Often, it’s something small that helps you picture yourself living somewhere. You take a walk after a viewing, find a café you’d happily return to, or realise there’s a countryside path close enough for an evening stroll.
The house matters, of course, but so does everything that happens beyond the front door. If you’re thinking about moving to Nottinghamshire, leave a little time between viewings to discover what life here could look like.
What is living in Nottinghamshire like?
Living in Nottinghamshire offers a choice of market towns, countryside villages and neighbourhoods close to Nottingham. From Southwell and Newark to Beeston, West Bridgford and Bulcote, there are different settings to suit your priorities, whether that means city connections, everyday amenities or more opportunities to get outdoors.
You might be looking for somewhere to raise a family, settle into a slower pace or finally have room for everyone around the dinner table. Your reasons for moving will help you decide where to begin.
Where are the best places to live in Nottinghamshire?
The best places to live in Nottinghamshire are the ones that suit your version of an ordinary week. Think about where you’d spend Saturday morning, but also how Tuesday’s school run and journey to work would fit together.
Bulcote and Burton Joyce
If village life appeals, spend some time around Bulcote. Its countryside surroundings make it worth exploring for anyone hoping to spend more of their free time outdoors, with Nottingham still accessible when work or evening plans call.
Neighbouring Burton Joyce provides grocery shops, a medical centre, pharmacies and a railway station. Our guide to living in Bulcote explores the area around The Old Farmstead in more detail.
Southwell and Newark
In Southwell, the Minster and Regency buildings give a walk through town plenty of interest. Allow time to explore the high street and stop for lunch; it’s easier to imagine living somewhere when you’ve spent an afternoon there.
Nearby Newark also belongs on a market-town shortlist. Visiting both will help you decide which feels more suited to you.
Beeston, West Bridgford and further afield
Beeston and West Bridgford are worth exploring if you want to focus your search closer to Nottingham. Try spending time around your prospective neighbourhood, following the routes you’d take to the shops or public transport.
Further across the county, Mansfield, Worksop and Retford broaden your options, particularly if work or family brings you north. Nottinghamshire’s town guide can help you decide where to visit first.
Making everyday life work
A home can win you over on a sunny Sunday, but you’ll want to know it works on a wet Wednesday too.
Try the commute at the time you’d normally travel, including the walk to the station or bus stop. Around Bulcote, Burton Joyce station provides a connection into Nottingham, while anyone working from home should check broadband availability at the address.
For families, visiting prospective schools can make the move feel more real. Check admissions arrangements and availability directly with the school or local authority, then explore the surrounding area together.
It’s also worth finding the places you’ll use without much thought once you’ve settled in, from the pharmacy to the shop you’ll turn to when someone finishes the milk.
Things to do in Nottinghamshire when the weekend arrives
Once the boxes are unpacked, exploring becomes part of your weekend routine.
Sherwood Forest offers trails through ancient woodland, including a route to the famous Major Oak. It’s a good place to take visiting friends, especially those expecting at least a mention of Robin Hood.
At Clumber Park, a circular lakeside walk gives you a reason to pack a picnic and linger over the views. Before long, you may have a favourite route and firm opinions about where to stop afterwards.
With these things to do in Nottinghamshire, getting to know your new surroundings can be one of the pleasures of moving.
Find your home at The Old Farmstead
If your search for new homes in Nottinghamshire brings you to Bulcote, we’d love to show you around The Old Farmstead.
Set within a former Grade II listed model farm, it brings together converted buildings in our Heritage Collection and new-build homes in our Contemporary Collection.
Come and explore the homes with our team, ask your questions and take a wander around the village afterwards. You might find yourself picturing far more than where the sofa would go.