‘I found beautiful four-storey shop – so good I wanted to move’ | UK | Travel

It’s not every day you stumble across the best book shop in the UK, but that’s exactly what happened to me. And that was on the same day that I sipped an artisan coffee and perused around vibrant independent shops nestled among stunning architecture in a city that made me contemplate relocating my entire life.

I’ve always loved exploring somewhere new parts of England, whether that’s a quaint village with a cosy pub, a town with a thriving food scene, or a city packed with iconic landmarks and riverside walks. And after a bit of research prior to a day or weekend trip, and my personal navigator, that is my partner, we’ve often stumbled across some wonderful hidden gems, including those that we’ve found by pure luck.

During a day out in Nottingham, on my first ever visit to one of the largest UK cities, I was awestruck by the beautiful four-storey Waterstones bookshop nestled in a grand Victorian building. And it only got better as I ventured inside.

I’m an avid reader, and walking around a bookshop is my form of therapy, with its calming atmosphere and gentle murmur of people chatting or browsing the towering, packed shelves, so finding this gem in the city centre on Bridlesmith Gate was a delight. From the ground floor to the fourth floor, the bookshop offered every genre you could possibly imagine, from travel, transport, photography, law, spiritual writing, military history, film, and food, along with a dedicated children’s area and a café.

Its whimsical atmosphere instantly gave me a vision of slumping into one of the armchairs nestled around the store, burying my head in my latest book, or working from a quiet corner. It took me around half an hour to walk through the whole of the store, and it is easily the best bookshop I’ve ever set foot in.

After all, who said the best bookshops have to be the independent ones? Plus, it felt so far beyond your average chain that its presence prompted me to contemplate a move to the city, just so I could spend my days off in the charming Waterstones before browsing the city’s extensive collection of independent shops.

The city is packed with high street outlets, but its boutiques and vintage stores are what really make its shopping scene. Some of my favourite finds were the gift shop, Handmade Nottingham, the record store, Rough Trade, White Rose and Cow for vintage fashion, as well as the funky OFFseason Nottingham and Exclusive shoe shops.

Aside from the enormous Waterstone I adored, there’s also the Bromley House Library, Five Leaves Bookshop, Bookwise, and a smaller Waterstones on Central Avenue, along with comic book store, Forbidden Planet and Page 45. There’s also plenty of trendy coffee shops for those slower days, with Specialty Coffee & Eatery, Vibe With Coffee, Effy and District Coffee, which became my favourite spot for a caffeine fix.

The city is steeped in history, dating back to the 6th century, when it was a minor settlement known as Snottingham, before expanding into a town by the 9th century and a city during the 19th century. It’s Norman, Georgian, and Victorian architecture that distinguishes the city, which is also renowned for the Robin Hood legend, who is said to have lived in Sherwood Forest.

But away from the Robin Hood statue and nearby Nottingham Castle, that’s well worth a visit, the city also boasts a Motorpoint Arena and a National Ice Centre. And not far from here is Sneinton Market, which was another factor in the idea to move to the city.

The Sneinton Market, just a short walk from the city centre, is a space for creative and independent businesses, including vintage clothing, woodwork, an artisan floral studio, gin makers and distillery, and a coffee roaster. It really has it all, including a bustling food court and bar. 

But my personal favourite was the Neon Raptor brewery and taproom, with indoor and outdoor seating. I felt instantly welcomed as I stopped by for a pint one afternoon, and watched cyclists use it as their checkpoint, or friends as a meeting place. Yet another draw to the city that prompted me to look up houses on Rightmove, there and then.

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