Choose Nottingham

The city is rich with events and things to do throughout the year. There’s a packed calendar of major annual events from the Riverside Festival in August on the banks of the Trent to the Robin Hood Pageant and Goose Fair – the largest travelling fair in Europe with over 700 years of history during the five-day event.

There is a vibrant arts scene with something for all tastes. Nottingham has received UNESCO City of Literature status and is home to the Royal Concert Hall and Theatre Royal, the Nottingham Playhouse and the Nottingham Contemporary, one of the largest arts centres in the UK. In the summer, Nottingham Castle hosts outdoor performances and plays.

There's so much to see and do too. There's Wollaton Hall which served as Wayne Manor in the Dark Knight, there's the city's cave network and Sherwood Forest close by.

To find out more go to Visit Nottinghamshire.

Goose Fair is one of Europe’s largest travelling fairs and is one of Nottingham’s oldest traditions, dating back more than 700 years. Bustling commerce is still one of the highlights of the city centre, which offers inviting streets and alleyways with everything from designer boutiques to high street favourites. From street food markets, cafes, independent bars and micro-breweries to Michelinstarred restaurants, there is a taste, a tipple and a cuisine for everyone.

Across Nottinghamshire there are plenty of iconic foods to try, eat and take home. From luxurious ice-cream from a local dairy farm, to mouth watering Stilton cheese, every type of home grown produce is within easy reach. The surrounding towns and villages offer a wealth of great independents selling handcrafted gifts, vintage books, exotic plants and antiques. Nearby Newark-on- Trent hosts one of the biggest antique fairs in the country.

There are nearly 100 schools in Nottingham with most primary and secondary schools rated as either ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Good’ by Ofsted.

As a number of schools are producing excellent results they are in high demand. In addition there are a number of independent and private schools in the city and county area. You can find out more about local school performance here.

The city is also home to a number of excellent colleges, including the Nottingham University Academy of Science and Technology which offers opportunities for anyone between 11 and 19 with a passion for science, computing or engineering.

Nottingham also boasts two excellent universities. The University of Nottingham, a member of the Russell Group conducting world-class research, and Nottingham Trent University, which was named University of the Year 2019 in the Guardian University Awards.

Nottingham’s public transport system has been voted the best in the UK.

It has a tram network following an investment of an extra £570 million which included a new dedicated stop at QMC and expanded the system into surrounding communities helping to reduce congestion and make commuting easier for many residents.

The city is also-well served by an excellent bus network with live updates on most stops.

NUH works with public transport operators in the region to provide heavily discounted travel schemes for staff.

There are also two free park and ride facilities serving QMC and City Hospital with the Medilink - a shuttle bus that runs between the two hospitals (which is free for staff but has a modest charge for patients and visitors).

The region also has excellent links to other parts of the UK. The M1 and M42 are both within a 25-minute drive of the city centre, as is East Midlands Airport. Nottingham railway station provides a direct route into London St Pancras in less than two hours.

There’s a beating sporting heart in Nottingham. The city boasts more sports facilities per head of population than anywhere else in Europe.

We have the National Ice Centre, the National Water Sports Centre, Nottingham Climbing and Tennis Centres plus plenty of local leisure centres, clubs and grounds.

For sport fans there’s an abundance of live sport to take in. With two football clubs, Notts County Football Club and Nottingham Forest, plus Nottingham Rugby Club, the Panthers Ice Hockey Club and international cricket hosted at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, there’s plenty of opportunities.

You can find out more about how to get active in Nottingham here.

Nottingham is a cosmopolitan and diverse city, combining the best of old and new, and is a great place in which to live, work and play.

The three campuses of Nottingham University Hospitals are based in and around the city centre with direct access to all of the amenities and attractions. 25% of Nottingham is made up of green spaces and parks but within a short journey you can be in the spectacular surrounding countryside of the Peak District, Sherwood Forest, Rutland Water and the Lincolnshire coast. Whilst you’re probably already familiar with Robin Hood (and yes, there is still a castle and a Sherriff), there is so much more to Nottingham than its
legends.

Nottingham’s heritage has been built on innovation in textiles, lace making, pharmaceuticals and technology. Ibuprofen was discovered in Nottingham – as was tarmac, the traffic light, HP Sauce, the video tape recorder and high pressure water. We’re also home to MRI – developed here and still at the heart of our world-leading research.

Nottingham is one of the fastest growing med-tech locations in the country and is leading in industries as diverse as fashion and gaming.

The city and region has good affordability when it comes to housing with a great variety of homes and communities to choose from. The overall average property price in Nottingham is £201,000 (November 2024) and £250,000 in the East Midlands region (November 2024).

There are a number of suburbs that are popular with both hospital and university staff which include; The Park, West Bridgford, Edwalton and Wollaton.

There are a number of picturesque villages and market towns surrounding the city with good local transport links such as Southwell, Grantham and Newark.

Within the city itself, there are plenty of stylish apartments, including conversions capturing the history of the city’s industry and old mills.

There is every option from contemporary city living to rural retreats on the doorstep. Nottingham has a good range of options for rental properties from city centre apartments to suburban family homes.

Nottingham’s central location also opens up a range of rental options in the East Midlands with excellent public transport links making Nottingham accessible from every angle.

Whatever your budget and taste, there’s plenty to choose from.