Yes. That’s it, short and sweet. Nottingham is a really nice and exciting place to live for students, with many reasons why (read below). Of course, every student is going to try and persuade you that their city is the best, (unless you’re at Newcastle, do I need to say any more? No offence Geordies). Nottingham genuinely has something for everyone and if you can’t find it in the city, it’ll be 30 minutes out on a bus or a train.
Nottingham eats the competition
I have to start with something that’s going to grab your attention, and what better way than through your stomach. These delicious burgers are from an independent Nottingham-owned business – a little place tucked away at the top of the Lenton Triangle (the epicentre of student living).
Nottingham also appeals to the students through numerous student discounts and offers on food too. At Mollis for example, they provide an exclusive student deal; a mouthwatering burger accompanied by uniquely flavourful fries, and a pint to wash it down for only £15! How can you turn that down? If fried chicken isn’t your thing (then have you even tried it?) then you should check out where else you can get burgers in Nottingham here: 6 of the best burgers in Nottingham. I personally recommend Red Dog Saloon from this list, BUT, the number 1 burger place in Nottingham is still Mollis.
Social evening hotspots
I have to include the plethora of bustling, unique, cosy, quirky drinking establishments as its own section. I’m sure you’ve heard the nightlife in Nottingham is up there in the rankings. Undoubtedly, I’d say it’s home to the best nightlife, although I am a Sheffield girl at heart, and it is impossible to argue with those Northern prices. £2.80 a pint, 5 baby Guinness’s for £8. Need I go on? Sheffield is a classic, I do love it, it’s home after all. However, Nottingham competes through the range and peculiarity of different kinds of bars, clubs and pubs. Usually, all clubs are the same; dark, loud, same blasting bass and flashing light, white girl trash, D’n’B and alternative rock fill the few different rooms. But while Nottingham caters for this… it also has so much more. I won’t spill all the secrets here because I wouldn’t want to excise you of the anticipation of finding somewhere unique and personal to you (someone has already done that for you – The best bars in Nottingham – Unifresher)! If you want my personal recommendation, although you didn’t ask, it’s BUNK. I’m aware this may sound basic, but wait until you try those sticky Thai honey wings.
Everything is close
When you get to Nottingham (if travelling from the south), you’re instantly greeted by Nottingham Castle which is surrounded by green space. Within the city centre there are usually enough to keep the whole house entertained for a few days with the various shops and restaurants and activities; but, if you find you’ve exhausted Nottingham, then check out these 5 epic day trips from Nottingham! As I drive, anywhere is within reach for me and my housemates. It’s can be a perfectly planned day trip with packed lunches or, more plausible for students, a last minute impulse trip with a stop at the pub on the way home. As a side note, I’d recommend bringing your car to uni in Nottingham – especially if you live in Lenton. It makes that 1 mile voyage to uni much more appealing at 9 am.
Student housing
The dreaded sub-heading. You’ll be lucky if you find any city with nice and affordable student housing. It’s usually one of the other. I honestly can’t complain about my housing though, except that the walls are pretty thin; so I can hear everyone use the loo on the first floor, and the second floor second floor for that matter. I can also hear if someone is walking past my house for at least 100m before and after they pass. This isn’t a bother as I am one nosey nelly and I love to ear wig on everyone’s conversations. It only becomes a problem when you have to be up at 6 am for training, or you’re trying to get your single early night of the week and it happens to fall on a Thursday – which apparently is the new Friday for going out out.
I also pay quite a bit more than I would like to but that’s Nottingham. Perhaps it’s only downfall – it’s rather an expensive place to live. Fortunately, my student loan does cover my housing costs and I have managed to find a more reasonably priced house next year so it can be done! You don’t even need to rush to find a house before Christmas; I didn’t sign for this house until April. Overall, students take over Nottingham, well, Lenton at least, during term time so there’s not many other regular Joes to worry about which makes me feel safer honestly. Knowing everyone is in the same situation as me, just trying to get by, probably getting drunk on a wednesday, panic buying a bottle of wine from the local Saino’s on their way to prees in a feeble attempt not to be late.
Nottingham rules Victorious
-Literally. Victoria Centre, Victoria Bus Station, Victoria Court, Victoria Embankment and not forgetting, Victoria Park. From the evidence I’ve given, surely that’s sufficient to convince you that Nottingham is the heart and soul of the UK university cities – figuratively and literally with its central location. I live only an hour and a half away and most of my peers are relatively close to Nottingham, compared to travelling from Kent to Durham, Nottingham offers a hospitable and inspiring middle ground.
I believe that there is no other city that even comes close to Nottingham. Perhaps there are a few more overall aesthetically pleasing cities like Bath. But the hills! Bath is situated on a giant hill. Imagine trying to walk up that at 8:30 in the morning for a 9am. Exactly, you can’t. Not like you go to your 9ams anyway! Beside the big hill, Bath is beautiful, but… it’s a little quiet. I understand that some people are drawn to a peaceful city life, but can a city ever be peaceful if it’s full of students? Ha! A trick questions because yes it can, but naturally, only Nottingham. As Nottingham is larger in area (74.61km2 to be precise), there’s more space, more roads, more trees, more fields, more parks; shops, pubs, bars and restaurants.
What more could you want?
