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Is Nottingham a nice place to visit

85 replies

LeaveItia · 02/02/2026 14:31

I know you shouldn’t judge a town on one event but must admit the attack on two students and the caretaker has tainted my view. My DH went to the university and would like us to visit with our dc but I am nervous.
He would like to travel by train to Beeston and walk to the university park and around it and neighbouring Wollaton.
I have also heard that gun crime and drugs related crimes have increased since he was there.
So my question is whether you would feel comfortable with his plans or if there are bits we should avoid using Ubers?

OP posts:
Daytimenighttime · 02/02/2026 14:57

I've visited Nottingham to watch the tennis three times.
The first time we went, a few years ago we loved it and found the people friendly and the place interesting.
The second time we were staying there when the awful attack took place, actually a few streets from our hotel. So that obviously cast a dark shadow over our stay there.
The third time was last year and we couldn't believe how the " feel" of the city had changed. Rude and unfriendly people every where. We were staying in the city centre and the amount of drunks and drunken behaviour was really off putting.

Having said that the area you are talking about at the University was the area near the tennis centre and it was really nice round there. We used the trams and they are very good for getting around although they get very busy at times.

DigbyandFizz · 02/02/2026 15:00

The area you are planning to visit is very nice. I'd be very surprised if you had any problems in Beeston, Wollaton or around the university campus.

SquigglePigs · 02/02/2026 15:10

Beeston and Wollaton are lovely areas and you won't have a problem. University Park and Wollaton Park are gorgeous to walk around.

The city has some drug issues like all major cities but those areas are nowhere near where you want to go and you wouldn't just find yourself wandering around them anyway.

WorriedRelative · 02/02/2026 15:11

The area around Wollaton Hall and the University of Nottingham is safe, as is Beeston. There are however tonnes of roadworks making travel in that area difficult other than by tram.

The city centre is no worse than any other big city. I would stay away from Hyson Green, St Ann's and The Meadows estate. Probably wouldn't walk the canal in the dark alone either.

Toddlerteaplease · 02/02/2026 15:28

It’s fine. I live very close to the site of the attacks and I was surprised when I hear where it was as it’s generally a very safe busy area. University park is lovely. There is nothing much worth visiting in Nottingham though.

Toddlerteaplease · 02/02/2026 15:30

Wollaton park also nice. As a PP mentioned, the roadworks on the A52 (that seem never ending) are causing issues. University boulevard was already a busy road. It’s now even worse with the diverted traffic.

Judging · 02/02/2026 15:31

Both our kids went to uni of. Both loved it, but it’s not somewhere I’d ever want to visit again.

Lunalara · 02/02/2026 15:35

Echoing the people who said that the university area/Beeston are safe. I went to university there, and I even felt safe walking around when it was dark. Highly recommend checking out Wollaton Park if you decide to go as it is big and beautiful.

The city centre got worse in terms of alcoholics towards the end of my time at uni, but I still didn’t feel like I was in danger. There is quite a lot to do in the centre compared to other places, and in the daytime it is generally safe.

Flowersbloominwinter · 02/02/2026 15:40

I went with DD to look at the uni which was really lovely and very impressive. We then went into the city which was mainly run down, scruffy and downtrodden. She loved the uni but ended up elsewhere because of the city.

Villanellesproudmum · 02/02/2026 15:40

The city centre isn’t pleasant or worth visiting.

Londonmummy66 · 02/02/2026 17:26

DD is at UoN so I go to visit sometimes. There is a nice hotel on the university campus that also gives you free access to the sports centre for pool and gym. Beeston has some nice places to eat. Beeston Lock is pretty with a Heritage Centre and Wollaton Hall and Park are lovely. University Park is also really lovely. A weekend would be fine but not much longer. The town centre is pretty run down but the castle is worth a visit too.

ChickenwingsChickenwings · 02/02/2026 17:38

I live near Beeston it’s fine!

Wollaton Park is lovely, Attenborough nature reserve is also worth a visit. The university park has a lake and a good play park and a cafe. Beeston has some good coffee shops and places to eat.

I rarely go into town tbh. I mean there are drugs, gun crime and murders everywhere. Nottingham is no exception. It’s a bit odd to not visit because of one (obviously horrifying) incident.

PuppyMonkey · 02/02/2026 17:54

My DP is one of the rangers at Wollaton Park, he’ll look after you. Grin

Beeston is really cool so you’ll be fine there. The city centre isn’t what it was but it’s no worse than many other city centres imho. Victoria Centre has all the big shops if that’s your sort of thing. Bridlesmith Gate is nice, there’s a new Ivy restaurant open there so I don’t know if that’s a marker of how people view the area! Loads of fabulous curry restaurants on Maid Marian Way. The Lace Market area is still wonderful if you ask me. But yeah, stick to Wollaton and Beeston if you really are scared of very normal places.

PuppyMonkey · 02/02/2026 17:56

Oh yes, they’ve currently got an Andy Warhol exhibition on at Lakeside Arts Centre on the main university campus.

pinotnow · 02/02/2026 18:07

Of course it's safe to visit and as others have said the places you are planning to see are lovely. Ubers are safe I would have thought but I don't know why you'd need them as public transport is also good. I also don't relate to the pp who said people are rude and unfriendly. I've been here 25 years and come from the valleys having lived in town in southern England in between. Being in Nottingham felt like being back in the valleys due to the warmth and friendliness of the people and I really don't think that has changed.

Trumpisacunt · 02/02/2026 18:19

All those saying that the city centre is running down have obviously led very sheltered lives ! Its no better or worse than any other large ish diverse city - good variety of shops,bars and restaurants.Public transport is fine with trams,buses and a park 'n ride service ...

StrongandNorthern · 02/02/2026 18:25

It's in The North (to many 'Mumsnetters').
There be dragons.
FFS.

user405927 · 02/02/2026 18:26

Trumpisacunt · 02/02/2026 18:19

All those saying that the city centre is running down have obviously led very sheltered lives ! Its no better or worse than any other large ish diverse city - good variety of shops,bars and restaurants.Public transport is fine with trams,buses and a park 'n ride service ...

I think it’s worse than other cities. It has a feeling of lawlessness. Bouncers on shops, police vans parked in Market Square, groups of men’s in masks and hoodies. It didn’t used to feel like this.

Other parts of the city are lovely, but the city centre isn’t.

chunkyBoo · 02/02/2026 18:30

Nottingham is great - sadly some bad areas, but Wollaton and Beeston are lovely, there’s a nice hotel now on campus too if you’re staying.

Paperwhite209 · 02/02/2026 18:31

user405927 · 02/02/2026 18:26

I think it’s worse than other cities. It has a feeling of lawlessness. Bouncers on shops, police vans parked in Market Square, groups of men’s in masks and hoodies. It didn’t used to feel like this.

Other parts of the city are lovely, but the city centre isn’t.

I took my DD a few years ago when we were looking at unis and this was very much our experience of the city centre - teenagers being frisked by police, crazy religious types accosting us, people off their heads with drugs and loud stereos parked up smoking weed in shop doorways. This was all between about 6-7.30pm. It was really unsettling.

That said the uni campus itself is beautiful and we didn't visit any of the suburbs so...🤷🏼‍♀️

neilyoungismyhero · 02/02/2026 18:35

Well I got thoroughly lost there and the people who helped me couldn't have been nicer, even later at night.

JumpingPumpkin · 02/02/2026 18:36

The city centre is a lot less pleasant than it used to be. Having said that - it's normally fine in the day and I go out fairly regularly at night without any trouble. As old students they might want to visit the pubs at Canning Circus as some of those gave changed much for years.

MissCooCooMcgoo · 02/02/2026 18:36

LeaveItia · 02/02/2026 14:31

I know you shouldn’t judge a town on one event but must admit the attack on two students and the caretaker has tainted my view. My DH went to the university and would like us to visit with our dc but I am nervous.
He would like to travel by train to Beeston and walk to the university park and around it and neighbouring Wollaton.
I have also heard that gun crime and drugs related crimes have increased since he was there.
So my question is whether you would feel comfortable with his plans or if there are bits we should avoid using Ubers?

The places he is proposing is fine and really quite nice.

I live here

The city center is a shit hole same as any other, empty shops and dirty streets. Don't bother. But Wollaton Park, Beeston and Highfields is lovely.

I recommend Christine's Delights on Beeston High Road for lunch.

LeaveItia · 02/02/2026 18:41

Thanks all, he though Beeston was a bit rough but by the talk of coffee shops etc it sounds like it has been gentrified 😀
I like the sound of some of the eateries mentioned but apparently we have to have a pizza from amigos.

OP posts:
user405927 · 02/02/2026 18:43

My Facebook targeted advertising has been on fire since I posted on this thread.

Stopped and searched in the city centre if you won’t walk though a ‘knife arch’.

Is Nottingham a nice place to visit
Is Nottingham a nice place to visit
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