Where to Stay in Sheffield for University Open Days 2026
Open day season is back in Sheffield. Between now and late November, both the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam are running open days. On the 17th of October, they’re on the same day.
If you’re coming from further afield, staying over makes the day easier. Talks start at 9.30 or 10am, the University of Sheffield’s campus is about a mile across (with hills), and there’s usually more to see than you can fit in before the drive home.
This guide covers the 2026 open day dates for both universities, how to get to each campus, where to stay, and what’s worth doing once the talks finish. Jonas sits in Endcliffe, next to the University of Sheffield’s main accommodation for first year students, so this is very much our patch.
University of Sheffield Open Day Dates 2026
Autumn Open Days: 17 October and 21 November
The University of Sheffield has two undergraduate open days left this year:
- Saturday 17 October 2026, 10am to 4pm
- Saturday 21 November 2026, 10am to 4pm
If you’re attending, you’ll need to book. Subject talks have limited space, and you can reserve places for yourself and one guest. Anyone else in your group can still come along to the general talks, tours and exhibitions.
What Happens on the Day
Subject talks are the main event. They’re held in buildings across campus, including the Diamond, the Arts Tower and Firth Court, so it’s worth checking where yours is before you set off.
Around the talks, there’s an information fair in the Octagon Centre and shorter sessions on accommodation, student life and fees. Campus tours leave from outside the Octagon every half hour. You can also get a shuttle bus out to the student accommodation for a look around. Allow about an hour for that.
The main campus is roughly a mile across and properly hilly. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a waterproof. Food outlets on campus are cashless, so have a card or phone ready.
For more information about open days at the University of Sheffield, read their in-depth guide.
Masters Study Discovery Afternoon: 20 October
If you’re looking at postgraduate study, the University of Sheffield runs a separate masters event on Tuesday 20 October 2026. Book your place in advance.
It’s based in the Students’ Union. From 12pm to 3pm there are information stands covering fees and funding, admissions, careers, accommodation and support services.
There’s also a subject drop-in, and current postgraduate students have their own stand. Campus tours led by postgraduate students leave at 12.30pm, 1pm, 1.30pm and 2pm and take about 45 minutes.
It’s on a Tuesday afternoon, so most people will need to take time off to attend. If you’re travelling a long way, staying the night before or after makes it a lot less of a rush.
Can’t Make an Open Day?
There are a few other ways to see the university:
- Offer holder days run from February to April. They’re invite-only, for applicants who already have an offer, and go deeper into your subject, with taster lectures and lab tours.
- Campus tours run throughout the year, starting at 1pm and lasting about an hour and a half. They’re bookable online and meet in the Students’ Union foyer. There are no subject talks, but you’ll get a good feel for the place.
- Self-guided and virtual tours are available any time, if you want a look before committing to the trip.
Sheffield Hallam Open Day Dates 2026
Autumn Open Days: 4 October, 17 October and 22 November
Sheffield Hallam has three undergraduate open days this autumn:
- Sunday 4 October 2026, 9.30am to 3.30pm
- Saturday 17 October 2026, 9.30am to 3.30pm
- Sunday 22 November 2026, 9.30am to 3.30pm
Hallam has two campuses, City and Collegiate. Open day activities run across both, depending on your subject. Check which campus your course is based on before you plan your day, as it changes where you’ll spend most of your time.
Sheffield Hallam Postgraduate Open Day
If you’re looking at postgraduate study, Hallam’s postgraduate open day is on Wednesday 2 December 2026, from 1pm to 7pm. It runs into the evening, so if you’re working, you can still get there after finishing for the day.
University of Sheffield or Sheffield Hallam: Which Campus Are You Visiting?
It’s an easy mix-up. Sheffield has two universities, and “Sheffield University” can mean either depending on who you ask. They’re separate institutions with separate campuses.
- The University of Sheffield is on the west side of the city centre, around Western Bank and Glossop Road. It’s about 20-minute walk or a 9-minute tram ride from the station.
- Sheffield Hallam’s City Campus is right next to Sheffield train station. You can walk straight out of the station and be there in a few minutes.
- Sheffield Hallam’s Collegiate Campus is off Ecclesall Road, on the west side of the city. If you’re staying at Jonas, it’s around a 20-minute walk away.
Sheffield University Open Day Accommodation: Where to Stay
Staying in Endcliffe, Next to the Student Village
Jonas Hotel is in Endcliffe, on the edge of the University of Sheffield’s main student village. Many first-years live in the Endcliffe and Ranmoor residences, so if you stay here you’re already in the area where your son or daughter could spend their first year.
It also helps with the accommodation tours. On open days, the university runs early-bird tours of Endcliffe and Ranmoor from 8am to 9.30am, before the main programme starts. Most visitors come out on a shuttle bus. From Jonas, you can walk round, see the rooms, and head to campus for the 10am talks.
Getting to the main campus from here is simple. It’s a 15–20 minute walk through Broomhill, or a short ride on the 120 bus along Fulwood Road. For Sheffield Hallam, the 6 bus stops a minute from the hotel and runs into the city centre, and the Collegiate Campus is about a 20-minute walk.
What You Get at Jonas Hotel
Our rooms at Jonas are simple and comfortable, with a ¾ bed, an en suite shower, a desk, a wardrobe and free Wi-Fi. Every morning there’s a complimentary coffee and pastry in the café, which is handy on a day when you’ll be on your feet from early on.
Most of the ground floor is social space, with somewhere to sit, a pool table and room to spread out. You’ll be sharing it with a mix of students, contractors and visiting academics, which gives you a feel for university life before you’ve even set foot on campus.
Endcliffe Park is a minute away and the Botanical Gardens a short walk, if you need some fresh air between talks and the journey home.
Arriving the Night Before
Most open day talks start at 10am, or 9.30am at Hallam. If you’re coming from further afield, that means a very early start, a long drive and then a full day of walking on hills.
Arriving the evening before takes the pressure off. You can get settled, find somewhere to eat in Broomhill, and walk to campus in the morning without worrying about traffic or parking. After the open day, you can head home rested rather than straight after a long day, or stay another night and make a weekend of it.
10% Off for Open Day Visitors
Open day visitors get 10% off the best available rate at Jonas. Rates already include your morning coffee and pastry, Wi-Fi and VAT. To book, enter OPENDAY10% in the promo code box at checkout, or call 0114 222 8816 or email hello@jonashotel.co.uk and quote the code.
Jonas usually only takes guests aged 18 and over, but under this offer a 17-year-old can stay with a parent or supporter. If you want something more filling before a day of talks, you can add a full cooked breakfast at Halifax Hall for £10.95.
Getting to Campus on Open Day
From Sheffield Station to the University of Sheffield
The tram is the easiest option. From the Sheffield Station stop, take the Blue route towards Malin Bridge and get off at University of Sheffield. Trams run about every 12 minutes and the journey takes around 9 minutes.
If you show your open day confirmation email to the conductor, you can get a discounted fare on the day of your visit.
If you’d rather walk, it’s about a mile and a half. The university says it takes 20 minutes, but it’s uphill most of the way, so allow a bit longer. Buses from Sheffield Interchange, including the 120, 51 and 52, also pass the university.
From Sheffield Station to Sheffield Hallam
Hallam’s City Campus is right next to the station, just a few minutes’ walk. The Collegiate Campus is further out, off Ecclesall Road, so check Hallam’s arrival guidance for the best way there.
From Jonas to the University of Sheffield
The walk through Broomhill takes about 15–20 minutes. You’ll pass cafés and pubs on the way, which are handy if you want a coffee or bite to eat before the talks.
To take the bus, the 120 runs along Fulwood Road from stops close to the hotel and heads past the university towards the city centre.
From Jonas to Sheffield Hallam
For the City Campus, the 6 bus runs from Endcliffe Vale Road, a minute from the hotel, to Pond Street. The ride takes about 18 minutes, and Pond Street is a 3-minute walk from campus. For the Collegiate Campus, it’s about a 20-minute walk from Jonas.
Driving and Park and Ride
Parking near the University of Sheffield is limited and often full on open days, so the university recommends park and ride.
- From the M1, junction 33: use Nunnery Square park and ride and take the Yellow tram towards Middlewood.
- From the M1, junction 34: use Meadowhall Interchange park and ride and take the Yellow tram towards Middlewood.
- From the west: use Middlewood park and ride and take the Yellow tram towards Meadowhall.
If you’d rather park in the city, Q-Park Durham Road, Rockingham Street and Solly Street are the closest car parks. The university lists a 15% discount for pre-booked Q-Park spaces with the code SHEFFBID15.
There’s also free open day parking at Endcliffe (Stanage car park, S10 3AF), with shuttle buses to campus. Blue badge spaces are available at Q-Park Durham Road and Rockingham Street, and on campus.
Coming by coach? National Express offers 20% off for open day visitors with the code UNIOFSHEFF20 if you book at least three days ahead.
FAQs About Open Day Accommodation in Sheffield
Where should I stay for a University of Sheffield open day?
Stay somewhere on the west side of the city, close to campus and the student accommodation. Jonas Hotel is in Endcliffe, next to the University of Sheffield’s main student village. It’s a 15–20 minute walk to campus through Broomhill, and a short walk to the early-bird accommodation tours at Endcliffe and Ranmoor.
When are the University of Sheffield open days in 2026?
The remaining University of Sheffield undergraduate open days are Saturday 17 October and Saturday 21 November 2026. Both run from 10am to 4pm, and you need to book in advance. There’s also a masters study discovery afternoon on Tuesday 20 October 2026.
When are the Sheffield Hallam open days in 2026?
Sheffield Hallam’s autumn undergraduate open days are Sunday 4 October, Saturday 17 October and Sunday 22 November 2026, each from 9.30am to 3.30pm. The postgraduate open day is on Wednesday 2 December 2026, from 1pm to 7pm.
How far is Jonas Hotel from the University of Sheffield?
Jonas Hotel is about a 15–20 minute walk from the University of Sheffield’s main campus, through Broomhill. The 120 bus also runs along Fulwood Road towards the university. Sheffield Hallam’s City Campus is around 18 minutes away on the 6 bus, and the Collegiate Campus is about a 20-minute walk.
Can a 17-year-old stay at Jonas for an open day?
Yes, as long as they stay with a parent or supporter. Jonas usually only accepts guests aged 18 and over, but this rule doesn’t apply to open day stays booked with the OPENDAY10% offer when the young person is staying with an adult.