Independent Shopping

Nottingham's independent districts have long been established in the former industrial areas and secret side streets of the city. Not only find some of the most exciting and unique places to shop in these offbeat locations, but this is also where Nottingham's true personality shines through.

From Cobden Chambers and the streets of Hockley to Derby Road and St James Street, there are several hubs for independent shopping across the city, and lots of easy to miss gems dotted throughout, so read on for our tips on making the most of the city's independent shopping scene! Don't forget we've got loads more independent shops located throughout Nottinghamshire, so check out our shopping in the county guide for more ideas for places to visit. 

Crafty Delights & Art

The creative spirit runs deep in Nottingham, and luckily for us many of our talented locals have set up businesses to share their skills with the world. Keeping the city’s lace making history alive, Debbie Bryan is an exquisite emporium of artisan crafts, with afternoon tea, evening events and crafternoons populating their events calendar. The Bead Shop is another great place to pick up a new hobby. With almost two decades of experience under their belts, a humungous variety of jewellery making supplies, and an array of workshops, this is a must-visit for any jewellery enthusiast.

Over at Nottingham Contemporary, you can enjoy a unique gift shop including limited-edition art works, books, jewellery and toys. They offer a range of unique products produced by artists, designers, makers and publishers from across the UK and beyond and better still, every purchase made goes to support their free exhibition and learning programmes!

The Nottingham Tourism Centre also offer a range of artwork from local artists including prints, calendars and more. This is the perfect place to support local artists while getting a perfect souvenir to remember Nottingham and Nottinghamshire by!

As the UK’s leading art retailer, Castle Fine Art has been at the heart of the contemporary art movement since 1995. Specialising in original fine art, hand-signed limited editions, and contemporary sculpture, it collaborates with some of the most renowned figures in the art world, iconic brands, and major artists’ estates, as well as talented newcomers, to offer an exceptional range of art.

Fletcher Gate Fine Art Gallery has a wide variety of original art ranging from local artists to artwork we have sourced, creating a diverse portfolio of art to appeal to aspiring collectors and meet the individual tastes of the existing clientele.

Knit Nottingham is Nottingham's award winning yarn shop, based on Trinity Walk in the heart of the vibrant city centre. As a renowned LYS (local yarn shop) in Nottingham, they offer a wide selection of yarn, needles, notions, patterns, workshops, and more! The shop is based on the smaller of the two pedestrian walks between Upper Parliament Street and Trinity Square, or two minutes from the main entrance of the Victoria Centre and a minute from the side entrance of John Lewis. 

For more galleries and exhibitions across Nottinghamshire, click here.

Souvenirs & Gifts

If you’re looking for a Nottingham themed souvenir, the Nottingham Tourism Centre is the best place to pick up mugs, postcards and Robin Hood costumes as well as various other Nottingham themed products. They also stock a wide range of official Nottingham Forest merchandise. 

We all need that ideal shop where you can always find a beautiful little gift for a friend, and luckily Nottingham has some gems! Inspired in Flying Horse Arcade is a treasure trove of delightful ornamental pieces and perfect for animal lovers, while the Tokenhouse has many more gifts, plus artisan cards and jewellery.

You can also pick up some fantastic momentos at the gift shops of various attractions including the likes of Nottingham Castle and National Justice Museum.

Records & Music

Not only does Nottingham boast a buzzing music scene in its independent pubs and bars, we’re also home to a variety of quality record shops should you want to pick up some vinyl. In 2014, the legendary Rough Trade chose Hockley as the location for its third store. We must also give a special shout-out to Rob’s Record Mart in Hurt’s Yard. Packed to the rafters with vintage vinyl and unusual finds, proprietor Rob has been in business for almost 40 years and knows a thing or two about sourcing vinyl.

Foodie Excellence

If food be the way to your heart, you’ll fall in love with Nottingham’s independent nosh. Delilah Deli is the perfect place to begin, with shelves of pickles, chutneys, cheeses, herbs, breads and general deli goodness to bite your teeth into. Around the corner in Flying Horse Arcade you can find The Cheese Shop, which is every bit as wonderful as it sounds. If you have a sweet tooth, you may want to try the delectable Luisa’s Vegan Chocolates in Sneinton Market, or check out the mighty Doughnotts on King Street. 

Redsmith Distillery in Sneinton Market is the only gin maker and distillery in the City of Nottingham. The distillery’s signature expression, Redsmith London Dry Gin was launched in 2016 following three years of development and has picked up several top awards. We recommend picking up a Nottingham Dry Apple Gin made in very small batches using Nottingham’s own Bramley Apple.

A full range of local Blue Monkey beer is available from the brewery shop and there is usually at least one or two seasonal specials for you to try. In addition to the bottled range, there are one gallon mini-casks , together with gift packs, Blue Monkey mugs, printed bags and glassware.

If you're looking for a quality independent café while you're out and about, check out Hockley Kitchen, all in Nottingham City Centre.

Fashion & Vintage

For those who love finding vintage and retro pieces, Hopkinson Vintage, Antiques and Art Centre next to Nottingham Train Station is a brilliant place to start, with four floors of independent sellers, showcasing authentic goodies from the 50s to the 90s, plus guitars, furniture and other nostalgic knick-knacks. If it’s vintage threads you’re after, in the centre of the city you’ll find the likes of Wild Clothing, White Rose, Cow and Braderie all flaunting a miscellany of retro or second-hand fashion - predominantly around the Hockley and Lace Market area.

Loake Shoemakers opened its doors in the historic Exchange Arcade in October 2021. Loake’s rich history, reputation for quality and traditional shoemaking quickly garnered a loyal customer base and the business has grown from strength to strength over the past 2 and a half years.

Tutu Urban Boutique are a multi-brand Independent Ladieswear Boutique that offers an inspiring and personal shopping experience for all. Visitors to the Boutique will discover ‘below the radar’ brands, many of which are exclusive to TUTU Urban Boutique in the UK, sitting alongside Collections from Established Designers

Specialist

There are also those shops whose expertise knows no bounds, with specialist knowledge you just can’t find online or in chain stores. Classical music lovers will appreciate the stacked shelves at Bookwise in Hockley, which is a hub for classical music and books. Bromley House Library is also a must-see for any book lover. A flourishing independent lending library in the Centre of Nottingham and one of the few remaining subscription libraries in the country, it's the perfect place to relax, read a book and meet friends over a cup of coffee or speciality tea. They also offer tours of their stunning venue from time to time.

You’ll find The Worm That Turned on Derby Road, which is sure to delight green fingered gardeners looking to spruce up their spaces. Finally, Stick & Ribbon are Nottingham’s resident style experts; for those feeling a little stuck, their trained advisors can advise what styles will suit you, and their chic range of clothing is just the place to start building your wardrobe.

Broadway is the only cinema in the world with a screen designed by Sir Paul Smith. An independent cinema and café bar, stop by for a bite to eat or a refreshing drink and enjoy one of their locally famous pizzas, or catch a film. They also host festivals, workshops and support local talent and have a small merchandise offering.

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For more information on shopping in Nottinghamshire, check out our Nottingham City Shopping and Shopping in the County pages.