Nestled in an ideal spot, Dronfield is a 10-minute train journey south of Sheffield’s centre and boasts suburban views out to the Peak District, which is under 2 miles away. Dronfield is popular among commuters and those interested in outdoor pursuits in beautiful British countryside. Cutting through the middle of the ancient parish is the small but picturesque River Drone, where the town's name derives.
Predating the Domesday Book, Dronfield is steeped in history and centred around a historic high street with stunning characterful shops and the beautiful Grade I listed church. Located on the high street is Dronfield Hall Barn, once a dilapidated structure given a new lease of life through complete renovation in 2016 after gaining funding from English Heritage. The restoration process was meticulous and required concerted efforts from local volunteers and trustees alike. The Barn hosts weddings, fairs, events and is open year-round for cafe service and lunch. Information displays within the barn show the captivating story of its place in Dronfield’s medieval history.
The Civic Centre offers a community precinct with ample parking for its leisure centre, Dronfield Active. It caters for hoards of sporting needs, with plenty of activities for children too. The noticeably grand, Stuart era manor house next to the Civic Centre is actually Dronfield’s library, and welcomes all residents of North East Derbyshire for membership. Here you’ll find a great selection of books and IT resources.
Dronfield has a handful of other shopping and restaurant areas, which means you are never far from essentials. In Dronfield Woodhouse, there is a small shopping precinct known as Pentland, where there is a Co-op, a fish and chips shop, and an Indian takeaway. Nearer to Coal Aston, there are Greendale Shops and known locally as ‘Dronfield Bottom’, Chesterfield Road offers further amenities like the reliable E & D Steel hardware shop, great cake at Bake and Ayesha’s authentic Indian restaurant.
Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School is a highly regarded school which is rated Good by Ofsted. The school’s original buildings date back to the 16th century, with most of the school accommodated in modern purpose-built buildings. There are also a number of primary schools dotted around Dronfield which offer good schooling in very pleasant settings.
Two services stop at Dronfield Station: Liverpool - Norwich, several times a day, and Nottingham - Leeds, stopping at least every hour in both directions. The station showcases the town’s industrial heritage and is maintained to a very high standard, partly by the Friends of Dronfield Station group. Being situated on the Midland Mainline means that train enthusiasts can occasionally spot impressive heritage locomotives such as Class 6229 Duchess of Hamilton Streamlined passing through the Station.
Both sides of the Drone Valley are served by half-hourly transport to Sheffield and Chesterfield. The 43 service runs a little later on evenings and weekends for evening outings in Sheffield City Centre.
Dronfield is well connected by links in different directions. The A61 connects Dronfield to Sheffield and Chesterfield, to the north and south, respectively. The B6057 follows a similar route for more local journeys. Sheffield’s Ring Road is easily accessible for journeys into the city centre or to Meadowhall Shopping Centre. The M1, M18 are a short drive away for connections to Leeds, Newcastle, and London, while the A6 to Manchester offers a scenic route through the Peak District National Park.
For fans of the outdoors, Dronfield has some of the best offerings in the area. Only a few miles from the Peak District National Park, there are plenty of opportunities for walking and cycling. Footpaths and bridleways branch out from most areas of Dronfield and connect to the Dronfield 2000 Rotary Walk. Footpaths lead through wonderful rural settings to Totley, Bradway, Meadowhead, Apperknowle and Eckington, Unstone and Chesterfield, Barlow, and Peak Park. There are several local attractions in the Peak District which can be reached in under 20 minutes by car, such as Padley Gorge, Calver Edge and Froggatt, all of which are stunning spots for walking and picnics.
