Nursing in Barnsley: Studying, working, and living guide
Find out about nursing in Barnsley - where nurses can find jobs, the hospitals they might work in, colleges & universities to study in, plus living information.
Barnsley is a market town in south Yorkshire with an industrial coal-mining heritage. It was also known for its glassmaking, linen, and textile industries.
Barnsley is well-connected by road with access to the M1 and boasts good train links to Leeds and Sheffield for onward destinations.
For nurses, Barnsley could be a wonderful place to live, work and study.
Covering cost of living and travel, as well as culture and nightlife, here is our complete guide for nurses wanting to study or work in Barnsley.
Where do nurses work in Barnsley?
There are many hospitals, both NHS and private, in Barnsley which make great potential employers for nurses of all levels:
Barnsley Hospital
Kendray Hospital
Wathwood Hospital (In Rotherham - 7 miles away)
Linwood house – Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Barnsley.
Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is the main public healthcare provider in the area, with its main site being Barnsley Hospital. The hospital has 400 beds and has a 24-hour Accident and Emergency Department.
The town also has many private health facilities, as well as care homes which provide care and treatments for all adults and children. They frequently look for Registered Nurses as well as carers.
There are thousands of live vacancies for nurses throughout Barnsley, meaning there is lots of work for anyone wishing to relocate here.
Where can aspiring nurses study in Barnsley?
The closest university in Barnsley for anyone wanting to become a nurse is the University Campus which is a part of Barnsley College and is located in the city centre. Start dates are available in September. The University Campus offers a range of Health-related courses for anyone wanting to train as a nurse.
Those wanting to study nursing in Barnsley however should consider the higher number of opportunities on offer at the nearby University of Leeds or Sheffield Hallam University, both within a 30-minute drive. Start dates for each are in September.
Alternatively, you could apply for an apprenticeship at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which offers a wide range of nursing apprenticeship and training opportunities.
There are certainly many options for anyone wanting to study to become a nurse in Barnsley.
Find our nursing university guide here.
The average monthly rental cost in Barnsley is £650 per a month. This is cheaper than living in other cities such as London and Manchester.
Where do nurses live in Barnsley?
Nurses in Barnsley have options for living all over the city.
The most popular locations in Barnsley for nurses:
Barnsley City Centre
Popular with nurses with it being close to all essential amenities.
Darton
A Large village in Barnsley with local amenities, and a selection of primary and secondary schools close by.
Pogmoor
Popular for nurses with families due to its good house sizes and nearby location to local schools.
Kendary
Popular with young people and students with lots of buzzing pubs, bars, and restaurants.
What are the living costs for nurses in Barnsley?
Barnsley is the most affordable place to live in Yorkshire and could therefore be an ideal place in which for nurses to live and train.
Here is a general guide to some of the different costs of living in the city.
The average price for a home in Barnsley is currently £177,700 far lower than the national average of £293,000.
The average rental price for a property in Barnsley is £650 per month. But if you are looking to rent a room in a shared house, the average cost is just under £300.
Council tax costs vary a lot across the city. But most people across Barnsley are in a Band B property or similar, which means paying £1581 a year. This works out to £131 per month.
Other bills like shopping and utilities are priced the same as the rest of the UK.
Eating out and entertainment costs compare very positivily to other areas.
Is travel easy in Barnsley?
Barnsley is centrally located halfway between Sheffield and Leeds and has good transport links across the city and the UK.
Barnsley has frequent rail services to Leeds and Sheffield, for onward access to London (three hours) and other major cities. The town is located just two miles from the M1 providing quick links to Sheffield and Leeds and easy access to London as well as the north-east.
Barnsley is a fantastic location for anyone walking or using a bike as the Trans Pennine Trail crosses through Barnsley providing traffic free paths.
The Nearest airport to Barnsley is Leeds Bradford Airport which offers flights to many destinations. Barnsley is well connected for all your transport no matter where you are located.
What to do in Barnsley: walks, culture, nightlife and eating out
Barnsley has many wonderful attractions to experience during your valuable down time, whether you’re into nature and history, or like a night out on the town.
Culture and attractions
Located on the edge of the Peak District National Park Barnsley is a great place to take in some of the best views the English countryside has to offer.
A traditional market town, its famous market is home to over 300 stalls, while shopping and retail enthusiasts are directed towards The Glass Works for all the famous High St names. A more traditional experience can be found in The Victorian Arcade.
Experiencing Barnsley Museum and Discovery Centre, which tells the story of the town's humble beginnings and development, must be top of any ‘to do’ list. Art fans can take in the Cooper Gallery while further afield Cannon Hall Museum and Cannon Hall Farm at Cawthorne provide a lovely day out for all the family.
Locke Park, with its play park and picnic area, along with Monk Bretton Park and Elsecar Park are all worth a visit as is Wigfield Farm, offering children the chance to get hands-on experience with the animals. Calypso Cove Waterpark is another popular venue with the youngsters.
Barnsley has everything to offer for the music and arts scene. If you are looking for live music in Barnsley head to the Birdwell Venue with major artists regularly on the bill, while the Lamproom Theatre offers live music performances, showcases and theatrical shows. The Academy Theatre in Birdwell is also recommended.
For sports fans Barnsley Football Club contest the EFL League One and play their home games at Oakwell Stadium, which has been their stadium since 1888.
Nightlife and eating out
Barnsley has many options for nightlife such as bars, clubs, and restaurants. There is something for everyone to experience and enjoy in Barnsley.
Highlights include:
Market Kitchen, The Glass Works, known for its good variety of food choices and with over 500 covers.
The Secret Italian, renowned for its fresh and delicious food and rated Number one restaurant in Barnsley on TripAdvisor.
Favela Brazilian Restaurant. Known for its rustic food and atmosphere.
Beatson House Restaurant for classic British cuisine, including Sunday lunches.
In Barnsley, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to things to see and do, as well as places to eat and drink.
What are the school options in Barnsley?
If you are also thinking about where you might need to send your children to school, Barnsley has many options.
There are over 50 Ofsted rated Good and Outstanding schools in the town, meaning nurses have a great choice of academies and grammar schools to send their children to.
Barnsley has 83 primary schools and 16 secondary schools meaning there are many schools to choose from.
Population and demographics in Barnsley
Here are some of the stand-out population and demographic facts in Barnsley:
Barnsley has a population of 244,900
Its population density is 744 people per square kilometre
Barnsley is the fourth largest settlement in South Yorkshire
4.3 % of Barnsley's population is unemployed
In summary: is Barnsley a good place to be a nurse?
Barnsley is a wonderful location for nurses to live, study and work.
There are lots of things to do in Barnsley as a nurse. It offers a range of attractions to visit and open green spaces to explore and walk around on your own or with friends and family, as well as an active nightlife.
Whilst there is no university in Barnsley, there are plenty of options in towns and cities nearby.
Travel is easy, and you can reach other towns and cities by bus, car, or train or plane.
There are plenty of vacancies, which you can browse on our site here.
Living costs are lower than the national average.
Nurses earn an average of just over £37,000per a year in Barnsley. So, your salary as a Registered Nurse goes much further.
Here are a couple of examples:
As a Newly Qualified Nurse on an NHS Band 5 salary, if you rented a house, you would still have more than £1500 left in your pocket each month for everything else. Your disposable income in the Southeast would barely reach half of this figure.
As a Band 6 Nurse, you would easily be able to borrow enough money to buy a joint mortgage for an average-priced flat in Barnsley.
As a nursing student or Nurse in Barnsley you will have an excellent quality of life with lots of things to do.
