Nottinghamshire &amp; Derbyshire


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why">WHY?</h2>



<p>A frenzy of new first homes, an injection of investment to give the town a glow-up and a brilliant location between the city and rural beauty has made Kimberley a magnet for young families. The town scored a cool £16.5 million in Levelling Up dosh last year and is busy sprucing the place up with green living walls, pretty planters and re-painted ironwork. Drinking holes and eateries are busy being transformed from old man-type pubs to craft pubs and quirky café-bars, making the town feel youthful and buzzy. Kimberley is on the up.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eat">EAT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/The-Oat-Shed-Kimberley-1024x683.jpg" alt="Cafe with tables and chairs the oat shed kimberley Notts" class="wp-image-9925" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/The-Oat-Shed-Kimberley-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/The-Oat-Shed-Kimberley-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/The-Oat-Shed-Kimberley-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/The-Oat-Shed-Kimberley.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Oat Shed</figcaption></figure>



<p>Kimberley punches above its weight for cafés and coffee shops so you’ll have plenty of cool pitstops for a catch-up. National Muddy Award-winning café <a href="https://theoatshed.com/">The Oat Shed</a> is in the middle of Main Street and is a tasteful, Scandi-inspired dream of a place serving up healthy homemade brunches and beautiful Bolivian coffees. It’s also brilliant at bringing people together with its stylish baby socials and Pilattes offerings. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/no18coffeeeatery/?paipv=0&amp;eav=Afbpqpd1So_dMlibBMX0n-nHpjvSuYVKc1zm2K0c316zGznoBv_cEbUbaHKCY-41ubg&amp;_rdr">No 18 Coffee &amp; Eatery</a> is another slick space for coffee catch-ups and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Dandelion.kimberley/?locale=en_GB">Dandelion</a> is a cute indie coffee house on Main Street with new owners (popular for private parties too). For Indian eats, try <a href="http://www.simla.me.uk/">Simla</a> or award-winning <a href="https://www.nawaabsaab.co.uk/">Nawaab Saab</a> down the road in Nuthall.</p>



<p>Live music nights (Fridays) are a winner at beautiful boozer <a href="https://www.facebook.com/doghousekimberley/">The Dog House at Kimberley</a>, which also has a great little courtyard for sunny days and dishes up perfect pizzas and scrummy Sunday roasts. All totally dog-friendly of course. Nestled in a row of beautiful cottages, <a href="https://www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk/pubs/cricketers-rest/">Cricketer’s Rest</a> (affectionately known as The Cricks) is a snug, traditional and friendly local. When the weather plays ball, head down the road to the <a href="https://www.greeneking.co.uk/pubs/nottinghamshire/three-ponds?utm_source=g_places&amp;utm_medium=locations&amp;utm_campaign=PK_pubpage">Three Ponds</a> for family-friendly al fresco dining and reliable pub classics.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shop">SHOP</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1520" height="1067" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/10/bees-front.png" alt="Bees Flowers Kimberely Notts blue shop front of florist" class="wp-image-10638" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/10/bees-front.png 1520w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/10/bees-front-300x211.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/10/bees-front-1024x719.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/10/bees-front-768x539.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1520px) 100vw, 1520px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Bees Flowers</figcaption></figure>



<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/p/Ziggys-Emporium-61552101694727/">Ziggy’s Emporium</a> is cute and quirky, selling everything from candles and gemstones to handmade homeware and jewellery. More gifts and gorgeous floristry over at <a href="https://beesflowers.co.uk/">Bees Flowers</a> on Main Street, while <a href="https://blossomandbelle.co.uk/">Blossom &amp; Belle Boutique</a> is worth a browse for fashion and accessories (with lots of lovely Italian clobber).</p>



<p>Super-handy for moving in essentials and interiors inspo, you’ll find a huge Ikea, Barker Stonehouse and TKMaxx at <a href="https://giltbrookshoppingpark.com/">Giltbrook Retail Park</a>, less than a mile away. There’s also a Next and Decathlon as well as eateries like <a href="https://www.pizzaexpress.com/our-food/our-restaurant-menu/">Pizza Express</a>, plus a souped-up soft play place that’s great for rainy days. For big shops, there’s a Sainsbury’s in the heart of town and an M&amp;S Food at the retail park for those emergency Percy Pig stock-ups.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-amp-wellbeing">HEALTH &amp; WELLBEING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/itsbmovementlab">B Movement Lab</a> is great for classes, with everything from Barre and Pilates to HIIT and dance fitness. For martial arts and kickboxing try <a href="https://www.warriorsmartialarts.co.uk/">Warriors Martial Arts</a>. If pumping weights is more your style, there’s <a href="https://www.tgsgyms.co.uk/kimberley-gym/">TGS Gym </a>for functional training. Sadly, the town’s leisure centre packed up in 2024 but <a href="https://www.activenottingham.com/centres/harvey-hadden-sports-village/">Harvey Hadden Sports Village</a>, with its pool and athletics track, is just across the M1. If cycling’s your thing, there’s a cycle path planned for the near-ish future to link up Kimberley with Eastwood, Giltbrook, Phoenix Park Tram Stop and Bennerley Viaduct.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community">COMMUNITY</h2>



<p>Music festival <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kimberleyjam/?locale=en_GB">The Kimberley Jam</a> was a huge hit this summer and there’s a popular themed party in the park every year (this year it was&nbsp;Medieval Madness). Knowle Park has a zip line, pull-up rope, accessible swing seat, accessible benches, safety flooring under most of the equipment, and a new cycle track.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nearby-attractions">NEARBY ATTRACTIONS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/04/springlakes.jpg" alt="watersports tubing at spring lakes aqua park nottingham derby" class="wp-image-8798" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/04/springlakes.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/04/springlakes-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/04/springlakes-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Spring Lakes</figcaption></figure>



<p><a href="https://wollatonhall.org.uk/">Wollaton Hall</a>&nbsp;(aka Batman’s home in the&nbsp;Dark Knight&nbsp;Trilogy) is a spectacular Elizabethan mansion surrounded by a beautiful 500-acre deer park. Away from the Hollywood sparkle, it’s also a fantastic natural history museum, filled with gorgeous art and architecture. For water sports and wild swims, <a href="https://springlakes.co.uk/">Spring Lakes</a> is 20 mins along the M1 to the south. In the village itself, hike up to the pretty <a href="https://kimberley-tc.gov.uk/chapel-on-the-hill/">Chapel on the Hill</a>, now used as a stunning wedding venue. To the north, a half hour drive up the motorway and you’re into the Peak District for fresh air hikes, big views or climbing and biking adventures.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture">CULTURE</h2>



<p>Literary types will love taking a step back in time to the nearby <a href="https://www.broxtowe.gov.uk/dhlawrencemuseum">D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum</a>, or drive 15 minutes to the uni campus for a culture fix at <a href="https://www.lakesidearts.org.uk/">Lakeside Arts,</a> which is brilliant for ever-changing art exhibitions and hands-on workshops. Nottingham’s theatres and buzzing live music venues like the <a href="https://trch.co.uk/whats-on/">Theatre Royal</a>, <a href="https://trch.co.uk/whats-on/">Royal Concert Hall</a> and the legendary <a href="https://www.rock-city.co.uk/">Rock City</a> are easy to access (about half an hour on the bus or a 15min drive). On the doorstep, the Broxtowe Festival showcases local creativity with performances, literature, film and music throughout June.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-average-house-price">AVERAGE HOUSE PRICE</h2>



<p>On the up. Young families especially are moving in and properties in Kimberley averaged £240,575 over the last year, a rise of 11% on the previous year and 13% up on the 2021 peak of £212,742.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hot-property">HOT PROPERTY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/09/KimberleyHP.jpg" alt="flat converted from a brewery in kimberley notts" class="wp-image-10532" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/09/KimberleyHP.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/09/KimberleyHP-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/09/KimberleyHP-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/09/KimberleyHP-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Super-cool and quirky, this beautiful brewery conversion is bursting with character. <a href="https://www.williamhbrown.co.uk/properties/19415022/sales/KBY108990" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">On the market for £370,000</a>.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nurseries">NURSERIES</h2>



<p>Family-owned <a href="https://littleoaksnursery.co.uk/">Little Oaks Nursery</a> is Outstanding and also offers wrap-care for Primary School aged children. <a href="https://www.noahsark-kimberley.org.uk/about-us">Noah’s Ark Pre-school Playgroup&nbsp;</a>is run in the church and is rated Good by Ofsted, as is charity-run <a href="https://kimberleypreschoolpg.wixsite.com/kimb-preschool-pg">Kimberley Pre-school Playgroup</a> at Kettlebrook Lodge. Holistic Montessori and forest school-inspired <a href="https://cherubsnurseries.co.uk/day-nurseries/cherubs-kimberley/?_gl=1*1t1lwvc*_up*MQ..*_ga*NDM2MjUxMDA2LjE3MTk4MzM4MDg.*_ga_PE8XDBYMKF*MTcxOTgzMzgwNy4xLjEuMTcxOTgzMzgwNy4wLjAuMjE0MDA1MDk2OA..">Cherubs Day Nurseries</a> has a branch here, and was rated Good in 2023.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-schools">SCHOOLS</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.charlotte-school.co.uk/derbyshire/primary/charlotte">Charlotte Nursery and Infant School</a> is Ofsted Outstanding (although the last full report was 2014, there was a monitoring inspection in 2020) and <a href="https://www.kimberleyprimary.org.uk/">Kimberley Primary School</a>, <a href="https://www.larkfields-jun.notts.sch.uk/">Larkfields Junior School</a> and <a href="https://www.hollywellprimary.org/">Holywell Primary</a> are all rated Good. Outstanding St Theresa’s Catholic Primary School is a bit further away in Aspley. The main secondary and Sixth Form is <a href="https://www.kimberleyschool.co.uk/">Kimberley School</a>, with above average GCSE grades and rated Good by Ofsted. Independent school-wise, well-regarded <a href="https://nottinghamhigh.co.uk/">Nottingham High</a> and <a href="https://nottinghamgirlshigh.gdst.net/">Nottingham Girls’ High</a> are within easy reach.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-kept-secret">BEST KEPT SECRET</h2>



<p>Spotted the pretty park and nature reserve on Eastwood Road? It’s called Hall Om Wong which sounds like it must have some far eastern origin. But, nope, its exotic-sounding name is actually derived from the old English meaning ‘Mr Hall’s home piece of land’. No longer Mr Hall’s, it’s a fab community open space locals love.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commute">COMMUTE</h2>



<p>Super-close to the motorway, and a cinch to get onto the ring road, Kimberley’s easy access is one of its big selling points. It’s a 15 min drive into Nottingham, or buses run every 10 mins, taking less than half an hour to reach the city centre. Although it’s taking longer than originally hoped, a cycle path is still planned for the near-ish future to link up Kimberley with Eastwood, Giltbrook, Phoenix Park Tram Stop and Bennerley Viaduct.</p>



<p><em>Main image: <a href="https://kimberley-tc.gov.uk/chapel-on-the-hill/">The Chapel on the Hill</a> in Kimberley is available as a wedding venue, Photo by Trevor Rood</em></p>



<p><em>View the full&nbsp;</em><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/"><em>Top 300 Best Places to Live</em></a>.</p>


Kimberley

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