Nottingham as Major Retail and Shopping Centre

Nottingham has long been known as the Queen of the Midlands and has been a major shopping centre for decades. Despite the opening of out of town malls it draws shoppers from a wide area.

The centre of Nottingham is compact which makes shopping easy. With the free Centrelink shuttle bus service, buses every ten minutes, getting around is even more manageable.  Visitors arriving by car from out of town can use park and ride schemes on all the main routes into Nottingham. Some link with the tram to make the trip into the city centre even quicker.

City Centre Around the Old Market Square

The Old Market Square, known as Slab Square to the locals, and the domed Council House, dominate the city centre.  The statues of lions and the steps at the front of the Council continue to be a popular meeting place. The square was remodelled and it is now much more usable space for events. During the summer it even gains a beach and in the winter an outdoor ice-rink.

Slab Square is often host to themed markets. In December, there is usually a Christmas Market and throughout the rest of the year, there are regular Farmers', French, German and other markets.

In the Exchange Arcade under the Council House there are upmarket shops such as Jaeger, an art gallery and there is a long established tobacconist and wine merchant, Gauntleys of Nottingham,  who specialises in  quality cigars and smokers' essentials.

As well the major chains, such as Debenhams, H and M, Marks and Spencer, and Primark, who have stores on the streets leading off and around the square, there are also a wide range of independent, upmarket chains and specialist retailers. Amongst the well-known brands with stores in this area are Boss, Giorgio Armani, French Connection, Ted Baker. Paul Smith has his flagship store on nearby Low Pavement. Paul Smith grew up in Nottingham and his original store is still open for business on Byard Lane, just off Bridlesmith Gate.

Running from Waterstones, Nottingham's main bookshop, to where Low Pavement becomes Middle Pavement, Bridlesmith Gate features jewellers, fashion outlets and shoe shops. It comes out at the top entrance to Broadmarsh, one of Nottingham's two indoor shopping centres,

Main Indoor Shopping Centres: Victoria Centre and Broadmarsh

The Broadmarsh Shopping Centre has several major chains including Argos, British Home Stores (BHS), Boots and just outside are HMV and Dixons. It is close to the railway station and a bus station.

A short walk to the north of Market Square is the Victoria Shopping Centre with its listed clock tower; it is on the site of the old Victoria railway station, and its famously quirky Rowland Emett water clock. Many of the major store and specialist chains have branches in the Victoria Centre. Near the bus station there is House of Fraser and at city centre and there are large John Lewis, known as Jessops locally, Next, WHSmith, HMV and Boots' branches.

The Victoria Centre has a permanent indoor market with a separate food sections which provides fresh produce, fish and meat with specialist ethnic ingredients.

Across the road from the Victoria Centre are Waitrose and PC World in the newly developed Trinity Square, Forman Street and Cornerhouse developments. The Cornerhouse, across the road from the Theatre Royal and the Royal Concert Hall, has a multiplex cinema and with Foreman Street there are many popular chain bars and restaurants.

The Eclectic and Specialist Retailers

Shoppers with more eclectic tastes are also well served in Nottingham, most often on the routes just out of the city centre.

Goose Gate down into Hockley is perhaps the best example where interior design shops mix with street fashion and other unusual shops. Goths are well served on the main street, as are cyclists. Model makers can get their supplies from the long established Gee Dee Models on nearby Heathcote Street. Beyond Hockley there are a range of retail outlets and workshops in the old Sneinton Fruit and Vegetable market. A traditional outdoor market is held here on Saturdays and Monday featuring everything from food and clothes to crafts, antiques and bric-a-brac.

On the other side of the city centre there is a Chinese supermarket just across the Derby Road from St Barnabas, the Roman Catholic Cathedral, the Albert Hall and the Playhouse theatre. Further up on the same side there is Celia's, a vintage clothes shop that also does fancy dress hire as do other shops. There are art galleries, interior design shops, and other specialists as one heads out of town to Canning Circus.

On the main road out of Nottingham to the north is Mansfield Road. Whilst most of its shops serve the local residents, mainly students, there are some specialists including art supplies, computer parts and retro clothes and music shops.

Compact Shopping Centre and Good Transport Links

Nottingham has good access by train, bus and car with out of town park and ridde schemes on all the main routes. The bus services are good both locally and for inter-city travel. East Midlands Airport is only a few miles away and has regular train and bus links.

The City Centre itself is only a fifteen minute walk from Victoria Centre to the Braodmarsch shoppping center. It is well served with coffee shops, cafes and restaurants so the shopper can comfortably make their visit a full day out.