Moving is always going to be slightly stressful – but when you arrive at a spot that has already made you feel at home, only an hour after settling in – the whole experience gets a lot easier.
As an interim stop-off before braving a move to London, I switched from a house in Broomhill to a small – but still beautiful – house-share in Woodseats. I am just coming off the back of student life, and for all those not native to Sheffield, the typical hot-spots for students to live are either Crookes or Broomhill.
Many decisions influenced my move, and despite initially being apprehensive, I am really glad I have traded the bustling student-filled high streets of Broomhill for the serenity of Woodseats. Already after only having just lobbed the last of my boxes up to my room, I can tell I am going to prefer it tenfold.
Firstly, it seems to be full of a lot more people my age. The novelty of living ten minutes from all my closest friends in Broomhill when I was at university quickly wore off when they all moved away – leaving Broomhill feeling very ‘young’.
Graves Park is such a lovely place to explore, especially in Autumn
I am 24 – hardly on my deathbed – but finding spots for people in their mid-twenties seems to be much easier this side of Sheffield. Already, I have earmarked some cafes like Chantry Press, which seems full of young adults starting out in their careers.
I also love being closer to big food shops. I am within walking distance of several superstores, which is really nice for my diet (and wallet). Graves Park is another blessing. As much as Crookes Valley Park will always hold a special place in my heart – and of course, Endcliffe Park is unbeatable on a sunny day – being so close to such a large green space full of young adults is another bonus.
Speaking of the fading sun, for me, northern winters have taken quite a bit of adjusting, too – especially as I come from far beyond London. We rarely get snow in the South and considering nearly every winter I have spent in Sheffield, I have encountered undrivable roads.
Woodseats, with its wider main roads seems like it will be a lot easier to navigate than the narrow streets of Broomhill. That’s not to say I am surrounded by speeding cars; the area seems to have a balanced mix of useful shopping staples – like and Asda and Morrisons – mixed in with locally owned shops, leaving a wide variety for me to explore.
Finally – and most importantly – despite being a little further from the city centre than Crookes or Broomhill, I do not feel completely out of the way.
The high streets boast a wide mix of small businesses and well-known brands
I had a quick nosey at bus routes before moving in, and with such good transport links, there does not seem to be an issue for me to access town. I am in the perfect spot to be out of the way, while still easily being able to visit my friends who still live in Sheffield.
Speaking to a few locals who saw me hauling boxes into my new gaff, it really seems to be the Sheffield ‘hub’ for young adults looking to enjoy all that Sheffield has to offer – with maybe a bit less of the noise caused by university students!
Overall, I am really keen to explore the area more – although I can already tell, from the kind people, large green spaces, and the variety of new spots Woodseats has to offer – I am really going to enjoy the area, regardless.
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