Definitely SHEFFIELD!

So, as my location, I listed Snohomish, WA (Sheffield, UK soon - hopefully).
Well it's definitely SHEFFIELD. DB got into his top choice of Uni, so that's where I'll be by September/October!
Yaaay!
It's just exciting to know where I'll be; now we can start looking for housing (even though it is still a ways away at least I know what I'll be looking at) and looking at sites like Gumtree and Freecycle to see the type of stuff I can get there. Plus, when I'm over in March we are going to spend a few days in Sheffield; visiting the Uni and exploring our surroundings! I'm uber excited! 

hope you enjoy it! I've lived in Sheffield for coming up on 3 years now and think it's pretty fab.   I'm not around UKY that much anymore, but feel free to PM me if you have any local questions!

Congratulations and good luck!

There're now 3 Freecycle groups for the Sheffield area as they broke the main Sheffield site into a north & south last year, as well as Rotherham (it overlaps with the South Sheffield one) depending on where you settle and what modes of transport are available to you.     Have you tried SheffieldForum?

We are hoping to settle close to the University. I think S2 and S11 were some of the areas that we were looking at.

I've briefly browsed the Sheffield Forum. I better look over it more closely now

Yeah, that's more central (S1 - obviously  ) and north.  So you're wanting to stay closer to the University then - not bad.  Spring'll probably be more help for central Sheffield living questions as I live outside the centre of Sheffield and only come in to visit or shop more than anything else as I don't work at the moment.

We are hoping to settle close to the University. I think S2 and S11 were some of the areas that we were looking at.

I've briefly browsed the Sheffield Forum. I better look over it more closely now

quick rundown of where to live in sheffield close to the university-

S1- city centre flats.  usually more expensive than equivalent houses in the suburbs.

S2-Highfield/lowfield (london/queens road) is okay if you really want to be as close as possible to the city centre without actually being in it, but isn't the nicest area.  Heeley is fine, but is more family oriented than studenty.  Stay far far away from Manor Top, Arbourthorne & Wybourn.  These areas are all on the opposite side of the city centre from the uni, btw- still close, but not as direct as Walkley or Crookes.

S3- there are some flats north of the city centre that some students live in.  Not especially convenient, IMO.

S6- Walkley and Hillsborough are both popular with people who study/work at the university.  Fairly nice, reasonable rent.  Easy access to the tram from Hillsborough. Close proximity to a huge Tesco and Morrisons.  I used to live in Walkley while my husband was at the uni and can recommend it.

S7- Nether Edge- nice, can be expensive, not especially convenient for the uni but still pretty popular.

S10- Crookes and Broomhill aka student central. Most of the halls of residence are located around here so it's always crawling with students. Nice, though.

S11- Ecclesall Road & Hunters Bar- nice. expensive. Can't get cable (just DSL broadband and satellite TV.)  Ecclesall Road is very busy, lots of nightlife around here.

That's it for the major areas near the uni- there are lots of other lovely neighbourhoods, but they're all farther out so I'm assuming you wouldn't be interested.

quick rundown of where to live in sheffield close to the university-

S1- city centre flats.  usually more expensive than equivalent houses in the suburbs.

S2-Highfield/lowfield (london/queens road) is okay if you really want to be as close as possible to the city centre without actually being in it, but isn't the nicest area.  Heeley is fine, but is more family oriented than studenty.  Stay far far away from Manor Top, Arbourthorne & Wybourn.  These areas are all on the opposite side of the city centre from the uni, btw- still close, but not as direct as Walkley or Crookes.

S3- there are some flats north of the city centre that some students live in.  Not especially convenient, IMO.

S6- Walkley and Hillsborough are both popular with people who study/work at the university.  Fairly nice, reasonable rent.  Easy access to the tram from Hillsborough. Close proximity to a huge Tesco and Morrisons.  I used to live in Walkley while my husband was at the uni and can recommend it.

S7- Nether Edge- nice, can be expensive, not especially convenient for the uni but still pretty popular.

S10- Crookes and Broomhill aka student central. Most of the halls of residence are located around here so it's always crawling with students. Nice, though.

S11- Ecclesall Road & Hunters Bar- nice. expensive. Can't get cable (just DSL broadband and satellite TV.)  Ecclesall Road is very busy, lots of nightlife around here.

That's it for the major areas near the uni- there are lots of other lovely neighbourhoods, but they're all farther out so I'm assuming you wouldn't be interested.

Thank you, that is sooooo helpful! We were actually hoping to rent a house. We've looked at rightmove.co.uk and upmystreet.com. We're able to find places within our price range, so that's nice. Plus, it seems a lot cheaper than Pompey!

See - Spring's the more useful one.   

I live more rural, but still along the train route.  It's only £16.50 per week for unlimited train between Sheffield and where we live - DH loves this instead of the Supertram now as it cuts out so much of his commute time and it's only 20 minutes on the train and a 5 minute walk and he's home!

That's it for the major areas near the uni- there are lots of other lovely neighbourhoods, but they're all farther out so I'm assuming you wouldn't be interested.

Just curious, what other neighborhoods would you suggest? I love looking at properties, even if it's just on the computer. Who knows, maybe DB could be convinced to commute for the right place and price.

See - Spring's the more useful one.   

I live more rural, but still along the train route.  It's only £16.50 per week for unlimited train between Sheffield and where we live - DH loves this instead of the Supertram now as it cuts out so much of his commute time and it's only 20 minutes on the train and a 5 minute walk and he's home!

Ooh see, places along a train route could be an option too... Oh, the possibilities! 

Welcome aricarai-

I moved with my family this fall to Sheffield from Chicago, my husband also works at the uni.   We originally lived in the city center(S1) and ending up moving to S11 because of the school district for my daughter.  From both locations my partner walked to the university.  Sheffield is very friendly and there is a good deal of student housing.

One thing to consider about living further out is that many of the buses and trains do not run late at night and/or on weekends.   For example, even though I live in a close to town suburb and there are 4 bus routes right on Eccelsall Road none runs after 9 pm on a week day and there is only 1 on Sunday.  Just so you know in making your plans.

In addition, Sheffield is very hilly.  So even if a walk is only a mile or so it can take much more energy if it is uphill. 

Like springhaze, I don't check UK Yankee regularly, but please feel free to send me a personal message with any questions or address you would like to know more about.  It is such an exciting time and as a recent arrival in Sheffield I would be glad to help you out.

-Norene

Welcome aricarai-

I moved with my family this fall to Sheffield from Chicago, my husband also works at the uni.   We originally lived in the city center(S1) and ending up moving to S11 because of the school district for my daughter.  From both locations my partner walked to the university.  Sheffield is very friendly and there is a good deal of student housing.

One thing to consider about living further out is that many of the buses and trains do not run late at night and/or on weekends.   For example, even though I live in a close to town suburb and there are 4 bus routes right on Eccelsall Road none runs after 9 pm on a week day and there is only 1 on Sunday.  Just so you know in making your plans.

In addition, Sheffield is very hilly.  So even if a walk is only a mile or so it can take much more energy if it is uphill. 

Like springhaze, I don't check UK Yankee regularly, but please feel free to send me a personal message with any questions or address you would like to know more about.  It is such an exciting time and as a recent arrival in Sheffield I would be glad to help you out.

-Norene

Thanks so much. If anything comes up, I'll definitely p/m you!

Just curious, what other neighborhoods would you suggest? I love looking at properties, even if it's just on the computer. Who knows, maybe DB could be convinced to commute for the right place and price.

Nice w/ affordable rent (for a youngish couple): Meersbrook, Woodseats, Abbeydale, Millhouses (also would include Hillsbrough, Walkley, Crookes, Broomhill, Nether Edge and Heeley in this category)

Really nice but expensive: Ranmoor, Nethergreen, Brincliffe, Fulwood, Bradway, Crosspool, Totley, Dore, Ecclesall, Greystones (all of the SW of the city, basically)

Nice w/ affordable rent (for a youngish couple): Meersbrook, Woodseats, Abbeydale, Millhouses (also would include Hillsbrough, Walkley, Crookes, Broomhill, Nether Edge and Heeley in this category)

Really nice but expensive: Ranmoor, Nethergreen, Brincliffe, Fulwood, Bradway, Crosspool, Totley, Dore, Ecclesall, Greystones (all of the SW of the city, basically)

We're youngish, I'd say (24 & 30). I'll check them out as well! Thanks!

We're youngish, I'd say (24 & 30). I'll check them out as well! Thanks!

Sure. I'd also check Sheffield Forum and Gumtree for private landlords- often much less hassle than renting through an agency. We found our house on Gumtree and are super happy with our landlords