HOW IT RATES

The UK’s seventh richest city, and the mythical home of Robin Hood, has restaurants, shops and pubs to rival many a bigger city. Old beauties like the Lace Market rub shoulders with 20th-century statement buildings and new millennium schemes.

ARCHITECTURAL GEMS
The dominant dome of Cecil Howitt’s Council House can hardly be missed. The local architect Watson Fothergill’s distinctive designs can be seen around town. The Prudential and the Adams building are two outstanding creations. And don’t forget Nottingham Castle . . .

WHAT’S NEW
The converted lace mills are popular with a bohemian crowd. A one-bedroom flat is about £150,000. Cavendish House in The Park is a very hot ticket (01158 411155) and CPMG’s Litmus Building (01159 589500) is tipped as the new build for 2007.

QUALITY OF LIFE
Despite being the so-called gun capital of Britain, the city is actually quite a civilised place. Pretty parks, rejuvenated canal banks and oodles of relaxed eateries are the perfect ingredients for a Sunday stroll.

TRAVEL
Trains to St Pancras take 1hr 40 min; East Midlands Airport is 15 miles away; and trams give the city centre a European feel.

POPULATION
About 637,000 in Greater Nottingham, of whom a third live in the city. There are 60,000 students (split equally between the city’s two universities).

SMARTEST STREETS
The Park estate has long been the best address. Park Road’s restored terrace is also in demand and High Pavement has gorgeous houses and historical features. The Old General Hospital is an upmarket conversion complex.

BEST RESTAURANTS
World Service does faultless fusion food in an air of exclusivity, Chino Latino boasts a former chef from Nobu and cutting edge interior, and Mozart’s serves musically themed dishes in a friendly upstairs room. Hart’s is known for offering the best service in the city with its mix of traditional and modern cuisine.

TOP NIGHTLIFE
If you don’t mind tourists, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem claims to be the oldest pub in Britain. The Orange Tree has live music and a friendly crowd and you can see a range of new bands at the Social. The Savoy cinema remains family run and shows old films with the original trailers. Not a big sleeper? Rock City stays open until 6am.

EDUCATION
D. H. Lawrence and Kenneth Clarke both went to Nottingham High School and the first female head of MI5, Stella Rimington, went to Nottingham High School for Girls. The Trinity School is the city’s top state secondary. The University of Nottingham is one of the UK’s best and Nottingham Trent University is well known for design.

WORKING LIFE
Unemployment in the city is higher than in Greater Nottingham, and at 4.3 per cent is almost twice the national average. The service industry dominates employment, two fifths of which is in public services. About 10 per cent of the population still works in manufacturing.

UPSIDE
Paul Smith’s home town has his flagship store on Low Pavement. Wollaton Hall, a Tudor pile on the edge of the city with 500 acres of deer park, is home to a cluster of small museums. Anish Kapoor’s sculpture provides an uplifting example of the city’s use of modern pieces in an historic setting.

DOWNSIDE
The parks could do with better maintenance. And the violent crime rate blights certain areas, although the council says overall crime has dropped by 20 per cent since 2003.

£106,000
The average property price in Greater Nottingham
Source: Hometrack

2%
The increase in house prices in Nottingham City over the past three months
Source: Halifax

158% The increase in house prices in Nottingham City over the past decade
Source: Halifax

31, 206 The number of properties in Nottingham rented from the council
Source: 2001 Census

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