“Famous in folklore as the setting for the adventures of Robin Hood (and his adversary, the Sheriff of Nottingham), this is a place where the historic and the modern collide”
Moving to Nottingham
With a population of over 900,000, the city of Nottingham is the largest urban centre in the East Midlands. Famous in folklore as the setting for the adventures of Robin Hood (and his adversary, the Sheriff of Nottingham), this is a place where the historic and the modern collide – a booming industry in tobacco and bike production has made way for businesses including the headquarters of Boots, Experian UK and Vision Express, as well as a prestigious Television Centre.
The city is proud of its varied and diverse residents, with a large Asian community, two universities drawing in over 60,000 students, and an international outlook that leads many of Nottingham’s many students to stay on after graduation. The nightlife is thriving, particularly the music scene, and sport is a popular pastime. Add a UNESCO City of Literature award in 2015 and a literary history that includes the likes of DH Lawrence and Lord Byron, and it’s not hard to see why this energetic city is such a hit.
House prices in Nottingham
With an average house price of around £182,000 as of 2017, property in Nottingham is more affordable than the national average, making it a prime spot for young families and first-time buyers. West Bridgeford is one of the most premium areas in the city, with Bulwell and Wilford are also popular. Hockley is known for it’s bohemian ambience, while students can often be found in Trinity Square and young professionals tend to favour the modern apartments of the Lace Market.
“As the site of the UK’s 7th largest retail centre, Nottingham’s shopping scene has something for everyone – be that vintage markets or designer brands.”
Travel
Located just of the M1, Nottingham is extremely well connected by road for those travelling both north and south. Rail connections are also very good, with journeys to London taking around 90 minutes, and within the city Nottingham is known for its renowned public transport system, with both buses and trams and many car-free areas. For trips abroad, East Midlands Airport is the closest international airport with destinations across Europe.
Lifestyle
As the site of the UK’s 7th largest retail centre, Nottingham’s shopping scene has something for everyone – be that vintage markets or designer brands. Two shopping centres, the intu Victoria Centre and intu Broadmarsh Centre cover all the high street brands you could want, including John Lewis, Office and New Look while Bridlesmith Gate is awash with designer boutiques and big name brands. For something a little more quirky, give the Creative Quarter a try – the recently refurbished Sneinton Market is packed with pop-ups, as well as a regular vegan market.
The drinking and dining scene is equally diverse, with stylish bars sitting alongside historic pubs such as Ye Old Trip To Jerusalem, which at over 800 years old claims to be the oldest pub in the UK. As well as outposts of popular national chains such as Jamie’s Italian and Bill’s, sought-after local restaurants in the city include French fare from Le Bistrot Pierre and Petit Paris, the elegant World Service Restaurant, and Indian restaurant Anoki.
Groceries
Alongside branches of major supermarket chains such as Tesco, Asda and Morrisons, Nottingham has a number of excellent international supermarkets. For an impressive selection of Asian produce, try the Asiana Hypermarket on Woodborough Road.
Health & Sport
There are a myriad of ways to keep fit in Nottingham, with a number of council-run leisure centres as well as branches of national gym chains including PureGym, The Gym and Virgin Active. For something a little different, why not take up mixed martial arts or Thai boxing at Spirit Dojo?
Culture
Vibrant and lively, Nottingham’s cultural scene is impressively varied, ranging from independent cinemas to prime historic sites. Art and theatre lovers will enjoy the Nottingham Contemporary Gallery, Nottingham Playhouse and Theatre Royal, while children (and the young at heart) will surely love a visit to the National Videogame Arcade. Music is a big part of city life, with key venues including the Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham Rock City and Nottingham Arena, while for something a little more historic, there’s always Nottingham Castle and the creepy City of Caves.
“Vibrant and lively, Nottingham’s cultural scene is impressively varied, ranging from independent cinemas to prime historic sites”
Schools and Education
Nottingham is home to a good selection of schools in both the state and independent sector. For younger children, there are over 20 primary schools where 100% of pupils achieve expected levels of Maths and English, including North Leverton CofE Primary School, Flintham Primary School and Minster School. At secondary level, Nottingham High School and Hollygirt School are among the best independent schools, while Fernwood School and The Trinity Catholic School are the leading state options.
For further education, there’s both the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University, with the former regularly ranking in the UK’s top 20.
Safety
With an average crime rate of 99 crimes per 1000 people, Nottingham is a relatively safe city with a similar crime rate to that of Liverpool, and lower than Manchester. Historically the city had well-publicised issues with knife and gun crime, although these are now under control and have more than halved in the last decade.
Green Space
For those seeking some green space in the city, Nottingham has plenty to offer- from the nearby Sherwood Forest (mythical home of Robin Hood) to the vast Wollanton Park surrounding Wollaston Hall. Must-visit spots include the Arboretum, Forest Recreation Ground and Europe’s largest allotments at St Anne’s.