Nottingham student guide — everything you need to know about your new home
Nottingham student guide — everything you need to know about your new home
Find out more about your university city, from fun facts to fantastic activities
Hello students! Or should I say, Ay Up ducks? Welcome to your new home. You've landed in one of the best cities in England in my opinion. It's just the right size and it's filled with so much character.
I'm a student who stayed in Nottingham after studying at Nottingham Trent University and falling in love with the city. This means not only do I know what spots are student-friendly, but I also know the area really well. I've rounded up everything from top food and drinks spots to places you can go and get away from it all, so you can make the most of your time here.
If you're looking for things to do in Nottingham and around the area and are a student, this guide is packed with useful info. You can also keep up with everything happening here by signing up for The Notts Edit, as we send out our weekly news and events guide Notts Going On and weekend read every week.
The ultimate Nottingham student guide
By Eve Smallman
Fun facts 💭
Get to know your new home with these interesting tidbits (that will also come in handy whenever anyone asks you about Nottingham!).
Inventions 💡
HP Sauce
The original recipe was invented and developed in 1899 by Nottingham by grocer Frederick Gibson Garton, who sold it on to the Midlands Vinegar Company for £150.
Ibuprofen
When you’re picking up a packet for your freshers' hangover, you can thank Dr Adams and his colleagues, who discovered it at the Boots Laboratories in the 1960s.
MRI scanner
Sir Peter Mansfield made the breakthrough at the University of Nottingham in 1977, which led to MRI being used across the world.
Shin pads
Sam Weller Widdowson created them in 1874 by cutting down a pair of cricket pads and strapping them over his socks when playing football.
French bulldogs
Lace makers in Nottingham bred English bulldogs to create ‘mini bulldogs’ in the 1800s, before taking them over to France when they emigrated.
Famous people ⭐
Vicky McClure
The Line of Duty star studied her craft at The Television Workshop and got married at the Council House.
Bella Ramsey
Another success story from The Television Workshop, the actor has starred in Game of Thrones and The Last of Us.
Jake Bugg
He grew up in Clifton, before becoming an indie singer-songwriter famous for songs such as Lightning Bolt and All I Need.
Mary Earps
England’s iconic goalkeeper started her career when she joined the West Bridgford Colts.
Sir Paul Smith
The luxury fashion designer was born in Beeston. You can visit his store in Nottingham and sit on the Paul Smith screen at Broadway Cinema.
Transport 🎟️
Nottingham has brilliant transport facilities that make it super easy to go wherever you want, whether you’re heading into the city or want to explore the wider area.
By bus 🚌
We’re lucky to have Nottingham City Transport buses here, which go around the whole county. You can simply tap on and head wherever you wish. If you are studying at a campus outside of the city (Clifton, Brackenhurst, and UoN students, I’m talking to you!), you might want to grab a uni pass for £299, which covers you for the whole year. nctx.co.uk
There are also Trentbarton buses, which serve Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire. This company operates the Red Arrow service that goes non-stop to Derby if you fancy a change of scenery. You can catch this from the Victoria Bus Station or Upper Parliament Street pretty much every quarter of the hour. trentbarton.co.uk
By tram 🚋
Yes, we have a whole tram system here, thanks to Nottingham Express Transit (NET). It has two services — Hucknall-Toton Lane and Phoenix Park-Clifton South. Both lines run between the city centre, which is useful if you’re running late or hauling bags from the station. The Hucknall-Toton Lane line also goes to and from UoN.
Make sure that you buy a ticket, as tram inspectors regularly come around — you can either buy a paper one at the machines or just tap the contactless points at each stop. Or, you can get a Student Academic Year pass to cover you for £325 (which you can get £50 off of with the NETGO! app). thetram.net
By train 🚄
No matter where you’re travelling across the country, Nottingham train station is the place to go. Some of the major cities you can get to from here (often direct) include:
Birmingham — around 1hr 30mins
London — around 1hr 50mins
Manchester — around 2hrs
Liverpool — around 3hrs
By taxi 🚕
Sometimes you might get lost, feel too lazy to walk, or have had one too many Jagerbombs. If you need a taxi, DG Cars, which is Nottingham’s own award-winning taxi service. Download the app or ring to book. dgcars.co.uk / 0115 950 0500
Places for drinks 🥂
Discovering the best places to go for cocktails in Nottingham and the cosiest pubs will come in useful for hanging out with friends old and new.
Cocktail bars 🍹
The Magic Garden
Enjoy fruity cocktails and tapas in the sun or boozy hot chocolates wrapped up, depending on the weather. themagicgardennotts.com
Tier
It has happy hour 4-8pm on most of its cocktails and serves up mouth-watering grilled cheeses. tiermelts.co.uk
Penny Lane
Play arcade games and sip on Instagrammable drinks. The Ey Up Me Duck is even garnished with a rubber duck! pennylanenottingham.com
Coco Tang
It offers students listed cocktails all night Tuesday-Friday (the Toblerone cocktail is super yummy, FYI). cocotang.co.uk
Beeston Social
You could easily spend a whole afternoon here tucking into pizzas and burgers, drinking playful cocktails, and competing against each other in retro games. thebeestonsocial.com
Pubs 🍺
Six Barrels Drafthouse
This is one of the best dog-friendly pubs in Nottingham and has locations next to the Victoria Centre and in Hockley. sixbarreldrafthouse.co.uk
The Angel Microbrewery
It serves local ales and its own brews, as well as a crowd-pleasing food menu with plenty of vegan options. theangelmicrobrewery.co.uk
Crown Inn Beeston
A proper real ale, old-school pub that regularly hosts street food such as Secret Burger Club and Nick the Greek’s Grill. facebook.com/crowninnbeeston
Fox and Grapes
It’s a little walk away from the city centre to Sneinton Market, but this pub’s warm atmosphere and legendary pub quizzes on a Wednesday night make it well worth the trip. castlerockbrewery.co.uk
The Playwright
Located on Shakespeare Street, this relaxed spot is perfect for campus socials and watching live sports. theplaywright38.co.uk
Places to eat 😋
There are so many wonderful food places in Notts, but these ones all offer delicious, student-friendly food when you need more than packet noodles.
BOHNs Burgers
When nothing but a thick, juicy, mouthwatering burger will do, this is hands down your best option in Nottingham. bohnsbestburgers.co.uk
Slice ‘n’ Brew
We are spoiled for pizza places in Nottingham, but this New York-style joint has nailed flavours, fresh dough, and a vibrant atmosphere. slicenbrew.co.uk
Everyday People
Serving steaming bowls of ramen with exciting twists, this is the mastermind of Masterchef’s Pete Hewitt (who we’ve interviewed) and is loved by critic Jay Rayner. theeverydaypeople.co.uk
Taquero
Who said tacos only have to be for Tuesdays? Start with totopos and five pots of salsa, share tacos and quesadillas, and wash it all down with margaritas. taquero.co.uk
The Pudding Pantry
Whether you have a sweet or savoury tooth, need breakfast in Nottingham, or want coffee and a cake, this cute eatery has locations in the city, Beeston, and Sherwood. thepuddingpantry.co.uk
Crocus Cafe
This vegetarian and vegan cafe might be Lenton’s best-kept secret. Its all-day breakfast menu is sure to sort any hangovers out. crocuscafe.com
Places to study 🤓
Both Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham have great study spots on campus. But sometimes, you need a change of scenery to get your head in the game.
Public and Plants
Head down for the chic interior, then stay for the strong coffee and decadent croissants. ourpublic.co.uk
Blend
Expect locally-roasted coffee, hot grilled cheeses, and plenty of room to study. The location in Nottingham Contemporary is the most spacious, but the one in Sneinton Market has lovely outdoor seating for sunnier days. blendnottingham.co.uk
Dispatch
While a little smaller than some of the other spots, the bright Wes Anderson-style decor will make you feel at home while you work. dispatchcoffees.co.uk
Nottingham Central Library
This bright and modern building has a host of tables and booths to hop onto, as well as all the study material you could possibly need. nottinghamcitylibraries.co.uk
Places to relax 🌳
When you need to take a break and practise some mindfulness, take a walk around these beauty spots in Nottingham.
The Arboretum
This is the magical place that apparently inspired J.M. Barrie's Neverland. It's right by Nottingham Trent University and on the tram line, making it a great picnic location in Notts. nottinghamcity.gov.uk
Highfields Park
University of Nottingham students, you are so lucky to have this on your campus! See if you can find the hidden fountain. nottinghamcity.gov.uk
Colwick Country Park
The two lakes here are perfect for strolling or running around. I recommend getting a hot drink from Wired on Wheels for your journey around. nottinghamcity.gov.uk
Wollaton Hall and Park
See stunning deer outside and see fascinating natural history inside this Elizabethan mansion (that you may know as Wayne Manor from The Dark Knight films). wollatonhall.org.uk
Newstead Abbey
Formerly the home of the great romantic poet Lord Byron, this has sprawling grounds that you can spend ages walking around. See if you can spot a peacock! newsteadabbey.org.uk
Activities 🎉
You can’t spend your whole time at university studying. These fun locations will help you let your hair down.
Cinema 🍿
Head down to Broadway Cinema in Hockley for a chilled-out cinema night in the city (keep an eye out for themed movie weeks!) and the pre-WW2 Savoy Cinema on Derby Road for a romantic date night. broadway.org.uk / savoyonline.co.uk
Sports ⚽
Go watch football at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground and Notts County FC’s Meadow Lane (which are very close to each other!), cricket at the famous Trent Bridge, and ice hockey at the National Ice Centre, where the Nottingham Panthers play. nottinghamforest.co.uk / nottscountyfc.co.uk / trentbridge.co.uk / national-ice-centre.com
Mini golf ⛳
The mega Golf Fang is a must-visit for freshers thanks to its Instagrammable holes and cocktails, Lost City brings all the tropical vibes and is ideal for family trips, and Gloryholes is a fun place for those with a sense of humour. golffang.co.uk / lostcityadventuregolf.com / gloryholesgolf.co.uk
Escape rooms 🔑
Ready to do some bonding with your new flatmates or course mates? Escapologic offers an immersive experience across a range of themed rooms, while Cryptology will whisk you away into 'disarming' sets that only puzzle-solving will get you out of. escapologic.com / cryptologyrooms.co.uk
Bowling 🎳
You can head to Nottingham Bowl — aka the UK's biggest bowling alley (yes, really!) — for endless hours of enjoyment. If you're a UoN student in need of a break, Tenpin has bowling, plus karaoke, laser tag, and arcade games. Or if you're in the city centre and want to do more than just bowling, Roxy Bottle Lane has huge lanes, a baseball cage, shuffleboard, and more. nottinghambowl.co.uk / tenpin.co.uk / roxyleisure.co.uk
Pottery painting 🎨
Beeston's Pot N Kettle is a colourful place for mindful painting. For those looking for a retreat away from the city, Starnill Studio (who we have interviewed) is a beautiful option for a break. pot-n-kettle.com / starnhill.co.uk
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