A guide to living in East Midlands

Easy access to London and the national motorway network ensures the economic prosperity of the East Midlands, UK. A dedicated airport also serves to connect this central region to Europe and the world, with key cities Leicester and Nottingham also providing financial stimulus and good value options for housing. The county of Derbyshire includes much of the Peak District National Park, while culinary highlights from this corner of England include Red Leicester and Stilton cheeses. Manufacturing industries form a significant chunk of the local economy, and Rolls Royce recently invested £90 million in a new test facility in Derby.

Excellent

67.1%

Very Good

24.0%

Average

6.4%

Disappointing

1.3%

Very poor

1.2%

Best places to live in East Midlands

How is ranking calculated?

Viewing 1-5 out of 171

Development image of British Waterways, NG1

Rental Only

Award Winner 2025

British Waterways, NG1

By Native Communities

Award winner 2025

4.85

(26 reviews)

A vibrant community of residents that feels like family, with the freedom to join in as much or as little as you like. Easy access to neighbourhood bars and restaurants in Nottingham. And a unique, Grade-II listed apartment that you’re proud to call home in an iconic location. Find it all at British Waterways.

1st

Ranked 1st out of 115 in East Midlands

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Rental Only

Award Winner 2025

The Saxons, LE1

By Centrick - Built for Renters

Award winner 2025

4.83

(60 reviews)

The Saxons comprises one and two bedroom apartments, with light from large, wrap-around windows. Although the development is in one of the most central locations in the city, each unit has been designed to offer privacy that feels removed from the hustle and bustle outside. With the city’s largest shopping centre located just across the road, those living at The Saxons can not only enjoy all of the on-site amenities, but also have easy access to a range of dining, entertainment, and retail options right on their doorstep.

2nd

Ranked 2nd out of 115 in East Midlands

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Lloyds Living at Gedling, NG4

By Lloyds Living

Award winner 2025

4.73

(25 reviews)

Lloyds Living at Gedling is a brand-new development of 2 and 3 bedroom homes. All the homes on this site benefit from solar panels. The development is boarded by the 240-acre Gedling Country Park and is just a couple of miles away from the bustling market town of Arnold which has a number of high street shops, independent retailers, banks, pubs, restaurants, a leisure centre and theatre. It is also only 5 miles from the centre of Nottingham and a bus network connects the development to the local towns and cities. There are also a number of local schools (nursery, primary and secondary) and a hospital nearby.

3rd

Ranked 3rd out of 115 in East Midlands

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Award Winner 2025

The Wullcomb, LE1

By Way of Life

Award winner 2025

4.72

(275 reviews)

£725-£1,025 pcm

1, 2 beds

The Wullcomb is a Build to Rent development managed by Way of Life, located in the heart of Leicester. The building offers 297 apartments with a mix of spacious Manhattan studios alongside one and two-bedroom apartments. Residents have the option of choosing a furnished or unfurnished apartment. Additionally, there are a wide range of facilities and amenities on site. These include 24h concierge, secure car park and cycle storage, a rooftop terrace, a shared kitchen and dining space with modern lounge and a private theatre room.

4th

Ranked 4th out of 115 in East Midlands

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Development image of Queen Street Quarter, LE1

Rental Only

Award Winner 2025

Queen Street Quarter, LE1

By BTR Operating Ltd.

Award winner 2025

4.61

(95 reviews)

A blend of classic and contemporary flats. A friendly, welcoming community of 230 homes. A prime city centre location. And a refreshing approach to renting. We think you’ll find that Queen Street Quarter is a special place to live. Imagine coming home to take a dip in the pool, relax in the coal-fired sauna, or a workout in our fully equipped, premium gym. Our stylish lounge and games room are perfect for unwinding when you’re feeling sociable. While the workspace makes working from home a pleasure. It’s central Leicester location means everything is a short walk away.

5th

Ranked 5th out of 115 in East Midlands

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Page 1 of 35

Featured developments in East Midlands

Latest Reviews in East Midlands

2417 total reviews

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Viewing 1-5 out of 2417

Katie H (Tenant)

Verified Resident

The Arches, LE3

Feb 2026

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Brilliant time at The Arches

Katie H (Tenant)

Verified Resident

The Arches, LE3

Feb 2026

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Brilliant location, the area itself is quite busy but when you're in the building you don't notice it. Everything you could need is within walking distance.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

People used to park in our allocated parking spots, we complained about it and now there are proper precautions in place to prevent that happening.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I wish I would have known to go to the events a lot sooner, we didn't go to them when we first moved in as we were nervous but now I really look forward to going to them.

・・

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

HomeViews

Emily h (Tenant)

Unverified

The Arches, LE3

Feb 2026

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

This is rated 4.00 out of 5.00.

Lovely building

Emily h (Tenant)

Unverified

The Arches, LE3

Feb 2026

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Local to the city, good night life, good walks, lovely area, good shopping, amazing food choices, good transport

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

No as I’ve never had to raise an issue with the building

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

It’s located next to student accommodation so can get loud from time to time

・・

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

HomeViews

Miss Shams (Owner)

Unverified

Brierley Heath, NG17

Feb 2026

This is rated 1.00 out of 5.00.

Cowboy sales and customer service experience

Miss Shams (Owner)

Unverified

Brierley Heath, NG17

Feb 2026

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

The area in Stanton Hill is lovely and it could do with TLC with roadworks and infrastructure. There's a lot of beautiful walks in the country side and a few local groceries store and takeaways you that is walkable.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Wished they stop being a money grabbing and treat customers better.

What is the best feature of your home:

Nothing, they're still treating us badly and not being transparent throughout this journey.

・・

HomeViews

Em (Tenant)

Verified Resident

British Waterways, NG1

Feb 2026

This is rated 4.00 out of 5.00.

Great building to live in

Em (Tenant)

Verified Resident

British Waterways, NG1

Feb 2026

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Good area with lots of shops and cafes close by and very close to the train station and buses. Unfortunately parking is very limited and the lights outside the building often don’t work, which makes it difficult when walking outside in the dark.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

They always get in touch promptly and arrange a solution

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

The appliances (heating, oven, etc) didn’t come with any manuals or instructions so it was a struggle to set the heating on timers and work things. It would have been good to know how all those things worked upon moving in

Manager response

Hi Em, Thank you for your lovely review! We really appreciate your feedback on living here at British Waterways, we do have manuals available upon request but we apologise for not communicating that with you upon moving in! Regarding the streetlights, please do let us know if they are ever not turning on so we can relay that onto to estate managers as Bernie and I are usually gone before they would be switching on we are often unaware until brought to our attention. We are happy to hear you are enjoying the events, if you have any suggestions on what you would like to see in the future please do let me know so I can try and make it happen! I hope to see you at the next one!

Posted by

Will Beers, Community Host

Feb 2026

・・

HomeViews

Lidia (Tenant)

Unverified

Leaf Living at The Atrium, NN6

Feb 2026

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

A Well-Managed and Comfortable Place to Live- Modern

Lidia (Tenant)

Unverified

Leaf Living at The Atrium, NN6

Feb 2026

Overall, the development is well designed and feels modern, clean and well maintained. The layout of the buildings and communal areas has clearly been planned with residents in mind, creating a pleasant and practical living environment. Facilities are a real positive, with well-kept shared spaces that add to day-to-day comfort and convenience. Building management is responsive and generally communicates clearly, addressing issues in a timely manner. Property management is professional and organised, helping ensure the development runs smoothly.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Living in my local area has many positives as well as a few drawbacks. There is a local supermarket ALDI. There are also green spaces nearby which are well maintained and useful for relaxing or exercising.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

no issues or concerns so far- however any questions I got I was contacting Claudin over emails and always she was able to answer all my questions

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I was very happy with the way everything was explained during the viewings. All information was clear, explained by Claudin and there were no issues, which made moving in straightforward and stress-free.

・・

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

HomeViews

Page 1 of 484

These reviews are the subjective opinion of a HomeViews user and not of HomeViews

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Derby

If you're looking for a place to settle down and raise a family, Derby is a great option. Located in Derbyshire, England, Derby is a town with plenty to offer its residents. There are several areas in Derby that are perfect for families, as well as some great schools and universities. In this guide, we will take a closer look at Derby and all that it has to offer prospective home buyers!

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Derbyshire

Derbyshire is a beautiful county in the East Midlands of England. The county is home to many different towns and villages to explore, including Sheffield, Chesterfield and Derby. It's also home to some great universities, such as Chesterfield College and Derby University. Check out our guide for prospective home buyers on how to find your dream house in Derbyshire!

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Leicester

Leicester is an increasingly popular option for property hunters seeking homes in the Midlands. House prices were enjoying a boom prior to the uncertainties of 2020 and are expected to bounce back thanks to the city’s strong economy. Historically connected to the textiles industry, retailers like Next, Asos and New Look have major sites in the city. Firms like KPMG, HSBC and British Gas also have offices there. Walker’s Crisps is also based in Leicester, operating the world’s largest crisp factory!

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Leicestershire

Leicestershire is a county in the East Midlands region of England. It borders Northamptonshire, Rutland, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. Centred around Leicester, an important economic and cultural centre for the East Midlands, Leicestershire offers an enticing combination of countryside and metropolitan living. The county is also known as "The Garden of England," due to its abundance of orchards and market gardens and is the birthplace of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Charles Darwin and George Eliot. If you're looking for a new home, Leicestershire has a lot to offer!

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Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire has a lot to offer prospective home buyers, from the beautiful coastline to the gorgeous countryside. The county is located in eastern England and borders Norfolk as well as Cambridgeshire. It also has a very rich history; with many notable people having been born or raised here, including Emily Bronte (author of Wuthering Heights), Roger de Clarendon (a 12th-century nobleman who served Henry II and his son Richard I) and Oliver Cromwell (best known for leading the Parliamentary forces during the English Civil War).

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Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire is a county in the East Midlands of England and is home to some attractive areas including Wellingborough with its lovely old buildings, Rushden with its many parks and lakes or Corby with its fantastic new-builds with modern amenities. The University of Northampton has an excellent reputation for teaching while there are top schools available all over Northamptonshire providing high-quality education for children aged 3–18 years old.

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Nottinghamshire

If you're looking for a new home, Nottinghamshire is the destination to be. From quaint villages and picturesque countryside to vibrant cities and large towns; there's plenty on offer in this diverse county. In this guide, we'll take you through what makes Nottinghamshire such a great place to live, work or study - from where it lies in England to some of the best schools in the area - so that you can find your perfect match!

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