Nursing in Chesterfield: Studying, working and living guide
Find out about nursing in Chesterfield - where nurses can find jobs, the hospitals they might work in, colleges & universities to study in, plus living information.
Chesterfield, in Derbyshire, is a market town known for its friendliness and sense of community. Located just below Sheffield, Chesterfield is centrally located in the UK, meaning that all transport links to many of the country’s biggest cities are easy to find. The area is also perfect for exploring as you have the Peak District, beautiful nature reserves and gardens, promising you breath-taking views.
This particular part of the UK is very affordable compared to much of the country –especially the Southeast. For nurses, Chesterfield could be a fantastic place to consider settling down, working and studying. This guide covers everything you’ll need to know about living, studying, and working in the area, from cost of living and travel through to culture and nightlife.
Where do nurses work in Chesterfield?
There are several places, both NHS and private, for nurses to find employment within Chesterfield – and many more in nearby towns and cities including Derby.
In Chesterfield, the biggest employers of nurses include:
Chesterfield Royal Hospital
Walton Hospital
The Alexandra Private Hospital
Practice Plus Group Hospital, Barlborough
In Chesterfield you are also a short journey from Sheffield and Derby which also include a large variety of NHS hospitals, private hospitals and care homes.
However, there are currently many live vacancies for nurses across multiple specialisms throughout Chesterfield, which means it is a great town with lots of opportunities for nurses to consider relocating to.
Where do aspiring nurses study in Chesterfield?
Although there is no university in Chesterfield, those looking to train to become a nurse in Chesterfield can study at the University of Derby. There are campuses in both Chesterfield and Derby, with start dates available in March and September.
The University of Derby has an excellent reputation, with very high graduation and student satisfaction rates. Fees for studying at the University are the same as across the country, however, Chesterfield is regarded as an affordable town for students to rent.
Find our nursing university guide here.
According to popular accommodation websites, the average monthly rental costs for students in Chesterfield, including bills, varies from £600 - £900 – which is below half the cost of places like Oxford, Brighton and London.
Where do nurses live in Chesterfield?
Some of the most popular locations in Chesterfield for nurses to live in are:
Town centre
As a relatively small town, it’s possible to live in the centre and walk to everything, including shops, restaurants and your job
Holymoorside
This village on the edge of the town offers peace and quiet, and fantastic access to the beautiful countryside
Tibshelf
Just to the south of Chesterfield, this area has excellent transport connections and has a number of very affordable housing developments
Grassmoor
Another village right on the edge of town with good transport links and affordable period homes to rent and buy
Outside of Chesterfield and across the rest of Derbyshire, you’re spoilt for choice for good areas to live and work.
What are the living costs for nurses in Chesterfield?
Overall, Chesterfield is one of the more affordable places for nurses to live in the UK. Here’s a broad guide to some of the different costs of living in the town.
The average price for a home in Chesterfield is currently £208,430.
The average rental price for a property in Chesterfield is £800 per month. But if you are looking to rent a room in a shared house, the average cost is around £500.
Council tax costs will vary a lot across the town. However, the majority of people across Chesterfield are in a Band A property or similar, which currently means paying £1291 a year – or just over £100 a month. That’s according to the latest stats from Chesterfield County Council.
Other bills and amenities remain in a similar price range to those around the rest of the UK.
Chesterfield is a very affordable town, which is also surrounded by large, popular and affordable cities.
You can find that a night out or meal in a restaurant is typically far cheaper than many other British towns and cities.
Is travel easy in Chesterfield?
Chesterfield is within close proximity to the UK’s most central cities, which gives you a good indication about the town’s handy location in relation to the rest of the UK.
The M1 passes through Chesterfield, giving most of the town easy access to a major motorway. Chesterfield is only a 1 hour and 50 minute train to London, or just over 30-minute train journey to major cities like Nottingham, Leicester and Birmingham.
The closest airport would be East Midlands Airport, located just south of Derby which connects the county to 80 worldwide destinations. However, you have Manchester Airport which is a main airport and just over 2 hours from Chesterfield.
So you can be sure that Chesterfield is well connected and a town where you will never be too far from work, airports or most of the country’s biggest cities
What to do in Chesterfield: walks, culture, nightlife and eating out
Chesterfield has a variety of things to do in your valuable free time.
For anyone with a passion for the great outdoors, much of the Peak District lies on the outskirts of Chesterfield – this is one of the UK’s most visited and popular national parks. And beyond that, you can expect breath-taking scenery and natural beauty in every corner of the county.
Culture and attractions
Chesterfield is a fantastic destination to have fun days out with your family, or to embrace the culture by yourself on a quiet weekend.
You are also very close to bustling cities like Derby and Sheffield.
Derbyshire has the UK’s most popular stately home Chatsworth House, which is frequently used in film and television.
You can also visit Chesterfield Museum to take a deep look into the history of your new town, as well as Stainsby Mill at Hardwick Estate, which is a restored water mill.
There are plenty of other stately homes, nature parks, theatres and antique centres for you to venture to in your free time.
If you are a lover of music and arts, then you have plenty of options to choose from. For instance, Chesterfield holds the Dronfield Arts Festival, which showcases and embraces all types of arts. Nearby Sheffield also holds large concerts, featuring renowned international touring artists.
Nightlife and eating out
Chesterfield and Derby both offer a wealth of options for nightlife, with lots of bars and clubs.
Derby is the main hub of nightlife, especially with a large student population. In terms of eating out, you’re spoilt for choice.
From high-end steakhouses in the countryside to beautiful independent Greek restaurants in Chesterfield, there is something for everyone.
The highly rated Sicily Restaurant in St.Helen’s Inn
Odyssey Greek Restaurant
The warm and rustic ‘Bottle and Thyme’
Lombardi's Ristorante Italiano
This is just a small selection of what’s on offer in Chesterfield.
What are the school options in Derbyshire?
If you’re also thinking about where you might need to send your children to school, Chesterfield offers a range of potential options.
Overall, the percentage of pupils across primary and secondary school meeting expected standards is around 60% - which is the same as the national average.
There are a few primary and secondary schools with ‘outstanding’ ratings in the town itself, and many more across the county in cities like Derby.
Overall, the town offers good options for the modern family.
Population and demographics in Chesterfield
Here are some of the stand-out population and demographic facts for Chesterfield:
Chesterfield has a population of 103,800
As of 2021, Chesterfield is the sixth most densely populated of the East Midlands' 35 local authority areas
Chesterfield has an age range similar to the rest of the UK, with nearly 22% of the county over the age of 65
Over 20,000 commute into Chesterfield every day
In summary: is Chesterfield a good place to be a nurse?
Where to live, study and work for those who provide nursing care is entirely down to that individual’s preferences when it comes to their lifestyle. However, a very important factor and what you can expect from Chesterfield is affordability.
Chesterfield boasts beautiful landscapes, as well as great connections to other modern, culturally rich cities with diversity and lots to do – which are all fantastic to consider, whether you are a student or an experienced nursing professional.
Travel is relatively easy, with well-connected links to smaller and larger airports, as well as train stations.
And perhaps best of all, living costs are lower than the national average. So your salary as a Registered Nurse goes much further.
Here are a couple of examples:
As a Newly Registered Nurse on an NHS Band 5 salary, if you rented a room in a shared house you’d likely still have more than £1000 left in your pocket each month for everything else. Your disposable income in the South East would barely reach half of this figure, for example
As a Band 6 Nurse, you’d easily be able to borrow enough money alone to buy an average-priced flat in Chesterfield. In fact, in many parts your salary would cover the cost of buying a house – and the monthly mortgage payments would leave you with lots of money in your pocket.
Overall, as a nursing student or nurse in Chesterfield, you can expect to have a good work/life balance and enough disposable income to enjoy your spare time.
