A town in the Peak District that's just a stone's throw from Sheffield has been named one of the best places to live in the UK.
Hathersage, which is famous for its heated outdoor lido as well as its easy access to the beautiful Peak District, was selected by The Sunday Times in its annual Best Places To Live list.
The prestigious list sees experts travelling the length and breadth of the UK to assess cities, suburbs, towns and villages for things such as school league tables, broadband speeds, mobile signals and transport links.
And coming out very well this year was Hathersage, a town that The Sunday Times said 'offers the best of both worlds'.
Just a 20 minute drive from Sheffield, this is where you'll find breathtaking hikes, biking trails, and a brilliant, proudly independent village atmosphere.
There are direct trains west to Manchester, or east to Sheffield, which will then link you to basically everywhere else in the UK.
The Sunday Times wrote of Hathersage: "When a man - or woman - is blunted by the steely edge of Sheffield but still wants to be within a 20-minute drive of the city centre, Hathersage offers the best of both worlds.
"You’re close to all the city has to offer: two theatres, concerts at the City Hall, Joro restaurant with its newly minted Michelin star and direct trains to London St Pancras. And it’s only a two-mile walk — it’s worth it, every time — to Stanage Edge, a gritstone escarpment with breathtaking views over the Hope Valley."
Peak District views around Hathersage. Credit: Unsplash, Jamie Kettle
The guide also praised Hathersage's outdoorsy roots, and, of course, its legendary lido.
The Hathersage Swimming Pool is open all year round, with the water heated to 25 degrees in the winter months.
And there's now a new poolside sauna, Hive, which is open at Thursdays to Sundays too.
You can see where else made The Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2026 list HERE.
A beloved Sheffield bookshop is back but this time, there's booze.
You may remember back in January when Novel sadly had to close its doors due to circumstances beyond the team’s control.
Since opening in Crookes in 2024, co-owner Katie and the team had experienced ongoing intimidation and harassment, eventually leading to the decision to close the much-loved bookshop and bar indefinitely.
It was a heartbreaking turn of events for a business that had quickly become a much-loved part of the Crookes community.
Images: The Sheff
At the time, it felt like it might be the end of Novel but thankfully, it wasn't. Because Novel is back - but not quite as you might remember it.
Introducing Proof, your new bookshop/cafe/wine/beer bar.
It's basically everything we love in this world rolled into one, and we're big fans of it along with the rest of Crookes.
Of course the book selection is just as brilliant as it was at Novel, with shelves stacked with some of the hottest books around, all hand-picked by Kate, so you know you’re in safe hands when it comes to the reading recommendations.
Images: The Sheff
Great coffee is on hand courtesy of Cloud so you can settle in for a brew and a browse, but if that won't quite cut it they've also got a selection of natural wines and beer on offer. Genuinely, what more could you want?
Just grab a brew, pick up a book and settle in for a while. Is this one of the coolest new openings to hit Crookes? We reckon so.
They're open Fridays and Saturdays 12 - 10:30pm, so make sure you swing by and welcome Proof back to Crookes.
Sheffield has officially been crowned one of the UK’s leading cities for independent bakeries
Clementine Hall
A new study has named Sheffield as one of the best cities for independent bakeries.
If there's one thing we're good at in Sheffield, it's baking (and eating).
You really can't walk far in the city without stumbling upon a fantastic bakery, selling everything from fresh sourdough loaves and chewy cookies to plump donuts and flakey croissants.
Tonco Bakery on Sharrow Vale, Bakers Yard in Kelham, Forge Bakehouse on Abbeydale Road - we really are spoilt for choice, and that's only scratching the surface.
Images: The Sheff
And it's not just us who think so, as a new analysis from specialist insurer Hiscox discovered the leading cities in the UK for independent bakeries with Sheffield coming up trumps.
To identify the findings, Hiscox analysed OpenStreetMap bakery data and calculated the number of independent bakeries per 100,000 residents in each city.
The Steel City was found to have 12 independent bakeries per 100,000 residents, putting it level with Manchester and behind only Brighton, Newcastle and Edinburgh.
The leading cities in the UK for independent bakeries are:
Brighton (22)
Newcastle (16)
Edinburgh (16)
Sheffield (12)
Manchester (12)
Bristol (9)
Glasgow (9)
Cardiff (8)
Bradford (8)
Belfast (7)
Nick Thornhill, Direct and Partnerships Director at Hiscox UK, says: "It's great to see independent bakeries flourishing across so many UK cities. Whether it’s a fresh sourdough loaf on the way home or making a regular stop at a local bakery that’s become part of the community, consumers are increasingly seeking out high-quality, locally made products.
"However, strong demand is only part of the picture. As bakeries grow, owners also need to consider factors such as staffing, equipment, supply chains and cashflow management to ensure that growth is sustainable over the long term."
Daisy Jackson -
17th April 2026 
