Sheffield

About Sheffield

The fifth largest city in the UK, Sheffield is located in South Yorkshire in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. The city has a rich industrial history, and around 1740, it was here that the crucible method for making steel was invented. This led to Sheffield becoming the hub for steel which it supplied to the rest of the world for engineering and toolmaking. In more recent years, it has become synonymous with sport and is home to the oldest football club in the world. It is also the venue for the World Snooker Championship and is the UK’s first National City of Sport. It has plenty of hotels and good transport links, making it a great location in the North of England to attend project management courses.

Sheffield is not only in the heart of the UK but also has superb road and rail networks. Whilst it doesn’t have its own airport, it is within roughly a 1-hour drive from 3 international airports, Manchester Airport, Leeds Bradford Airport and Nottingham East Midlands Airport. Manchester Airport is the largest of these and offers the largest number of worldwide connections. It is possible to then travel to Sheffield either by car, taxi or using one of the many rail connections.

Via rail, Sheffield is just 2 hours from London whilst Edinburgh is a 3-hour 30-minute train journey. Trains leave from London St Pancras International Station and depart every 30 minutes for most of the day. There are hourly trains from Manchester as well, which also connect Manchester International Airport to Sheffield City Centre with a journey time of just under an hour. From Birmingham, the journey by train takes just over an hour. For those who prefer to travel by coach Sheffield is connected to other major cities across the UK by National Express coach.

For anyone preferring to travel by road, Sheffield is linked to both the north and south of the UK by the M1, to Hull by the M18 and to much of the rest of the country via a series of larger A roads. It is very easy to get to from all directions, and the Clean Air Zone currently in operation in the city centre does not apply to private cars.

It is common for project management courses to last for a few days, so unless you are very local, finding good accommodation will be necessary. Sheffield has a good range of 4-star hotels to offer.

Crowne Plaza, Victoria Station Rd, Sheffield S4 7YE

Just 0.5 miles from the rail station, the Crowne Plaza is a good-sized hotel with modern décor throughout and plenty of facilities, including an onsite gym, a business centre and a range of different-sized meeting rooms which are ideal for use as training rooms. There is also plenty of free onsite parking, making this a good choice for anyone coming by car. Its city centre location makes it easy to get around Sheffield and also sample some of the local restaurants.

Leonardo Hotel, 119 Eyre St, S1 4QW(formerly Jurys Inn)

A thoroughly modern hotel located within close proximity to both the rail station and the coach station, the Leonardo Hotel also has payable onsite parking. The rooms are all a very good size with room to work, and there is free wifi throughout. The hotel doesn’t have a business centre, but guests have access to fax/photocopying facilities, and there are also a number of meeting rooms that can be hired. In addition to the onsite restaurant, there is also a coffee shop and a bar for added convenience.

Leopold Hotel, 2 Leopold St, S1 2GZ

If you prefer a hotel that is a little different then the Leopold hotel, which is just 750 yards from the train station is a stunning older building. Built in 1800, the hotel retains much of its old-world charm whilst being fully modernised and decorated inside in a very modern style offering all the comforts you might expect. There are meeting rooms within the hotel which can be booked for training courses.

During your stay in Sheffield, you may want to take advantage of the local area and everything that it has to offer, from restaurants to entertainment.

Restaurants

Within the centre of Sheffield, you will find a wealth of restaurants offering cuisines from around the globe; Chinese, Italian, Caribbean, Japanese, Thai, Lebanese and, of course, British, to name just a few. Surprisingly there are no Michelin-star restaurants in Sheffield. The last one lost its star in 2015, and despite the city having many wonderful establishments gaining another star seems to be rather an elusive chase.

There are, however, a number of restaurants that are featured in the Michelin Guide having earned a Michelin Plate or a Bib Gourmand. If you are looking for fine dining, the Joro (294 Shalesmoor, S3 8US) offers a menu that is a mixture of British, New Nordic and Asian food. The Old Vicarage (the former holder of the Michelin star we mentioned) serves innovative modern food and is a popular destination. It is located at Ridgeway Moor, S12 3XW.

Entertainment

Sheffield has plenty to offer by way of entertainment, so whether you just want a quiet evening with a glass of your favourite beverage or prefer to take in a show, you are certain to find something to suit.

Those who love a good beer are sure to enjoy a trip to The Sheffield Tap. This heritage pub is found inside a stunning Grecian architecture part of Sheffield railway station (find it at 1b Sheaf Street, S1 2BP. They offer a great range of craft ales and beers as well as their own Tapped Brew Co beer from their on-site microbrewery.

Sheffield is home to the oldest comedy club in Yorkshire, The Last Laugh Comedy Club (at Barker’s Pool, S1 2JA), or if music is more your thing, then The Leadmill (at 6 Leadmill Rd, S1 4SE), Sheffield’s oldest music venue, is the place to be. The likes of Coldplay, Kings of Leon, Stereophonics and George Ezra have all played here. It’s a unique space showcasing some of the best bands and plenty of new and upcoming artists as well.