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IMPACT
A Fresher’s guide to Nottingham Freshers, Impact’s Lucy Woodward has shared some of the best Notts spots for you to impress your friends with. You can thank us later.
The first few weeks of university have the potential to be pretty overwhelming. With so many exciting things to do, new people to meet and cool places to explore, it’s easy to see how being a fresher could feel a bit like being a kid in an ice cream shop staring at an enticing display of extremely appealing choices. How on earth do you work out which decisions will lead to The Best Possible Freshers Experience?! Of course, just like ice cream, everyone has their own preferences, so doing whatever you’re most drawn to is most likely going to be what’s right for you. But, for those of you still feeling perplexed by the seemingly endless ways to have a good time, here’s my guide to the top things to do as a fresher in Nottingham that will help you get a feel for the city. Let’s start with the daytime: it’s lunchtime and you’re in the city centre with a few friends looking for somewhere to eat. The Fox Café on Pelham Street does some of the best sandwiches and paninis you’ll find, with plenty of veggie, vegan, gluten-free and meat options available. Nottingham’s second-hand fashion scene is amazing. A short walk up the road from Market Square brings you to the Lace Market, where there’s an array of cool independent charity and vintage clothes shops, such as COW and White Rose. It’s a fun way to update your wardrobe more sustainably, whilst also getting to know the city as you walk from one shop to the next.
Once you’re done in Lace Market, continue down the road past the Pride rainbow on the road towards Hockley. There’s an incredibly aesthetic plant shop just across Lower Parliament Street called the Watered Garden. You won’t find anywhere better for satisfying all your dreams of that Pinterest-inspired bedroom overflowing with succulents and cacti. For anyone questioning their abilities to juggle fresher life with plant parenting, however, just browsing the amazing array of greenery on offer is still lovely (and a safe bet if you’re keen to avoid your new room turning into a houseplant graveyard!). If navigating your way back to halls from town feels daunting, don’t worry. Something I’ve grown to appreciate about Nottingham is that transport is so straightforward – it’s almost impossible to get lost on your way to and from campus on the trams, trust me. The closest stops to Uni Park campus are University Boulevard and University of Nottingham (depending on your hall). Just hop on the trams heading towards Hucknall, when you’re going into the city centre, and Toton Lane when returning to campus.
