Culture

Food and drink

Nottingham’s dining experiences include British, Indian, Asian, Polish, Italian, Greek, Mexican, Spanish, Bangladeshi, and Caribbean offerings.

Highlights include Iberico World Tapas, which brings together the rustic simplicity of Spanish tapas with the refined ingredients of world cooking, and World Service – which as its name suggests blends modern British cuisine along with influences from around the world. Looking for more upscale dining experiences? Consider a visit to Restaurant Sat Bains, owned by the twice-Michelin-starred chef of the same name whose passion for fine dining has earned international recognition.

It says a lot about our city's love of entrepreneurship and welcoming attitude that one of the best places in the UK to find authentic New England cuisine is Annie's Burger Shack. Born and bred in Rhode Island, Annie visited Nottingham as a tourist ten years ago, fell in love with the city, and has been running one of its most successful restaurants ever since. You’ll find Annie’s in the historic Lace Market area of the city.

And how could we forget Nottingham's pride and joy, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem — widely considered the oldest pub in England, dating back to 1189 AD!

Theatre and Music

Theatergoers are well catered for in Nottingham with Nottingham Playhouse, The Theatre Royal, and Royal Concert Hall.

Nottingham’s music venues range from the large-scale Motorpoint Arena, to small and intimate gigs such as The Bodega. These venues provide something for all cultural tastes, with Nottingham regularly attracting world-class orchestras, rock bands, dance acts, and solo artists. NTU staff and students can even access discounted tickets for selected shows at Nottingham Playhouse each season.

Nottingham Ice Stadium

Nottingham’s famous Ice Stadium is the go-to venue if you want to practice your skating skills, and home to our highly successful ice hockey team, the Nottingham Panthers.

Two of our most famous exports, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, honed their talents in the city and have repeatedly put Nottingham on the map. The two ice dancers shot to fame in the Sarajevo 1984 Winter Olympics, winning gold and becoming the highest-scoring figure skaters of all time for a single programme.

Shopping

Nottingham is consistently ranked as one of the top shopping destinations in the UK. You'll find all the major high street names here, sitting alongside designer boutiques like Vivienne Westwood and Paul Smith. There's the Victoria shopping center and plenty of high street favourites around Old Market Square and Hockley.

Island Quarter Development

The Island Quarter Nottingham is a 36-acre development that will house a new quarter for hotels, offices, living, restaurants, bars, and cultural events, all linked by green space. This exciting development will enhance the cultural offerings in the City and offer opportunities for Nottingham to become one of the most innovative cities in the UK.