The best kept secrets of the top 10 places to live in Nottinghamshire

Every year the best places to live in Nottinghamshire are announced by Muddy Stilettos, with it being no surprise that the historic suburb of Wollaton or the picturesque town of Beeston have once again made it into the top 10. After considering several different aspects of each location, such as the shops, schools and house prices, the online guide rounds up the greatest places to live in each area.

A total of 10 places have been selected as Nottinghamshire’s finest, as well as making it into the top 260 best places to live in England for 2024. These locations include Edwinstowe, Newark, Southwell, Woodborough, Mapperley, West Bridgford, Farnsfield and The Park, Nottingham.

However, whilst all of these locations have a great range of businesses and attractions to help with their top spots, Muddy Stilettos have also shared the best kept secrets of each area.

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Farnsfield

This peaceful village may seem out in the sticks but it is home to a range of pubs and boutique shops. It has a range of well-rated schools which makes it great for young families, as does the amount of great parks and walks in the area. Plus, it’s just a stone’s throw away from Sherwood Forest or White Post Farm.

West Bridgford

The town of West Bridgford is the heart of sports for the county, as it is the home to the City Ground where Nottingham Forest play and Trent Bridge Cricket Ground. However, if you’re a Notts County fan, don’t worry, as Meadow Lane is based just the other side of the river in Nottingham, making the town a great place to live if you regularly go to sports matches, or if you work in the city centre. The area is well-known for its great schools and independent businesses, but what most people don’t realise is you can enjoy the town from a different perspective by going on one of the river cruises on the Trent, which are offered all year round.

Mapperley

This Nottingham suburb is described by Muddy Stilettos as being “the perfect blend of town and country” thanks to its popular location between the rural countryside and the bustling city centre. Meaning it’s great for those who might need to commute into the city for work, but be able to easily spend their weekend exploring nature. One of the more unusual facts about the area is that if you visit Private Road you can enjoy a stunning view. This road is the highest area of Nottingham, and actually sits at 127 metres above sea level.

The Park, Nottingham

Meanwhile in the city itself, The Park has once again been recognised as one of the best places to live. While this tranquil estate is just be a short walk away from everything the city centre has to offer, from a vibrant nightlife to cultural attractions, it feels anything but. The Park Estate is an elegant area built on the old castle deer park, and still has many mature trees, wide streets and flagstone pavements. Many of the buildings boast stunning Victorian architecture, and the streets even have gas streetlamps used to keep them lit at night. One of the best kept secrets about this area is that there is a hidden tunnel connecting The Park to Derby Road, which was built in 1855 for horse-drawn carriages.

Woodborough

Seven miles away from Nottingham you will find the picturesque village of Woodborough, which is surrounded by countryside ready to be explored. However, whilst the village is rural, it is certainly not remote, and there are plenty of schools and businesses on your doorstep, including some fine dining and pub options. There are a range of pretty period cottages and most of the properties there have character one way or another. The historic village can also be linked back to William the Conqueror, as the first record of land holding for the area is in the Domesday Book written in 1086. According to Muddy Stilettos, it shows that ” Woodborough was part of a large estate given to William the Conqueror’s son William Peveril.”

Southwell

Also known for its history is Southwell, with the 900-year-old Minster still standing tall in the heart of the town. Southwell is also home to the original Bramley Apple tree, which after 200 years is still bearing fruit. So to celebrate, the town hosts the Bramley Apple Festival each year in October, which has a range of stalls and cookery demonstrations. Southwell is also known for its superb schools and nurseries, and dozens of independent stores and boutiques.

At the heart of the town is Southwell Minster

Newark

Another town recognised as being one of the best places to live in the county is Newark. The town has a vast range of businesses, a bustling market square, and its own castle. In recent years the town has also started to become popular with the steampunk community, hosts its own beach in the summer and is also home to the National Civil War Centre.

From stunning architecture in the centre to a range of schools, the town is also just a 40-minute drive from Nottingham or Lincoln. Plus with two train stations, it is a great place for commuters, even those who work in London thanks to the LNER Azuma only taking 80 minutes on average to get to the capital. However, the real hidden gem of the town according to Muddy Stilettos is Strays, which recently relocated to The Ossington Building, and is very popular for its jazz night.

Edwinstowe

Edwinstowe, also referred to as Robin Hood’s Village, is surrounded by countryside and steeped in folklore. It has 375 hectares of Sherwood Forest on its doorstep, as well as the 1,000-year-old Major Oak. It’s a great place to live for those who love to explore, as it’s just a stone’s throw away from Clumber Park, Rufford Abbey Country Park and Sherwood Pines.

You can also keep enjoying the adventure with action-packed holidays as Centre Parcs is also quite literally on the outskirts of the village. One of the things most people don’t know about Edwinstowe is that Daniel Day-Lewis’ grandfather was Reverend Frank Cecil Day-Lewis, best known as the former Vicar of Edwinstowe. Visitors of the church are often spooked by ‘the face in the window’ appearing in the centre panel of the East window.

Beeston

Unlike many of the other top locations, Beeson is more modern, vibrant and stylish than rural or quaint. The town has a cool vibe thanks to its student population, as the University of Nottingham campus can be found here. As well as a variety of independent and unique businesses, Beeston also has its own boutique cinema and its own film festival. It’s also great for nightlife, as it has 23 pubs, which is one of the highest concentrations of pubs in a UK location. Plus, according to Muddy Stilettos, Paul Smith was born in Beeston and Vicky McClure lives in the neighbouring village of Toton.

Wollaton

A general view of Wollaton Hall and Deer Park in Wollaton, Nottingham with a bench in the foreground and the hall in the distance.

Last but not certainly not least is Wollaton. Dominated by the backdrop of the stunning Wollaton Hall and Deer Park, this suburb is beautiful from every angle. It also has a great range of transport links for those wanting to commute to the city. However, with a range of lovely pubs and restaurants, there is plenty of nightlife here as well. One of the best kept secrets of Wollaton is that every Sunday the mum of two Nottingham Michelin star chefs is reported to set up at Wollaton Park and sell homestyle Punjabi snacks. These are super popular and tend to sell out quickly. The area is also great for schools and nurseries, making it a great family-friendly area.