Sheffield

Sheffield takes its name from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city centre (albeit in underground culverts). The river's name comes from the Old English word scēað, meaning "boundary", possibly because the Sheaf once formed part of the boundary between the kingdoms of Mercia and Northumbria. The second element is Old English feld, meaning "open countryside", and the name thus means "open countryside near the River Sheaf". It first appears in the Domesday Book.

The area now occupied by the City of Sheffield is believed to have been inhabited since at least the late Upper Paleolithic, about 12,800 years ago. The earliest evidence of human occupation in the Sheffield area was found at Creswell Crags to the east of the city. In the Iron Age the area became the southernmost territory of the Pennine tribe called the Brigantes. It is this tribe who are thought to have constructed several hillforts in and around Sheffield. Following the departure of the Romans, the Sheffield area may have been the southern part of the Brittonic kingdom of Elmet, with the rivers Sheaf and Don forming part of the boundary between this kingdom and the kingdom of Mercia. Gradually, Anglian settlers pushed west from the kingdom of Deira. A Britonnic presence within the Sheffield area is evidenced by two settlements called Wales and Waleswood close to Sheffield. …

Sheffield is located at 53°22′59″N 1°27′57″W. It lies adjacent to Rotherham, from which it is largely separated by the M1 motorway. Although Barnsley Metropolitan Borough also borders Sheffield to the north, the town itself is a few miles further away. The southern and western borders of the city are shared with Derbyshire; in the first half of the 20th century Sheffield extended its borders south into Derbyshire, annexing a number of villages, including Totley, Dore and the area now known as Mosborough Townships. Sheffield is a geographically diverse city. It nestles in the eastern foothills of the Pennines, between the main upland range and Peak District National Park to the west, and the lower-lying South Yorkshire Coalfield to the east. It lies at the confluence of five rivers: Don, Sheaf, Rivelin, Loxley and Porter. …

Sheffield is home to a centre of multicultural events, institutions, and places of worship. Some of the city's most notable buildings include its main Church of England Diocese of Sheffield's cathedral on Church Street and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hallam's cathedral on Norfolk Row. The city also has other churches including St Vincent's Church, St Matthew's Church, St Paul's Church, St Paul's Church and Centre, Victoria Hall and Christ Church. Other places of worship include the Madina Mosque, Sheffield & District Reform Jewish Congregation (Progressive) and Kingfield Synagogue (Orthodox).

Millennium Square and St Paul's Place were built in 2010. St Paul's Tower, the tallest building in Sheffield, is in the centre. The St Paul's Place development constitutes a major redevelopment of the area and has attracted numerous large companies to the complex, such as DLA Piper, PwC and Barclays. The Department for Education and the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills have also established a presence within St Paul's Place. After many years of decline, the Sheffield economy is going through a strong revival. The Sheffield Hallam Constituency in 2019 out of 543 parliamentary constituencies came as 536 least deprived, in 2025, 539 making the area one of the most affluent constituencies in England. A survey by Knight Frank revealed that Sheffield was the fastest-growing city outside London for office and residential space and rents during the second half of 2004. …

Time Out in 2022 and The Guardian in 2010 have mentioned Sheffield as the best place to live and work in the UK. The Peace Gardens gained the Royal Institute of British Architects' Academy of Urbanism "Great Place" Award in 2007, as an "outstanding example of how cities can be improved, to make urban spaces as attractive and accessible as possible" beating London’s South Bank. The Sheffield Walk of Fame in the City Centre honours famous Sheffield residents past and present in a similar way to the Hollywood version. Sheffield also had its own Ferris Wheel known as the Wheel of Sheffield, located atop Fargate shopping precinct. The wheel was dismantled in October 2010 and moved to London's Hyde Park. Heeley City Farm and Graves Park are home to Sheffield's two farm animal collections, both of which are fully open to the public. …