Is Nottingham a nice place to visit

[LeaveItia]

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?

Crikey some of you are dainty flowers!

It hasn't had the money invested in it that, say, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham has but
it's a thriving city - shops, cafes, pubs, restaurants, Forest Ground, Ice Arena, theatres are packed with people enjoying themselves!

DD's at UoN and is having a ball. I go there often for work (and to visit DD) and find the people - on the whole - warm and friendly. In fact, we're going on Friday for Light Night when much of the city is lit up and it'll be full of families having a jolly time.

Dh says it always was a very young vibrant city. Lots of students and then those that stayed on. He has fond memories of the city centre, just a bit different with dc in tow.
Sounds like his plans are good though and we will spend a day or two wandering round his old haunts.
Does anyone know the best place to park if we don’t travel in on the train?.

You will be safe in Beeston and Wolllaton 🙄

Where are you wanting to park? You can park in Beeston for free on many of the roads and get the tram to the university or town. Transport is good.

For those saying we're dainty flowers or sheltered if we are upset by the state of the city at times recently I think that's really insulting to those of us who live here but want to feel safe in our city centre and have pleasant surroundings. We're expected to be fine with teenagers masking up and having machete fights in town, multiple people sleeping on the streets clearly suffering addiction and other problems.

But it's thriving!

Speaking as someone who lived in Radford for more than 10 years and loved it, so no not sheltered or particularly dainty.

DD was at uni there, so visited multiple times recently. I certainly didn't feel worried for my safety! There are dodgy bits, like a lot of UK cities, but the centre itself is perfectly ok, although if I'm being honest, nothing special. The grounds of the Uni are a lovely place for a wander, as is Wollaton Park.

I did my PGCE in Nottingham 30 years ago. At the time, it was the city with the highest violent crime rate - specifically gun crime- in the UK. It seems to be a thing that people want to suggest problems in particular places are only problems now, or have become worse (usually said about London). In fact, statistically, Nottingham has become safer.

The gang and gun crimes have always been confined to certain areas most people are unlikely to walk through (although actaully, approaching the cricket ground from the station can be spicy).

I went there with DS for an open day 5 years ago and I thought the city centre was way nicer than it was in the 90s.

It's all relative. If you live in the world's most boring town TM, Nottingham is exciting , fun and energetic. The world's most boring town TM also has people on the streets, drugs and fighting youths without any of the upside.

Gently lolling at Nottingham being in the North. That be the Midlands. Heavy metal and bikers, duck.

I think anyone who says duck is considered northern by southerners.

I completely agree. I went to school in Brixton, grew up in Streatham and Thornton Heath. Some of the roughest areas of South London. I’ve been flashed at, mugged on the way home, been around teenagers tucking knives into their socks for school. I’m certainly NOT dainty or pearl clutchy. But what I’ve seen and heard in Nottingham has surpassed that. It’s a horrible place to live unless you’re either quite well off or a student literally living in the student bubble.

DD lived on the same road as the two students were stabbed to death. The whole road is full of weirdos who either have addiction issues / mental health issues or other problems. Lots of students live in large multi occupancy houses along the road and feel safe because they are surrounded by other students but this gives a false sense of security.

Wollaton Hall is also nice for a walk and can be reached by bus. If you want to get outside of the city there are some nice country parks. Rushcliffe Country Park is very pleasant and easy to reach from the city centre on the number 10 bus. Ruddington which is next to it has a nice museum. Further afield there's the Holocaust Museum, Rufford Abbey and Sherwood Pines.

Rudy’s pizza is the best pizza place in Nottingham, it’s next to Delilah’s which is an amazing deli/restaurant as well.
I’ve lived here for over 20 years, never felt unsafe!
Galleries of justice in the city centre is well worth a visit, your kids will love it.
Have fun!

We might be considered northern, doesn’t mean we are. I’ve spent 50 odd years visiting Nottingham for shopping, food, nightclubs. It’s always had its slightly seedy areas and I agree there’s been an influx of young men (because that’s what they are) with masks and knives in recent years. That’s no different to any other Midlands city though, Derby and Birmingham have just as many issues. It wouldn’t stop me visiting somewhere. You could be stabbed in your local Tesco these days.

I went to school in Brixton, grew up in Streatham and Thornton Heath. Some of the roughest areas of South London. I’ve been flashed at, mugged on the way home, been around teenagers tucking knives into their socks for school. I’m certainly NOT dainty or pearl clutchy. But what I’ve seen and heard in Nottingham has surpassed that

Love how people are trying to establish their street cred!

My DC lives there now having graduated from NTU, which is city centre. So i' ve recently visited many times. Never seen bouncers on shops or groups of masked men in hoodies. There were some people begging who come up to you and ask for money, so actively begging, which I didn't like much. It's vibrant and DS loves it there - he's from Manchester so not naive. Thus far in 5 years he's had no trouble.

@LeaveItiai walked past Amigos this afternoon. I was going to take a picture, but it was closed. 😂

@Pepperedpickles I live very close to Ilkeston Road. I wouldn’t have walked down it at 4am in the morning but I don’t recognise what your DD is describing at all. I’ve lived here for 20+ years and never felt unsafe.

I live in a village on the outskirts of nottm and now avoid the city centre as much as possible as it just doesn’t feel safe anymore, whereas in the 90’s /oo’s I was happily out drinking and partying there regularly. Personally I class beeston as one of the rougher, less pleasant suburbs I certainly wouldn’t suggest it as somewhere nice to visit. Lots of lovely areas on the outskirts though.

I'm not too far away from Nottingham and would say it's not what it was, I don't go often for that reason it's become very rundown it's a shame. Avoid the tram if you can it's awful. Beeston is a bit of a mix but worth a look around the university area is nice and I'd recommend a walk around the lake at Highfield's and a visit to lakeside arts.

But this is a fair point if people are trying to say it’s because we’ve never lived in a city!

Well, I've lived in a few cities.

What so awful about the tram?

Is there anyone on this thread who's actually born and bread nottnm? Those of us who are can absolutely have the opinion that the city center is now a shit hole... Because it is!

Same as the majority of cities. Anyone been Birmingham recently 😳

OP, use public transport, don't drive everywhere there's no need. Traffic is shocking at the moment roadworks everywhere 10x the time.

The tra is fine, it's just like the tube but easier. Busses are plentiful and super easy to navigate.

Dd has just graduated from UoN.

I’ve seen a decline in the town centre since she started there. It’s rough. Lots of police (no bad thing), homeless folk, etc.

But the uni, West Bridgford, Wollaton Park etc are all lovely. Beeston is fine.

Also, the tragic knife attack could have taken place literally anywhere. Not very fair or logical to blame Notts for that.

Both Barney and Grace's parents said they had had the best year of their lives at UoN and loved the city.