Moving to a new university city can sometimes be daunting, as you’re no longer in your hometown and you’re yet to explore what there is to offer in this new home of yours.
Luckily, Nottingham is full of activities, shops, bars, and everything else you need in a university city.
In this blog we’ll be highlighting few key venues you should add to your list, and places recommended by students at University of Nottingham (UoN) or Nottingham Trent University (NTU).
Nottingham city centre is full of things to do for all interests. Whether you’re into sports, or arts, or just looking for a good bar – Nottingham has something for you.
Here are some of our top picks:
If you’re into football you’re probably already aware of both Nottingham Forest and Notts County, both based in Nottingham. With the football season aligning quite nicely with the study year, there’s plenty of games to go and see if you’re looking to watch!
Take a look at their fixtures by clicking on either of the team names.
Not quite into football? Perhaps cricket may take your fancy! Trent Bridge has been around for nearly 200 years now and is home to Nottinghamshire’s cricket club.
You can check out the latest fixtures here on their website.
Looking for something a bit more hands-on… how about getting your skates on?
No matter how good your skating ability is, Nottingham’s National Ice Centre caters to all levels – with various sessions available, from quiet skates, to party lights and local DJ’s on Friday and Saturday nights.
You can check out times and prices here.
Not everyone wants to give skating a go, some prefer to watch it in action! Luckily, alongside the National Ice Centre is Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena – home to the Nottingham Panthers ice hockey team.
A fast paced and exciting sport played right in the city centre, ice hockey games are regular and are a great night out for all ages. Outside of ice hockey, the Motorpoint Arena also hosts a variety of concerts and events regularly.
Check out what’s on at the Motorpoint Arena or take a look at the Nottingham Panthers’ upcoming fixtures.
Boasting an 18-hole indoor course, The Lost City is a great spot for students to have fun any day of the week! With its own Tiki Bar serving tropical cocktails while you play, not to mention a Caribbean takeaway bar, The Lost City is a favourite of students currently studying in Nottingham.
Not to mention, happy hours are 5pm-8pm Monday to Friday where you can get any 2 cocktails for £10! (Split the Bills promotes responsible drinking. Ages 18+ only).
Check out more pricing info on their website here.
Interested in learning about Nottingham’s past? Nottingham Castle brings together 1000 years of fascinating history right in the heart of the city.
Not only can you participate in tours and experiences, but Nottingham Castle also offers virtual archery and more!
Plan your visit to Nottingham Castle here.
With over 500 original sandstone caves below the city, Nottingham is famous for its caves – and you can visit them!
Find out more about the winding caves and the insightful people who lived and worked in them. Also included are WW2 air raid shelters other extraordinary revelations.
Plan your visit to Nottingham’s City of Caves here.
Are you a film buff? In Nottingham you’re spoiled for choice, with not one but two cinemas on hand.
Broadway Cinema is based in Hockley, with comfortable screens showing all the latest movies.
Nottingham’s Cineworld is based in the cornerhouse, perfectly positioned next to some great restaurants and bars, and always showing a wide variety of movies!
Check out what’s on at Nottingham’s Cineworld or the Broadway Cinema here.
Home to many shops and restaurants, the Victoria Centre is a shopping centre based in the thick of the city.
You can check out student events and discounts for the Victoria Centre here!
Looking for a beautiful outdoor adventure? Wollaton Hall offers both the hall/museum and a vast park and garden surrounding it, making for a great day out for students who fancy an ice cream or picnic.
Take a look at Wollaton Hall here.
Based in the city centre, Nottingham Contemporary is an art gallery with a huge range of stunning exhibitions spanning across a broad range of interests.
Take a look at what’s on at Nottingham Contemporary here.
A large part of Nottingham’s student culture is based around the fantastic food and drink the city has to offer – with many bars targeting those looking to have fun.
With the help of current students living in Nottingham, we’ve narrowed down our list of student bars in Nottingham to our top rated picks:
Popular with many students, Rock City has been in Nottingham for multiple decades and provides students with a great atmosphere and cheap drinks. What’s not to love?
With a wide range of music played each night, no wonder this bar is a hot with both UoN and NTU students.
Check out Rock City’s calendar here.
A venue “not like any other nightclub”, Ocean is a student’s-only club based in Nottingham’s centre and opens just 2 nights per week. On Wednesday nights, Ocean opens its doors to Nottingham Trent students, and on Friday nights opens to University of Nottingham students.
Find out more about ‘The Big O’ via their website here.
Based in a church (you read that right) in Nottingham’s centre, the well-known chain of Pitcher & Piano locations boasts an unusual looking bar unlike one you’ve ever seen.
Take a look at it here.
Due to the sheer number of brilliant bars in Nottingham, not all have been listed above. However, we’d also suggest checking out the likes of Bunk, Unit 13, Ink, Rescue Rooms, Shapes, and more that Nottingham students recommend.
When you move into a student house, everyone suddenly becomes an energy expert. Read our blog on energy myths to understand what will really save you money.
If you’re the housemate that seems to always take care of everything, the burden can soon add up, and it can start to feel like your home life is another full time job. Fear not – we’re here to help you share the load, getting more people to pitch in with chores and freeing your time up to do more important things, like watching TV, mindlessly scrolling on your phone or having a well-earned nap.
Nottingham has stood the test of time to become one of the UK’s most vibrant and exciting cities, so we don’t blame you for wanting to get to know Nottingham better. Read our guide to find out how you can make the most of Nottingham on a budget.