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The City

Nottingham is more famous for its legends than for its recorded history. The story of Robin Hood and his Merry Men who reputedly lived in Sherwood Forest robbing from the rich and giving to the poor has stood the test of time to be a major tourist lure.

But Nottingham is more than fairytales. A great medieval castle has presided over the city since it was built by the Normans in 1068. As well as a defensive settlement, Nottingham remains famous for its wool and beer trade. About 670,000 people live in the Nottingham urban area today, which has become renowned for fashion houses, textile art and musical tourism.

City Centre

The city centre stretches upwards from Beeston Canal and Broad Marsh Shopping Centre in the south to the General Cemetery and Victoria Shopping Centre in the north. Nottingham Castle lies to the east of the city centre, with St Mary’s Rest Garden and the ice rink to the west. International students will find Nottingham Trent University’s city campus here and the Council House’s landmark dome, which can be seen for miles around, in Old Market Square.

Nottingham Castle

Nottingham’s historic core dominates the west side of the city, which is the home of big businesses and the affluent residences of the Park Estate. Admission to Nottingham Castle also buys entry to the Museum of Nottingham Life at Brewhouse Yard. Visitors can stop for a pint of ale at Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, set into a cave, which is believed to be the oldest drinking houses in England.

Hockley

Hockley to the east of the city centre is Nottingham’s bohemian quarter strewn with alternative fashion boutiques, off-beat bars, retro record stores and independent cinema. The Broadway cinema’s season of crime thrillers was headed by Quentin Tarantino and the Screen Room is in the Guinness Book of Records for being the smallest cinema in the world with just 21 seats. Merchants have lived in the area since the 13th century and it is home to Nottingham’s Lace Market. The area is undergoing redevelopment under the brand Eastside City.

Canal Side

Nottingham is expected to catapult up the league tables of super shopping when work on the Broadmarsh in the south of the city is complete. Visitors the city will then be able to alternate from Victoria shopping arcade amid a collection of waterfront cafes and bars, including Jongleurs Comedy Club. The train and coach stations are located here, making the south the gateway to the city.

North

International students with musical tastes that are out of the ordinary should line up here for Rock City’s line up of gigs and alternative music nights. Old Market Square is the epicentre of ancient buildings, fountains and architecture as well as a good place to hunt out global grub. The other big mall, Victoria Shopping Centre has a host of big names and department stores for high street fashion purchases.

The Universities

Nottingham Trent is split between three sites: the city, Clifton and Brackenhurst. Nottingham Trent is the city’s former polytechnic created out of the local colleges in the area, the oldest of which dates back to 1843. Nottingham Trent University boasts a good employability record and a good return for your money with modern facilities and more than 6,000 business links. There is an international student support service and orientation guide for newcomers as well as an ‘ask a student’ service.

The University of Nottingham opened in 1881 thanks to a grant from an anonymous patron. The main campus, University Park, was created with provision for recreation for the surrounding community, which remains to this day. Visiting speakers have included Albert Einstein, Mahatma Ghandi and H G Wells.

The University of Nottingham has continued expanding to sites all over the urban area and indeed the world, with campuses in Malaysia and China. In total 30,000 students from more than 150 countries study at the University of Nottingham. There are welfare, guidance and financial support services for international students as well as a buddying up scheme to connect prospective students with attendees from their countries.

Transport

Nottingham Express Transit offers discounted bus and tram EasyRider cards from £40, which includes night time transport. Students can get ten per cent off EasyRiders by purchasing three-month, six-month or 12-month travel cards.

While there are limited tram services to campuses, buses save the day with special Unilink services that travel university grounds. The Unilink 31 goes to the University of Nottingham’s Jubilee Campus and the Unilink 34 goes to the Campus Grounds. To get to Nottingham Trent University’s Clifton campus take the Unilink with the NTU logo and the number 100 bus from the city centre to the Brackenhurt Campus.

There is a tram stop to Nottingham Trent University’s city centre campus called Goldsmith Street, which is four stops up from the main train station in the city, or a 15 minute walk. Tram lines are limited to routes around the city centre and to Hucknall and Phoenix Park. Nottingham Train Station in the south of the city has PlusBus schemes whereby train and local bus and tram tickets can be bought together. For discounted train travel international students can buy a young person’s rail card. The train station has a tram stop nearby and Broadmarsh Coach Station is located round the corner of Trent Street.

The nearest airport is East Midlands, which is half an hour’s journey away from the city centre by Skylink bus, which departs from the city centre and the train station. A single fare costs £5. Planes fly to Europe, Africa and the Middle East with connections to other destinations through London airports.

Food and drink

Different dietary requirements, such as Halal and Kosher meals, are catered for by the universities, as well as special dishes for students with allergies. Most good university cafes and restaurants will provide vegetarian options, but the choice may be limited, so international students should be prepared to go further afield.

In the city centre there are several cheap restaurants, serving up reasonably priced dishes. Portions at the Orange Tree on Market Street are large, with prices not big enough to break the bank. Chain bars Wetherspoons on Market Square and TGI Fridays by the Cornerhouse cinema serve up cheap meals and cut-price pizza and pasta are available nearby at Bella Italia on Angel Row. For a midnight snack head to Mogal E Azam on Goldsmith Street for one of the best curries around. For late-night eats, check out the talent among the take-aways on Mansfield Road, Mayfair Chinese Restaurant caters for students cheaply.

If it is live music you are after, look no further than the 16th century Old Angel Inn that used to be a chapel and brothel. It serves under £5 meals all day for rockers, metallers and punks near many of the independent shops, kooky stores and boutiques.

Vegetarians should try the volunteer-run Sumac Centre on Gladstone Street in Forest Fields, which is accessible by tram, while the city centre has Squeek on Heathcoat Street and Dotty’s on Mansfield Road that provides veggie food on the go as well as the Palm Tree Lebanese Restaurant behind the train station.

Certain big brand supermarkets have Halal and Kosher sections, but for a full range of international food, specialist supermarkets are perhaps the best places to shop. Medina International Food Stores is located on Redford Road and Mogal Continental Food Store on Radford Road. For Muslim cuisine try Sheikh Foodstore on and Al-Madina on Derby Road.

Things to do

Student life in Nottingham would not be complete without exploring the castle that dominates the city and Sherwood Forest. Tread in the footsteps of Robin Hood at Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve and take part in the Robin Hood festival and marathon that take place every year.

Other ancient buildings to explore include Newstead Abbey Historic House and Gardens, which was once home to English author Lord Byron, 20 minutes away from Nottingham by coach on the M1 motorway. Wollaton Hall Gardens and Deer Park is three miles from the city centre and houses the Natural History Museum, Industrial Museum and Yard Gallery. Meanwhile, free Greens Windmill and Science Centre are within walking distance of the city centre on Windmill Lane where visitors can explore the extraordinary mind of mathematical genius George Green.

Exhibitions at the museums and many city art galleries change all year round. To keep up-to-date with the ever changing events on offer, check Nottingham City Council’s museums and galleries website. Also worth a look are the Angel Row at the Central Library Building, Bonnington Art Gallery on Dryden Street for Nottingham Trent art students, Djanogly Art Gallery for visions from the other side at University of Nottingham Art Centre in University Park and Focus Gallery on Derby Road for British art.

Sport stadia are never far away in Nottingham - at least from each other. Top league side Nottingham Forest Football Club is next to Trent Bridge Cricket Ground and Nottingham RFC in West Bridgford, across the River Trent from Notts County Football Club at Meadow Lane stadium. However, visitors keen on a spot of skate-action should head to the National Ice Centre, which is part of Nottingham Arena, on the east side of the city centre.

Out on the Town

Dischordant offerings, ranging from alternative to mainstream and classical to jazz, draw music tourists to Nottingham. The universities’ rock society followings are among the largest in the country, with Rock City the place to be for under 21s. Although most nights are indie, rock, metal and punk, one night a week is usually set aside to satisfy the mainstream pop crowd.

It is not all heavy metal though, there is dance music too. Nottingham is home to super-club Media in Grade-two listed Elite Building on Queen Street, famous for Renaissance, which is on a par with Gatecrasher, Cream and Pacha for guest DJs and experimental house, trance and techno beats. While the decibels are slightly lower at the Cookie Club on James’ Street and Snug nightclub, a mix of music, special events and freebies keeps undergraduates coming.

Live acts usually make a point of stopping at Nottingham on tours of the UK, with the largest stadium the 9,500-seater Nottingham Arena. Rock City stages alternative and up and coming acts, while Nottingham Royal Concert Hall is the region’s top venue for classical music, orchestras and ballets.

The Victorian Theatre Royal is a must-go for West End musicals, operas and plays while the Nottingham Playhouse is renowned for contemporary shows and exciting new work. The Lace Market Theatre in the east side of the city has a varied programme of modern to traditional shows. Nottingham Arts Theatre recently celebrated 60 years of shows, which includes training young performers in its youth theatre.

For cinema check the Cornerhouse, which has Cineworld screens and several pavement style cafes for pre-show drinks and meals. Nottingham is also home to independent cinema famous for specialist showings, cult classics and alternative viewing.

Day Tripper

Sherwood Forest may seem like a place to tiptoe around, but as well as exploring the history behind the Robin Hood story, visitors can also Go Ape on an adult-sized assault course. The high rope bridges, swings and aerial runways are not for the faint-hearted, but show fun is not just for children, it can be for adults too.

One of the closest cities to Nottingham, and one worth exploring for its space museum, ancient ruins and sports stars, is Leicester, half an hour away by car. The city has two universities, which means there are plenty of places running student discounts on admission, food and drinks. Nottingham is also not far from Loughborough, which is the most prestigious university for sport in the country. Aside from Sherwood Forest there is some beautiful scenery in-between to explore either by bike or on foot. Check out some of the bike trails around Nottingham for more.

How to make your life easier

Buy food from international or local supermarkets to save cash or eat at the university food halls that cater for most diets. Admission to some of the art galleries and museums are free and it is well worth trudging the city centre to look at the architecture, starting from Old Market Square. With such a rich history it would be a shame to miss out on Nottingham Castle, admission to residents is free on Mondays, and why not take part in the Robin Hood festival and marathon to add another string to your bow.

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