Nottingham city has some truly magnificent architecture, buildings from a vast swathe of history stretching right back to the 1100s have been built in the City. Victorian Nottingham saw a building boom with many grand buildings being built owing to the City's 19th century importance. Architects such as Alfred Waterhouse, Thomas Chambers Hine and Watson Fothergill have all built spectacular buildings in Nottingham.The western third of the city is home to most of the modern offices and businesses of the city, several tall office buildings line Maid Marian Way whilst there are some handsome buildings around Oxford and Regent Streets mainly occupied by professional firms.
The central third descends from the University district in the north, past the Arkwright Building which is a beautiful example of gothic revival architecture and was previously Nottingham's public library - Nottingham Trent University now owns this building as well as many in the area. Theatre Royal on Theatre Square with its pillared façade was built in 1865 in just six months. Head further south down King and Queen Street which are home to many magnificent Victorian architecture buildings designed by the likes of Alfred Waterhouse who designed London's Natural History Museum and Nottingham's own Watson Fothergill whose buildings are distinctive and unique.
The central focal point of the City is Old Market Square which is the largest in the UK and is home to many beautiful buildings, most notably Nottingham Council House.
The Canal side, further south of this is adjacent to the railway station and several new but sympathetically designed modern offices are planned. This is an inviting redevelopment of 19th century industrial buildings into a cluster of bars and restaurants. The eastern third of the city contains the Victoria Shopping Centre which was built in the 1970s on the site of the demolished Victoria Railway Station.
The eastern third also contains perhaps the most interesting areas of the city, such as Hockley Village. Hockley is where the vast majority of the unique, independent shops are to be found. Hockley is also home to two cinemas which show alternative cinema. They are the Broadway cinema and The Screen Room cinema.
