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.

4.52

Average Location Score

Excellent

62%

Very Good

29%

Average

Disappointing

Very Poor

Best places to live in East Midlands

HomeViews Top Rated Development ranking takes into account the Star Rating and HomeViews Transparency Rating of every development in the area

Expand Map

Stanage Edge in Derbyshire, East Midlands

Where is East Midlands?

The East Midlands sits in the centre of England, stretching east to the Lincolnshire coast. Its western border is formed by South and West Derbyshire, Leicester and West Northamptonshire.

East Midlands counties

The counties of the East Midlands are as follows: Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire (excluding North and North East Lincolnshire), Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland.

East Midlands cities

The four cities in the East Midlands are Derby, Leicester, Lincoln and Nottingham. Notable East Midlands towns include Boston, Loughborough, Chesterfield and Kettering.

Lincoln Cathedral in the snow, East Midlands

Derby

A town that played a crucial role in the Industrial Revoution, Derby is still a powerhouse of manufacturing and engineering. The traditional county town of Derbyshire, Derby is home to Rolls Royce – the world’s second-largest producer of aero-engines – as well as Toyota Manufacturing UK. The city has a population of around a quarter of a million people and has been settled since Roman times.

Leicester

Another key industrial centre for the region, Leicester is the county town of Leicestershire. Boasting three universities, a historic Old Town, the thriving St George’s Creative Quarter and a wide variety of diverse neighbourhoods around the city centre, Leicester is a popular option for families and young people living in the East Midlands.

Lincoln

Lincoln is the county town of Lincolnshire and had a population of just under 100,000 people in 2012. For more than 200 years, Lincoln Cathedral was the world’s tallest building, and remains a towering monument to the English Gothic architectural style. The city’s Norman Lincoln Castle is another of the area’s important architectural treasures.

Nottingham

Home of Robin Hood, Raleigh bikes and the National Ice Centre, Nottingham is also home to two main universities: Nottingham University and Nottingham Trent University. It was named a ‘City of Literature’ by UNESCO in 2015, honouring local luminaries such as D.H. Lawrence and Lord Byron, as well as the city’s thriving literary community.

East Midlands housing

Many people looking for East Midlands Housing are drawn to the region’s major metropolitan centres, or the peripheral towns that provide easy access to their amenities. Many first-time buyers and families in Nottingham are drawn to towns and areas like Beeston and West Bridgford due to their proximity to the city centre and strong local communities.

Popular areas the live in Leicester include Oadby, South Knighton, Syston and Glenfield, while areas in Derby such as Chellaston and Littleover are considered desirable. Property hunters considering a move to Lincoln may want to explore areas such as Waddington, Bassingham and Canwick.

Reviews in East Midlands

Write a Review

The biggest downside is the lack of finished roads

Review Date May 2022

There are no shops in the 5 minute drive range however being close to Derby Road will connect you to chesterfield and clay cross very quickly. The reserve and field are really good for dog walking however this also causes a problem with people parking on the roads blocking access for locals.

Please review your development:

The estate is lovely. The biggest downside is the lack of finished roads and paths on streets which have been finished for over a year. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of prioritising on finishing project which have been already started. Makes the estate look almost scruffy.

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

The finishing touches don’t seem to be a priority and it almost feels like no one takes pride in their work anymore.

What is the best feature of your home:

We fell in love with the big floor to ceiling windows around the house.

Facilities

Design

Location

Value

Management

Read all Read less

Design of home are great – compact but spacious

Verified Resident

Review Date May 2022

There does need to be more amenities close by but the park across the road is breathtakingly beautiful

Please review your development:

Design of home are great – compact but spacious. Property has been managed well since my move. Any issues are addressed promptly by management. It would be nice to have more local facilities on the estate as you have to drive everywhere for basic shopping, pharmacy, medical services, coffee, etc.

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

The local football club that park on our street occasionally would have been good to know about.

What is the best feature of your home:

The view is gorgeous and my layout is unique with a kitchen/bay in the front of the house.

Facilities

Design

Location

Value

Management

Read all Read less

Overall a nice convenient place to live – beware of the traffic!

Verified Resident

Review Date May 2022

Excellent transport links – close to the A38. Excellent shops within easy walking distance. Close to the large hospital and an easy quick journey into town.
Can get stuck in the hospital/Kingsway/A38 traffic which can sometimes get gridlocked.
There is a fair amount of morning and evening traffic into the Kingsway hospital car park. Currently it is noisy from construction work

Please review your development:

When we first moved in it was unfinished. Covid struck and also problems with the planning. This meant a good year of delay with no building. They have restarted now and it’s very noisy. The road outside our home is uneven and unfinished (after 3.5 years!) we have complained to no avail.
We had no complaints with getting things sorted in the house when we had snagging issues.
Promised a walkthrough path to Aldi – still waiting 3.5 years on!

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

The issues with the roads leading to Kingsway shops and the A38
We have solar panels but no idea how to link them to our power supplier!

What is the best feature of your home:

Roomy 4 bed, 3 storey house. Close to shops and the hospital.

Facilities

Design

Location

Value

Management

Read all Read less

Disappointing Allison Hones

Verified Resident

Review Date May 2022

Nettleham is a wonderful village served by a decent array of shops and with easy access to most of the main routes of Lincolnshire

Please review your development:

Moving into a new build gave us the opportunity to buy our first home. Unfortunately, our experience has been less than stellar with Allison Homes- things not done before completion, issues with our solar panels and damp in the garage, poor quality and finish throughout, roads still not complete, everywhere overrun with weeds and nettles, applications for further development despite assurances before buying that the area would be farmland. I’d never deal with them again.