Nottingham is a great, vibrant city to call home. There’s lots to do for individuals, perfect for raising a family and is bordered by the lovely Sherwood Forest.
What is Nottingham Famous For?
Nottingham is filled with history, from tales of Robin Hood to the birth of a British fashion icon.
Robin Hood
History has it that Nottingham was once Robin Hood’s home. The well-known folk hero and his fellow outlaws are believed to have ventured into the Sherwood Forest, where they robbed from the wealthy to provide for the poor.
Today, you can visit Nottingham Castle to relive Robin Hood’s adventures. You’ll be able to, spar with fellow outlaws in the Sherwood Forest, shoot arrows in medieval towns, and more. Tickets start at £13.00 for adults and £9.50 for children for the castle, but Robin Hood Adventures is an add-on that you need to pay for separately.
Lace Market
In 1598, a man from Nottinghamshire named William Lee of Calverton wowed the world with the stocking frame. His invention was one of the reasons why Nottingham was so well-known in the fashion world. During the industrial revolution, Nottingham was the world’s center for lace – it was filled with warehouses that were overflowing with it!
The Lace Market’s red brick fabric factories have now been replaced by home-grown businesses, bars, and hole-in-the-wall gems. The Cook & Hoop Pub sits on top of old tanneries and is the perfect place for an afternoon drink with your coworkers. If you want a truly luxurious experience, Anoki serves Indian cuisine such as Salmon Dil Tikka and Keema Karahi.
UNESCO City of Literature
Nottingham is a UNESCO City of Literature, along with Edinburgh, Norwich, Exeter, and Manchester. When a city is considered a “City of Literature”, it means it has contributed to the appreciation of literature and the arts. Examples of UNESCO’s criteria are the existence of public libraries and cultural centers, promotion of the arts and drama in education, literary festivals, and more.
Moving to Nottingham? You’ll be a stone’s throw away from these public libraries, galleries, and more:
- Nottingham Theatre Royal and Concert Hall – a theatre venue that attracts ballet, opera, and musical tours.
- New Art Exchange – an ever-changing gallery that highlights the region’s culture in the form of art exhibitions, live performances, and more.
- Bromley House – founded in 1816, the Bromley House is a public library with more than 50,000 books.
Things to Do in Nottingham
There’s an endless list of to-dos in Nottingham, but these definitely make it to the top:
#1 Nottingham Contemporary Art Gallery. The Nottingham Contemporary Art Gallery is one of the largest art centers in the country. Drop in on the weekend for free workshops, films, and performances. Its art exhibitions are ever-evolving, so expect the unexpected every time you visit!
#2 City of Caves. Fun fact: Nottingham was built on carved caves. Explore its below-ground labyrinths by booking a tour of the City of Caves for £9.63.
#3 Attenborough Nature Reserve and Centre. Close your eyes and imagine Sir David Attenborough’s signature voice guiding you through the reserve. Established by Attenborough himself, the nature center is home to over 160 bird species and even more plants. You can also apply for one of their various volunteer positions! This beautiful nature reserve is only an 18 minute drive from the centre of Nottingham.
#4 The Dragon. Have you ever wanted to race scale model cars? Well, now you can! At The Dragon, you can take part in weekly toy car races (or even plan a toy car-racing themed party!). It’s time to show off your fancy Hot Wheels set!
#5 PRYZM. Party at PRYZM, one of the city’s best clubs where you can kick off the weekend with its “Fix Fridays”, featuring world-class DJs. PRYZM’s clubbing experience will be so unforgettable that you’ll be talking about it for ages.
Safety
The city has a crime rate of 113 crimes per 1,000 people. Although this seems high, it should be mentioned that its crime rate has actually decreased significantly from a 2018 high.
The Nottingham City Council has enacted the Community Protection directorate to protect its people from crimes and anti-social behavior (ASB).
Population
Even though Nottingham has a population of 337,000 – around 60,000 of its residents are students! Nottingham is the home to some of the top universities in the United Kingdom, the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University.
Some people get nervous about a student-heavy town, worrying about crime and high levels of renters. But there are some great upsides to having a high student population in the city. In general, there is greater potential for new businesses to flourish from University hubs, which drives growth for the city.
A student town has much greater long-term potential than an ageing town, which should help to support the property market for the future.
Schools and Universities
There are several schools in Nottingham with an average Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) rating of “Good”. Stand-out schools include Oak Field School and Old Basford School – they have gotten “Outstanding” ratings from Ofsted.
Transportation
You won’t get lost in Nottingham – not unless you want to, anyway.
Getting around is a no-brainer thanks to the Robin Hood Network. Whether you want to travel by bus, train, tram, or more, you can use your Robin Hood card to pay for all of Nottingham’s transportation options. You’ll also be able to view multiple maps and routes on your mobile phone.
You can top up your Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) Card if you want to pay per trip. One-way pass prices start at £2.40, so it’s not the most economical option if you travel a lot. Instead, invest in a Season Card for £76.00. If you travel more than once a day then this price saves you money. This will give you unlimited travel on buses, trams, and trains for an entire month. You can also get a year-long Season Card for £722.
Trains in Nottingham
There are multiple train stations in the city and they can all be boarded with a Robin Hood card. The East Midlands Railway (EMR) runs from Attenborough, Beeston, Bulwell, Carlton, and Netherfield.
Fortunately, there is a direct train from Nottingham to the main cities including London and Manchester. From the EMR, a train ride to London takes around two hours, and a one-way ticket costs £24. A train ride to Manchester costs around £13. To save, residents can purchase an off-peak or super off-peak ticket from the EMR site.
Buses in Nottingham
Commercial buses in Nottingham are run by the Nottingham City Transport (NCT) group and Trentbarton. They can be boarded with the Robin Hood card, an Easyrider Smartcard, or contactless options for certain bus operators. You can plan your routes online, as the NCT website is updated with daily bus schedules.
Airports in Nottingham
The nearest international airport to Nottingham is the East Midlands Airport (EMA) – around 11 miles away. EMA is a 25-minute car ride away via the A453. As an alternative, you can take the Skylink bus, which will take about 15 minutes.
Home Prices
According to Zoopla, the average price of properties in Nottingham is £245,503. While this figure is greater than the average price of properties in Nottinghamshire (£211,050), it’s worth mentioning that it’s still significantly lower than the national average of £329,407.
- Detached properties sold for £355,000.
- Semi-detached properties sold for £211,000.
- Terraced properties were priced at £164,000.
- Flats fetched £148,000.
Best Neighborhoods to Live in Nottingham
Many towns and boroughs are neighboring Nottingham, but these three belong to the top three based on livability:
Arnold
Arnold is known for being a close-knit market town, where locals run their own stores, stalls, and more. One of its must-see spots is the Arnold Market – from there, you’ll be able to walk to a number of restaurants and bars like Robin Hood and Little John.
Beeston
If you want to live nearby the University of Nottingham, your best bet is Beeston. This bustling town is filled with bars and pubs that are perfect for your social life. One of the popular places is its high street, which features a row of cafes and restaurants including Café Roya and The Malt Shovel.
But if you’re not a social butterfly, you’ll still fall in love with its vast wetlands and charming Edwardian architecture. Without a doubt, it’s one of Nottingham’s best towns. It has a family-town feel, but is still close to the big city – it’s 3 miles away from Nottingham!
West Bridgford
If you’re looking for that big-city vibe but still want to be near the environment, look no further than West Bridgford. Not only is it along the River Trent, but it is also surrounded by several parks including the Bridgford Park and The Green Line, a wildlife conservatory.
West Bridgford also boasts a wide array of pubs, bars, and restaurants, but if you want to explore more, all you need to do is take a train ride to Nottingham City Centre – it’s a 13-minute car ride away!
One of the noteworthy spots in West Bridgford is The Botanist, a chic cafe that offers mouth-watering food perfect for brunch. This town is also home to the Trent Bridge, where county-wide cricket games take place.
Should You Move to Nottingham?
If you want to wake up in a city that’s full of culture and history, Nottingham is perfect for you. This Nottinghamshire town has lots to offer in terms of architecture, from brick buildings that have been turned into modern-day stores, to towering castles that will have you in awe. Whether you want to dine, drink, dance, or more, Nottingham does it all – and with a bit of traditional British charm, of course.
If you want to be close to the city and nature at the same time, you’re sure to find the best of both worlds here. Overall, it’s a scenic, historic, and chic city that everyone will love.