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Original poster

Hull v sheffield v leeds

94 replies

Anoni · 31/05/2019 20:28

Hey all, I've recently just been acceoted onto my first ever proper job earning 20k a year which i think is a fab initial wage at 20, however I'm in a bit of a dilema. The company has offices in the three listed cities and I'm just struggling to really decide which one to go to, so would really appreciate any opinions and advice.

My main focus is really affordability, I'd like to rent my own place if possible, I've got used to living by myself in my home town, so i don't think i could really deal with flatmates. I'm not likely ever going to earn over 25k so that also affects long term affordability for buying a house when I'm older.

I enjoy hiking and being outdoors so sheffield is drawing me in with the peaks, but i also love the idea of living in a bigger city like leeds. Hull is closest to family but not by much and seems cheaper then the other too.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

OP posts:
Original poster
Anoni · 31/05/2019 21:27

@thenightsky, wow that's great to hear she's doing so well and an inspiration.

Thank you every so far for the advice and tips

OP posts:
desparate4sleep · 31/05/2019 21:28

Leeds

moofolk · 31/05/2019 21:34

Leeds

Hecateh · 31/05/2019 21:43

Sheffield definitely

Fabulous access to everywhere. Town Centre only minutes from M1. Town centre friendlier than Leeds and lots of places to go at night within a small area. Trams are brilliant for getting around. Lots of good value renting, close to the city centre and further out.

2 unis so plenty of young nightlife and young professionals settling there after uni.

Size wise it depends on criteria as according to some Sheffield is larger than Leeds.

Very safe city

NicoAndTheNiners · 31/05/2019 21:52

I know nothing about Leeds.

I used to work in Sheffield and loved it. No idea what the night life is really like. But Certainly amazing for access to the Peaks. Good climbing/hiking/cycling scene with various clubs, the climbing walls.

But housing seemed pricey to me which put me off moving there. But you could live somewhere cheaper like Rotherham and commute in quite quickly?

Askma · 31/05/2019 21:56

Both Leeds and Sheffield are good cities. Sheffield is probably slightly cheaper and the trams are good but there are affordable areas of Leeds too both have good nightlife. Leeds has lots of culture too.
The countryside isn't far away from either.
Wakefield is sort of between the two, you can commute from Wakey to Leeds easily by bus, train or car. Buses run every 10 minutes or so. I'm not sure about Wakey to Sheffield, I know you can get a train or drive but I've never looked at the buses, I dont think it is as easy as getting to Leeds.
Personally I would choose Leeds, I like Sheffield but I prefer Leeds for the trains to Manchester/ Liverpool and I think for work there are more opportunities.
Hull has a nice bridge and the deep.

BlueSkiesLies · 31/05/2019 21:59

Leeds. More opportunities for work.

Not hull. Fuck not hull.

Sheffield is lovely but much more limited job opportunities. Although the peaks are amazing.

Barbarafromblackpool · 31/05/2019 22:02

Leeds.
Lived in Leeds, visited Sheffield and family in Hull.

Leeds. Then Sheffield.

IHeartArya · 31/05/2019 22:04

Another one for Leeds, Sheffield then hull.

Original poster
Anoni · 31/05/2019 22:09

Well it seems the majority love leeds, is there anywhere to rent a 1 bed flat for around 500? I don't drive either currently so it would need to be centralish i would say

OP posts:
Decormad38 · 31/05/2019 22:09

Leeds Leeds Leeds

Biased being a Leodian of course.

Great for music, easy to get around, fab shopping, great parks, dales on the doorstep, great pubs. Friendly locals.

Decormad38 · 31/05/2019 22:14

Try LS8, LS7, LS6 (headingley) on rightmove.

Original poster
Anoni · 31/05/2019 22:22

Thank you

OP posts:
thenightsky · 31/05/2019 22:25

Like I said earlier... Tingley and Morley. Then Headingly (student bedsit land).

Avoid Holbeck like the plague.

Kanga83 · 31/05/2019 22:28

I've lived in Sheffield and Leeds. Both vibrant buzzing places, but Sheffield is much more affordable and not as manic in rush hour.

ThatLibraryMiss · 31/05/2019 23:33

Hull has a Smell at times. Google Hull smell and you'll see. An explanation I saw is that it's something to do with the massive amounts of water used for irrigating crops.

Leeds is well served by trains and a lot of offices are within 5 - 10 minutes walk of the station. You could, for example, live within 10 minutes walk of Wakefield station with much cheaper rents than Leeds. It's a 20 minute journey to Leeds - less if you get the main line train - and trains are frequent.

TapasForTwo · 31/05/2019 23:57

Leeds

I have lived in Leeds and now work in Sheffield, and have been out in Sheffield. Every time I go back to Leeds it seems more sophisticated and buzzier than Sheffield. Leeds city centre has more going on and is more vibrant and lively IMO. There is more culture with Northern Ballet, Opera North, more art galleries and museums. Loads of great places to eat. Loads of venues for bands, comedians and other live acts, and has more music festivals, although Tramlines is gaining momentum in Sheffield.

I wouldn't class Tingley as being in Leeds. It isn't on a good public transport route for Leeds, and the rush hour commute is horrible. Headingley is one of the worst post codes in England for burglary.

Leeds seems to be more central for trains to other parts of the UK. DD travels about a lot to visit friends at university, and often has to change trains in Leeds (we live near Sheffield)

Sheffield is near the peak district, but the Dales are just as accessible from Leeds.

Driving round both cities is horrible. I used to know Leeds like the back of my hand, but the one way system is awful, and my sat nav can't cope with it. Sheffield is just confusing to drive around. The Sheffield supertram is brilliant for getting around, and is something that Leeds needs.

2BoysandaCairn · 01/06/2019 07:28

Hi Op,
I will defend Hull.
It is my home city (we still live 3 miles east of it), we call it going to town , Hull is England's hiden gem, we are still Uk's city of culture.
It is small, flat, you can walk across the city centre in about 30 minutes. If you don't drive you will love it, 2 city centre shopping malls- St Stephens and Princes Quay. Large Tesco, Asda, Lidl, Aldi in centre too.
Loads of free museums, Ferens art gallery is one of the best outside of London, Bonus arena- numerous big artists.
We have Freedom festival, Humber Street Bash, monthly food festivals, numerous beer and cider festivals, especially at Hull Minister.

So in short, yes Hull isn't Leeds or Sheffield, THANK GOD, we are Hull, and if you dismiss out of hand, your problem not ours.
By the way if posters say Sheffield and Leeds are safe cities, we are brilliant, local news has much more crime reports from those 2 then us.

tangledyarn · 01/06/2019 07:40

Sheffield! Love it. Loads going on, lots of great places to eat and drink. Lovely countryside. Great parks. Look at s7/s11/s6/s10. You can rent a small flat for around £500. Have been here for 20 years and it's very much my home.

wizzler · 01/06/2019 08:03

Can I ask what sort of job you will be doing? I live in Sheffield and live it, but would have to acknowledge that there are more opps say in financial services in Leeds than in Sheffield.. so maybe that would be something you could consider?
Might also be worth looking at where the offices are in each city. Sheffield has a great tram system but it doesn't cover all the city, and there are some areas I wouldn't want to work in

lastqueenofscotland · 01/06/2019 08:05

Affordable bits of Leeds can be really grim.

Hull gets a bad rep (often from people who have never been there) but it’s not a bad place really and very affordable. Had a huge amount of investment recently too.

Bluesheep8 · 01/06/2019 08:07

I'd go for Hull op. Honest opinion. It's a city I'm familiar with and it's changed immeasurably over recent years. I think it's friendlier than the other 2 cities and much cheaper to live in. Some of this is just my own opinion, but that's what I would be doing.

Bluesheep8 · 01/06/2019 08:13

2boysandacairn with you all the way, I'm from the area originally and cannot believe how much the city has changed in recent times. It just does not deserve/warrant some of the negative things said about it. Some of the buildings in the city centre are beautiful if you look up and it has a really special feel about it nowadays. And miles better shopping than where I currently live. Plus, it has really easy access to the coast, which is something Leeds and Sheffield definitely don't have!

2BoysandaCairn · 01/06/2019 10:22

Bluesheep8 totally agree, we too have countryside, you can cycle to Hornsea, seaside resort, all on a converted railway line, its only 16 miles too.
Yorkshire wolds, David Hockney fame, plus walks along the river Humber plus the Humber Bridge.
We have hourly trains to Leeds/Manchester, York, Sheffield and 2 to Doncaster, 8 direct trains to London too.
You can buy a 3 bed semi for around £95,000 to £13000 in good areas too.
The one common statement during 2017, from all new visitors was " why have we never been before, why does no one tell you Hull is great, and we will be back"
We are humble, friendly people, after all our city is actually
Kingston upon Hull, can you imagine the southern version, calling itself Thames, maybe that's where our city has gone wrong?

But, seriously, Op you couldn't pay me to live in Leeds or Sheffield, and I lived in Romford, Epping, Crewe, Knutsford, Derby, Ashbourne, before moving back, wouldn't live anywhere else.

mrspep · 01/06/2019 10:31

I live in north of Sheffield.....countryside on my doorstep, reasonably priced houses in my area and as easy to get to Leeds as is Sheffield town centre!