visitors to Exchange Works can enjoy spacious en-suites to beautifully designed studio apartments, with everything the city has to offer right on your doorstep. 

A tranquil courtyard, games room with pool and football tables, laundry facilities, and security and CCTV for extra peace of mind are the cherry on top of the cake.

Why wait? Book your summer stay here.