Nottingham has everything a young professional could ask for. A healthy job market, affordable housing, and a vibrant social scene are the least of what’s on offer in the city. But where exactly should you live as a young professional? We Buy Any Home has selected some of the best areas for you to explore.
Hockley and Lace Market
If you can imagine yourself living in a cultured, progressive and exciting part of town, you have to consider setting up camp in the Hockley and Lace Market area.
It was once one of England’s best-kept secrets, but now people outside of Nottingham have finally caught on to the treasure that is Hockley. Just last year it was voted one of the coolest postcodes in the UK by The Sunday Times, and it’s been nicknamed the “Soho of Nottingham”.
Located in Nottingham’s Creative Quarter, Hockley is one of those rare places with a constant buzz about it. Its cobbled streets offer a surprise at every corner, from quirky hidden bars to vintage boutiques. Visitors come from all over the city because it’s got some of the best restaurants in town. People regularly describe it as an interesting and inclusive area.
But what makes Hockley such an enticing place to live? Not only do residents have immediate access to the copious number of independent outlets, but it’s also a perfect spot to walk to work in the city. The whole of Nottingham’s city centre area is within a 15-minute walk. Plus, you’ll have tram and bus stops right on your doorstep, and the train station is barely 5 minutes away.
Hockley is a great spot if you’re extroverted and like to live in the middle of the action. There’s a large supply of modern apartments in the area, but be aware that it’s a sought-after location, and the rental market can be particularly competitive.
Neighbouring Hockley is the Lace Market, one of Nottingham’s most iconic areas. Thanks to its well-maintained Victorian buildings, the historic Lace Market makes an impression on anyone that walks its hallowed streets. It was once a powerhouse of the British Empire’s lace industry, but now the area is now mostly residential. Hockley is barely a minute away, and there’s convenient access to the rest of the city centre. The majority of properties in the area are flats. They had an average price of £147,011 in the last 12 months, according to Rightmove.
It’s not been easy to sell a flat in recent times, so if you need some help getting yours sold you can work with We Buy Any Home to sell your flat in Nottingham fast.
Sherwood
Sherwood is an area that’s really come into its own lately. Once a sleepy suburb with limited footfall, it’s now home to a thriving scene of pubs and restaurants. Many people are happy to venture from places across Nottingham to try what Sherwood has to offer. And residents here are impressed by the fresh independent eateries that have popped up in recent years, like Le Mistral, Rikki Rakkas and Pistachio, all offering excellent foreign cuisine.
As it’s located just 1 and a half miles north of the city centre, it’s a convenient spot for young professionals working in the city. It’s possible to walk into the city in 30 minutes or less, but there’s also a constant stream of buses from Sherwood to the city centre and beyond. When it comes to city paths, there are few British cities more accommodating than Nottingham. If you have a preference for cycling to work, you can take advantage of the many cycle paths and arrive at the centre in just 10-15 minutes from Sherwood.
When you fancy a day or night out in Nottingham, you won’t feel like you have a long way to travel home to Sherwood. A car or taxi journey takes barely 10 minutes from Nottingham centre. The area is known for being safe and well-lit at night. And you won’t have to venture too far for essentials. The Gym Sherwood is one of Nottingham’s top fitness centres. Supermarkets Lidl and Aldi are within walking distance. The diverse suburb also has several places of worship within its boundaries.
Sherwood is also a good location for young professionals with children as there are several well-regarded primary schools close by. For example, Haydn Primary School which was awarded an “Outstanding” rating by Ofsted in its last inspection. Read more about the best places to live in Nottingham for families.
Of course, one of the most important things for most young professionals looking for a place to live is affordability. Sherwood ticks off that box handily. According to Rightmove, the average Sherwood property was priced at £233,280 in the last year, which is lower than the Nottingham average of £257,425. The majority of sales were terraced houses, but there’s a large stock of detached and semi-detached houses too.
Beeston
Thanks to its excellent transport links, Beeston is a fitting option for young professionals wanting a balance between quiet downtime and a lively social scene. There are plenty of ways to travel quickly from Beeston to the Nottingham city centre, including by car, tram, rail or bus. All the public transport options are cheap and efficient.
Beeston itself is a safe and welcoming suburb with lots of relaxed neighbourhoods. As it is close to the University of Nottingham’s main campus, there’s a strong student population. Students bring a lot of money to the area which helps keep the bar and restaurant scene fresh. As a result, Beeston has arguably the best selection of restaurants in all of Nottingham, including city favourite The Frustrated Chef.
Beeston’s town centre features a wealth of high-street brands as well as a Pure Gym, Arc Cinema and Weatherspoons pub. Supermarkets are abundant in the area, with Tesco Extra, Lidl and Sainsbury’s just off the high street.
Some of Nottingham’s biggest employers are within a 5 to 10-minute drive of Beeston. Retailer and pharmacy chain Boots has its national headquarters in Beeston. Plus, the massive QMC Hospital is just around the corner. With the M1 so close to Beeston, it’s easy for commuters to reach the Sherwood Business Park, which is a hub for Nottingham’s impressive technology and advanced manufacturing sectors.
In terms of housing, Beeston house prices averaged at £302,728 over the last year. There’s also a large rental market in the area.
