Sheffield is an industrial sort of town, with still visible effects of steel making. It is a mere 2 hours from London, making it a wonderful stopover location or home base of sorts for travelers. Though some seven hills run in and around the city, the dams that were made gave a needed power resource to the citizens, and now provides some breathtaking views of the city wound through those hills.

The nightlife of Sheffield is constantly active because of the large student population of the area. The two major universities, University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University, attract around 60,000 students. Many choose to settle there after completing their degrees. The music culture is also prevalent, and home to such known artists as Def Leppard, Arctic Monkeys, and Jarvis Cocker.

The airport that gives access to Sheffield is one of the youngest in the UK. It is about 35 minutes from the city center, and one can arrange a car hire Sheffield or a Car Hire Sheffield City Airport directly at the airport. This gives access to the many sights and sounds of the city, as well as surrounding attractions.

One example of a near-by location is the Peak District National Park. The unbelievable sites of the park are enroute to the city of Manchester, Bakewell, and Stoke. This is a common route to use by many families on holiday, so be aware of the traffic possibilities. The park offers many different options for walking footpaths where the range of sites goes from rare flora and fauna through mountain hares.

The weather of the park can sometimes become extreme. Unlike the tourist spot of London, the Peak district can be blocked by large amounts of snow during winter weather fronts.

During acceptable weather, the potholes to tour are located in the White Peak limestone areas of Castleton, Eyam, Matlock, and Buxton. There is a Caving Association that can help visitors locate appropriate caves to explore, and avoid the abandoned lead mines.

The Peak District is also where a purplish mineral called Blue John is found, and jewelry made with it can be found in Castleton. Be prepared to pay a hefty price for the prized possessions, though.

The cities to visit within an hour or so are Manchester to the west, Leeds situated to the north, York at the east, and Nottingham down southward. The M1 motorway travels directly past the Meadowhall Shopping Center to city's east side.

Within the city, the pedestrian oriented Tudor Square is the center of the cultural attractions, as well as the second largest theater complex in the UK. The theater that dates back to Victorian times is called the Lyceum, and the local drama groups perform at the Library Theater that is situated at the entrance to the Winter Gardens.

For shopping in Sheffield, it is best to take advantage of the many car hire UK options. This will allow one to visit the Devonshire Quarter and return to their hotel with all their possessions easily. Then one can visit the large swimming pool at the Ponds Forge, and float in the lazy river to rest the ?shop till you drop? bodies.