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

66.7%

Very Good

24.3%

Average

6.4%

Disappointing

1.4%

Very poor

1.3%

Best places to live in East Midlands

How is ranking calculated?

Viewing 1-5 out of 171

Rental Only

British Waterways, NG1

By Native Communities

4.85

(24 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 2024

The Saxons, LE1

By Centrick - Built for Renters

Award winner 2024

4.82

(58 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

4.7

4.70

(23 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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Queen Street Quarter, LE1

By BTR Operating Ltd.

4.6

4.60

(93 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.

4th

Ranked 4th out of 115 in East Midlands

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The Arches, LE3

By Native Communities

4.42

(63 reviews)

The Arches will transition its management from Cortland to Native on 30th June 2025.The Arches offers 184 brand new ready-to-rent apartments, close to Leicester city centre. With a choice of courtyard and riverside views, the studio, one and two bedrooms feature high quality appliances and are finished to a high standard. Amenities on offer include a resident's lounge, gym, media room and work space as well as secure underground parking and bike storage.

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

2366 total reviews

Write a review

Viewing 1-5 out of 2366

Rob (Tenant)

Unverified

The Barnum, NG2

Dec 2025

This is rated 2.00 out of 5.00.

Expensive, badly maintained and horribly located, unless you commute by train.

Rob (Tenant)

Unverified

The Barnum, NG2

Dec 2025

The gym and pool room are nice to have, but gym is ground floor at the front so men stare at the women working out. The bin rooms are far too small so it’s difficult to access all the bins resulting in overflowing rubbish. The doors in the basement are far too heavy and constantly broken and open creating a security issue. The bin room locks on the outside were removed, allowing thieves to bypass the building security. The property managers pay no attention to the issues on site. The garage door has been broken for approx 15 months. The ramp exit, side gate and main entrance doors are all broken and stay open. Noise from within the building is excellent, we never hear our neighbours, except the front door is paper thin so we hear everyone coming and going. The carpark only has space for 42 cars, plus 3 EV chargers and 3 disabled for around 300 people. There are hundreds of unused bike spaces but not a single motorbike space. The post room is tiny, the shelves constantly overflowing so it’s impossible to find your package easily. The flat itself isn’t bad, but the King size beds take up so much room, there isn’t any for a chest of draws.

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

Public transport is excellent, but the noise associated with the main road (front) or trains station (back) is high. Traffic is always extreme as the road is a main artery out of the city. The pavement is frequently filled with football fans heading to Nots County or Forest grounds. The housing estate near by is a high crime area. Beggars outside the local shops are a constant nuisance.

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

The front desk recommended that we fill in a survey. No points raised have been addressed at time of writing (3 months later)

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

The trains don’t run after midnight, but they still come and go and spend hours with the engines on idle all through the night.

Review image for review ae16e246-3580-4658-9b7d-48e81d3fb855

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HomeViews

Luke (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Lloyds Living at Gedling, NG4

Dec 2025

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

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Great Home: 10/10 Recommend Lloyd’s Living

Luke (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Lloyds Living at Gedling, NG4

Dec 2025

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

Very peaceful, near the park and very easy to commute from as it is out of the city but does not take long to get to. A lot of amenities near by

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

How long the builders would be working for due to the roads

What is the best feature of your home:

The lounge, the double drive and the size of the garden

・・

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

HomeViews

Kazi B (Tenant)

Verified Resident

British Waterways, NG1

Dec 2025

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Excellent property

Kazi B (Tenant)

Verified Resident

British Waterways, NG1

Dec 2025

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

Close to station. Excellent location and very scenic view. A quiet place in the middle of bustling city.

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

Responded promptly. I had some problems with the dishwasher which was promptly fixed.

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

No such observations. Every thing was as expected.

Review image for review 76ab7fc1-ad95-45c0-b5dd-ae324249f25c

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HomeViews

Sara M (Tenant)

Unverified

The Barnum, NG2

Dec 2025

This is rated 4.00 out of 5.00.

It’s well designed. It’s only a small flat but uses the space well

Sara M (Tenant)

Unverified

The Barnum, NG2

Dec 2025

It’s well designed. It’s only a small flat but uses the space well. It has good storage and everything you need. The shared spaces are a problem. The door locks have all been broken since we moved in in March. This is a security risk and as a female makes me feel unsafe. The rear area near the bike stores is a mess and I think has been cleaned once since we moved in. The bin storage area is also unacceptable. It generally feels like management only cares about keeping up appearances (ie the bits the general public can see like reception and the gym are lovely but the bits that only affect the residents are not well maintained)

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

The area is great. Super close to the trains, trams and buses. Parking at the station is super handy. Lots of local shops and restaurants, and very close to the centre of town. The new shop downstairs is nice

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

The ticket system is ok but very slow. Everything internal to the flat has eventually been resolved but it took a long time

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

I wish I knew about the issues with security and the state of the out of sight public areas

・・

HomeViews

KTP (Tenant)

Unverified

The Arches, LE3

Dec 2025

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

The Arches Leicester

KTP (Tenant)

Unverified

The Arches, LE3

Dec 2025

The development is fantastic, and I've been thoroughly impressed with the quality of life here. The design of the building itself is appealing, and the internal layout is very practical. Crucially, the amenities in the house are fantastic; everything is high-quality and works perfectly, making day-to-day living incredibly comfortable and stress-free. Management services have been excellent. Building management is responsive and keeps the communal areas well-maintained. Any minor issues I've had have been dealt with quickly and professionally by property management. The commitment to maintaining a nice, functional living environment is evident throughout the development, making it a truly great place to come home to. The convenience of the location, coupled with the great facilities and attentive management, makes this development a five-star living experience.

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

I genuinely love this local area. It is a really nice place to live with great surroundings and an incredibly convenient setup. The range and quality of amenities are a major plus—there are lots of great shops nearby, and the city centre is easily accessible, meaning restaurants, bars, and entertainment are never far away. The location is perfect for work due to the transport links, which are frequent and reliable, making my commute straightforward. Living on my street has been pleasant and quiet. Bin collections are always on time, and I haven't experienced any issues with anti-social behaviour. Parking is generally manageable. Overall, the area combines the benefits of having a peaceful residential base with the massive convenience of having the city and great transport links right on the doorstep.

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

Promptly, attempting to solve them immediately where possible.

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

The sheer amount of community events hosted here; if you want to try something new or meet new people, at one point on any week - there will be an event for you to go to in the foyer.

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HomeViews

Page 1 of 474

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

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