Nottingham, home to one of our campuses from September 2019, has a huge population of over 60,000 students, making the city a haven for scholars looking for a city that prioritises their needs. With so much to see and do across this vibrant city we thought we’d take a look at some reasons to study in Nottingham.
By Cara Fielder. Published 1 July 2019. Last updated 23 August 2024.
Nottingham Nightlife
The city claims to have more bars, pubs, restaurants and cafes per square mile than any other city in Europe, so you’ll never be stuck for a night out and you’ll find places to suit whatever vibe your night requires. The Lace Market is a popular area with plenty of eateries and bars, such as the Pitcher and Piano, housed within a stunning Grade II-listed church and The Hockley Arts Club, a bar with a quirky, indie interior. If you’re looking for something a little more rustic you’ll find beer halls and pubs aplenty, and if real ale is your thing then you could check out one of the seven Ale Trails which will take you to various watering holes around the city.
You’ll also find a host of entertainment options across the city, including the beautiful Nottingham Film Theatre, escape rooms, virtual reality adventures, sports and gaming bars. One of our favourites is The Lost City which boasts not one, but two 18 hole mini golf courses (Temple Trail and Sacred Skull). There’s also a Tiki Bar with Indiana Jones themed cocktails, non-alcoholic cocktails, and milkshakes, and they serve pizza and bagels too. You’ll find The Lost City tucked away beneath The Cornerhouse - a complex with bars, restaurants, a bowling alley, cinema and more. No matter what kind of night you’re after, you’ll find it here.
Nottingham has also secured Purple Flag accreditation every year since 2010. Having Purple Flag status indicates that Nottingham is a great, safe and vibrant place for a night out. Accreditation is based on the overall wellbeing of the area, accessibility and movement, the social and cultural offering, the place itself and having clear policies, aims and a strategy for delivering these objectives.
History
Nottingham is home to the legend of Robin Hood, and if you’re looking to uncover the real story behind the legend Ezekial Bone’s Robin Hood tour is an unmissable attraction. His Nottingham Robin Hood Town Tour is the No.1 city attraction on TripAdvisor, described by The Nottingham Post as ‘…entertaining & highly informative . . . unusual & exhilarating.’ The tour allows you to discover the truth of the ‘Hooded Man’. Follow the trail of historical facts and learn how ballads over 700 years old grew into one of the greatest stories ever told.
The City of Caves is another unique part of the Nottingham’s history. Discover a maze of over 500 sandstone caves underneath the city streets that date back to the dark ages. Perfect for the making of tunnels, the soft rock was carved away to create hundreds of caves and passages which have been used as homes, storerooms, dungeons, tanneries and hideouts. Take the tour to investigate the social history of the caves and learn more about the events that once happened inside these underground dwellings.
If you simply can’t get enough of time gone by, then be sure to visit Nottingham castle. Located in the city itself, Nottingham Castle offers over 1000 years of history, with a range of museums and galleries, including an exhibition on the mythical outlaw, Robin Hood. For a little extra, you can also visit the ancient dungeons in the caves deep beneath the castle. Don’t forget to take in the beautiful castle grounds and visit one of the two coffee shops on site. An added bonus we love – buying an entry ticket guarantees access for a year, making the gardens the ideal escape after a particularly gruelling exam.
Escape to the country
If you’re looking to leave the textbooks and lectures behind, Highfields Park is a 21 hectare park endowed with magnificent trees, exotic plants and water features. The landscaping dates back to the late 18th and early 19th century before founder of Boots and Co Ltd, Sir Jesse Boot, purchased the land. It also features a host of site facilities including adventure golf, a boating lake and even croquet. Between April and September visitors can hire a canoe or rowing boat and enjoy a relaxing sail across the waters of the beautiful lake and take in the surrounding scenery.
Alternatively, Wollaton Hall is a spectacular Elizabethan mansion and deer park. Built in 1588, the Grade I listed hall is set within 500 acres of parkland boasting diverse habitats including grassland, wetland and woodland. Herds of red and fallow deer roam free across the parkland year round. The hall also draws a number of film and comic fans as the building was featured as Batman’s house in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Rises.
Finally there’s Spring Lakes, a water sports and leisure park situated in Long Eaton, less than 30 minutes from Nottingham city centre. You can take a peaceful stroll through nature and stop for a picnic or, if you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, there’s an aqua park, inflatables, paddleboarding, kayaking, and wakeboarding – plenty to get your blood pumping.
Museums and galleries
Wollaton Hall – which we mentioned above – is also home to the city's Natural History Museum. With a collection of 750,000 objects, ranging from fossils, minerals, plants and eggs to invertebrates, vertebrates, molluscs and taxidermy. The Hall is the largest dedicated Natural History museum in the county.
Nottingham Contemporary is one of Britain’s largest and leading centres for contemporary art. The building was designed by the award winning architects Caruso St John and features four galleries, a performance and film Space, a Learning room, The Study, a shop and a café. Whether you want to wander the gallery for inspiration or attend one of their crafting workshops there is something for everyone here.
Another favourite is the National Justice Museum. With a Victorian courtroom, centuries old cells, and very real stories from our past, the museum offers a fascinating, and at times horrifying, insight into the history of justice and punishment in the UK. Finally, the Nottingham Industrial Museum offers visitors the chance to explore the city’s long and varied history of production and is home to exhibits on the bicycle, railway, motorcycle, lacemaking, pharmaceutical, tobacco, and telecommunication industries.
Learn more about the undergraduate and postgraduate courses available at our Nottingham campus.
