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 stayed in Nottingham after studying at Nottingham Trent University (over 10 years ago!) 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 newsletter Notts Going On, as well as articles.
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 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.
Tarmac
This was patented in 1902 by Edgar Purnell Hooley after he saw how spilled tar and gravel bonded on Radcliffe Road.
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
The former England goalkeeper started her career when she joined the West Bridgford Colts.
Matthew Horne
Hailing from Burton Joyce, he is known for starring as Gavin in the hit sit-com Gavin and Stacey.
Sir Paul Smith
The luxury fashion designer was born in Beeston. You can visit his store in Nottingham and sit in the Paul Smith screen at Broadway Cinema.
Torvill and Dean
Known for their Olympic gold-winning Bolero dance, the ice skating duo are both from Nottingham.
Famous graduates 🎓
NTU
Matt Berry
The comedian starred in Toast of London and is known for his fantastic voice. Is that you, Clem Fandango?
GK Barry
The media personality is known for influencing, her podcast Saving Grace, and for being on I’m a Celeb.
Jack Saunders
He presents BBC Radio 1's New Music Show every weeknight, as well as The Official Chart on Fridays.
UoN
Tim Martin
When you rock up to Wetherspoons for your post-night-out hangover breakfast, you’ve got him to thank.
Theo James
He studied Philosophy, before going on to star in hit shows such as The White Lotus and The Gentlemen.
Ruth Wilson
The Olivier-winning actor has starred in appeared such as Jane Eyre, Luther, and The Affair.
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 from £349, 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 £315. thetram.net
By train 🚄
No matter where you’re travelling across the country, Nottingham 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, we recommend 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 / @themagicgardennotts
Penny Lane
Play arcade games and sip on Instagrammable drinks. The Ey Up Me Duck is even garnished with a rubber duck! pennylanenottingham.com / @pennylanenottingham
Coco Tang
It offers students discounted listed cocktails all night Tuesday-Friday (the Fight Club is a fun choice!). cocotang.co.uk / @houseofcocotang
400 Rabbits
This is one of my favourite bars in Nottingham, and it’s a stone throw’s away from NTU. If you like tequila, you’ll love it here. fourhundredrabbits.co.uk / @400rabbitsinsta
The 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 / @thebeestonsocial
Pubs 🍺
Six Barrel Drafthouse
This is one of the best dog-friendly pubs in Nottingham and has locations next to the Victoria Centre (@sixbarrelvictoria) and in Hockley (@sixbarrel.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 / @theangelmicrobrewery
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. @crowninnbeeston
The Kilpin
Named after the Nottingham-born founder of AC Milan, this is my favourite pub in the city. It serves European ales and has an adorable beer garden. thekilpin.co.uk / @the_kilpin_beer_cafe
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 / @foxandgrapes_notts
The Playwright
Located on Shakespeare Street, this relaxed spot is perfect for campus socials and watching live sports. theplaywright38.co.uk / @theplaywright38
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.
The Beefy Boys
When nothing but a thick, juicy, mouthwatering burger will do, this is an excellent option that’s super close to NTU. thebeefyboys.com
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, nourisihing 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
200 Degrees
Our own Nottingham-brewed coffee shops, there are three of these in the centre – by Old Market Square, by the Victoria Centre, and by the station.
Blend
Expect locally-roasted coffee, hot grilled cheeses, and cosy tables to study on. 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
Bustler
While a little walk away to Sneinton Market, this is a spacious spot with free wifi, great coffee, and a host of food vendors. bustlermarket.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
Victoria Embankment
The canalside spot has plenty of space for a stroll, and even to sit down on a sunny day with a book. canalrivertrust.org.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.
Bowling 🎳
You can head to Discobowl — 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 Lanes has huge lanes, a baseball cage, shuffleboard, and more. nottinghambowl.co.uk / tenpin.co.uk / roxyleisure.co.uk
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
Escape rooms 🔑
Ready to do some bonding with your new flatmates or course mates? Escapologic offers realistic escapes from abandoned laboratories to cursed crypts, while Break Escape will whisk you away into settings from Robin Hood to Daylight Robbery. escapologic.com / breakescape.co.uk
Gameshow 📺
For a completely different activity, try your hand at Gameshow All-Stars, which has eight minigames based on nostalgic TV shows like Catchphrase and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. gameshowallstars.co.uk
Mini golf ⛳
The mega Golf Fang is a must-visit for freshers thanks to its Instagrammable holes and cocktails. Meanwhile, Lost City brings all the tropical vibes and is ideal for family trips. golffang.co.uk / lostcityadventuregolf.com
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
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