A Student’s Guide to Nottingham in the Winter

About the author: My name is George Okonkwo, and I am a Broadcast Journalist student at Nottingham Trent University. I have a passion for journalistic and literary writing and research. I also love reading, binge watching TV shows, singing with my terrible voice, and going for walks alone or with friends.

We all know winter in the UK gets a bad rep. Let’s be real for one second. Even when it isn't winter, the weather here is…something, and winter in Nottingham can be sad. It’s cold, it gets dark at 4pm, your motivation mysteriously disappears somewhere between November and February (I know mine has). But if you lean into it, Nottingham in the winter can actually be elite. Here’s how to survive and actually enjoy Nottingham in the winter as a student.

Cafés become your second home ☕

Winter in Nottingham means café season. You’ll suddenly develop strong opinions on which place has the best hot chocolate, the comfiest seating, the most plugs, and the most aesthetically-pleasing background for your cute, cosy pictures.

Student favourites include:

• 200 Degrees: reliable, central, perfect for long study sessions 
• Café Sobar: cosy vibes and good people-watching 
• The Dice Cup (my fave): board games, warm drinks, and an excuse to avoid the cold.

These spots are lifesavers during revision season when the library feels like a pressure cooker.

Libraries hit different in winter 📚

When it’s freezing outside, libraries become weirdly comforting. Whether it’s Boots Library at Nottingham Trent University (too bad you won't want to use the roof garden discussed in my 'guide to Nottingham in the summer' blog post) or Hallward Library at the University of Nottingham, winter is when everyone collectively decides to lock in.

Winter = comfort food season 🍜

Cold weather unlocks the urge to eat like you’re emotionally recovering from something. Nottingham delivers. Hot noodles from Wok&Go, a sit-down meal in Hockley when the student loan hits, and late-night takeaway runs because cooking anything feels impossible and draining. Winter is the season where your bank balance suffers but your soul is fed.

Cold walks, but make them aesthetic ⛄

Even in winter, Nottingham has some genuinely nice outdoor spots. You just need a coat and a bit of willpower. The Arboretum looks especially pretty when it’s frosty. Wollaton Park in winter is quiet, and perfect for moody photos. Plus, winter walks count as exercise, so you can justify the hot chocolate afterwards. It’s cardio. Get those steps in!

Nights in are suddenly acceptable (thank God 🙏)

If you’re like me in that you hate going out but have friends that love to go for nights out EVERY BUSINESS AND NON-BUSINESS DAY like their lives depends on it, this one’s for you. It's for us.

Winter is when everyone finally collectively agrees that staying in is valid. Movie nights, flat dinners, board and/or video games, or just sitting around talking until 2am are all elite winter activities. Nottingham’s student houses were basically made for this. Houses in the city centre, houses in Radford, houses in Beeston, you name it.

Nottingham in the winter is fun and can be enjoyable. It's about embracing the cosy. Layering up, finding your favourite spots, and making the most of the long nights (Game of Thrones reference, anyone?) is all part of student life here. Before you know it, spring will roll around, and you’ll weirdly miss the nights spent wrapped in a hoodie, walking home through a quiet city, thinking “yeah… this wasn’t so bad after all”.

Our UniHomes Content Ambassadors are current students across the UK who share tips about student life in their city to help you make the most of your time at uni. If you're interested in writing for our programme, click here for more details.

The views and opinions expressed in these blogs are those of the UniHomes Content Ambassadors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of UniHomes. UniHomes accepts no liability for the content of these Student Blogs.