Shopping in Nottingham

There are many great places for both residents and visitors to shop in Britain, and Nottingham has the best of them. The city not only has a wide variety of stores and nationally recognized brands, but also a great selection of unique local specialties, and more than two million people regularly shop in the area. Its commercial areas are also a joy to explore on foot, as the city has paid attention to detail in its development of sheltered walkways, well-manicured flower displays, and abundant sidewalk dining. Those areas that are not within walking distance are accessible via the Nottingham Express Transit (NET) trams, which run from 6am to midnight most days.

Nottingham is the third most popular city for shopping in Britain, ahead of Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow and many other big cities, and behind only Birmingham and London in popularity. It has more than 1,300 stores, six department stores and two shopping centers, with many lesser-known lanes full of shopping opportunities as well.

The most popular shopping area in the city is the Broadmarsh shopping centre, which opened in the south end of the city in 1972. It is home to some ninety stores, including big brands such as Bhs, H&M, Argos, Boots the Chemist and TK Maxx. , as well as smaller ones like JD Sports, New Look, Ethel Austin and Wilkinson. The center is named for the “broad swamp” that once stood on the site; several dilapidated medieval buildings were demolished to make way for development. However, many of the historic caves carved into the sandstone foundations were rediscovered, cleaned up and displayed in the “Cave City” attraction, accessible from inside the mall. The Westfield Group, the owners of Broadmarsh, have won approval for a £400m redevelopment project that will redevelop the nearby shopping areas, car park and bus station over the next few years.

In the Royal Centre, near the Theater Royal, the Royal Concert Hall and the Cornerhouse, is the Victoria Centre. This elegant shopping center was built on the site of the old Nottingham Victoria railway station, which was demolished in 1967, except for the red brick clock tower which was incorporated into the new design. Victoria Center is anchored by the John Lewis and House of Fraser store and has over 120 stores including Boots the Chemist, The Entertainer, Topshop Evolution, GAP, Tesco Metro, Swarovski, HMV and many more. The middle of the center houses a traditional indoor market, with stalls offering fabulous fabrics, fruits and other frivolities.

Flying Horse Walk (a complex of twenty shops integrated into a classic old hotel) and Exchange Arcade are exclusive shopping arcades just off Old Market Square in Nottingham city centre. Its high-end boutiques are filled with an endless variety of tasteful and elegant clothing, furniture, art and accessories. Debenhams, Limeys and Marks & Spencer are located nearby, as are many specialist shops on Poultry Walk, West End Arcade, Hurts Yard and other low-key streets and alleys. The market square itself hosts numerous seasonal markets.

For a deeper foray into fashion, one should visit Bridlesmith Gate (nicknamed “Posh Man’s Alley”), a shopping street that became a veritable mecca of design culture when local clothing designer Paul Smith opened his first store there. shop in Nottingham. Other designers, such as Diesel, Flannels, Ted Baker, Reiss and Kurt Geiger, have also opened stores in the neighborhood, and these and other stores carry such coveted brands as Prada, Gucci, Hugo Boss and Manolo Blahnik.

Looking for something a little more edgy? The Hockley Village area, adjacent to Lace Market, is the center of a rich alternative culture. Clothing stores, bars, restaurants, galleries, record stores, and charming and eccentric New Age businesses support a lively neighborhood filled with artists, students, and free spirits. The unusual mix of cutting-edge fashion (and sometimes body modification) with elegant historic architecture creates a fascinating microculture.

At the opposite end of the spectrum is the leisurely pace of Derby Road, near the Royal Centre, which specializes in collectible antiques and fine art. There is an excellent Hyson Green ethnic shopping area on Radford Road where you can find imported goods and foods from India and a dozen other nations. The Hyson Green area hosts a weekly street market that takes place every Wednesday.

Those interested in learning more about Nottingham and its history can explore the Lace Centre, the Museum of Costumes and Texts, the Brewhouse Yard Museum, and the Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery for more gifts and books. Speaking of books, the four floors of Waterstone’s on Bridlesmith Gate are sure to provide reading material for people of all ages and inclinations, and the shop offers coffee and space to relax.

In short, there is a world of opportunity for shopping pleasure on the streets of Nottingham.