Beeston's location between the twin 'barriers' of Wollaton Park and the University of Nottingham has saved it from being swallowed up by the city in the way that other towns have been, particularly those in the city's east side.
The town, which has been around since the 6th century, has long benefited from great transport links, with a river, canal, railway and major roads all running close by.
This is undoubtedly one of the reasons industry has played such a big part in Beeston's development, with the headquarters of Boots located near the canal in the south, and Siemens close to the train station.
And these transport links could be even better if the proposed next stage of Nottingham's tram network goes ahead.
This would see trams running from the city centre to Beeston and neighbouring Chilwell, although there has been some opposition to the scheme from businesses and residents who would be adversely affected.
Beeston itself could also be in line for a major revamp, partly dependent on whether the extension goes ahead. This would involve redevelopment of The Square and the bus station to tie in with the arrival of the tram.
But no matter how much of the proposed development takes place, it is unlikely to change the character of Beeston.
Yes, some people choose to live here primarily because of its location – students wanting to be close to the university; professionals wanting to be close to the city.
But many others choose it because it is a pleasant, leafy, self-contained town with a good shopping centre and plenty of pubs and restaurants; and that isn't going to change, tram or no tram.
Chilwell and Toton
Chilwell and Toton, which merge fairly seamlessly into Beeston, are long-standing villages in their own right, even if it does not seem so today.
Chilwell has had long links with the military – the biggest explosion in British history took place at the shell factory in 1918 – and these links are maintained today at Chilwell Barracks in Chetwynd Road.
Both Chilwell and Toton have grown enormously in the last ten years, as hundreds of new homes have been built on land sold off by the army.
Property In and Around Beeston
In Beeston, 20 per cent of homes are detached, 38 per cent are semi-detached, 24 per cent are terraced, 14 per cent are purpose-built flats and four per cent are flats in converted houses.
In Beeston Rylands, eight per cent of homes are detached, 46 per cent are semi-detached, 29 per cent are terraced, 13 per cent are flats, and four per cent are temporary accommodation.
In Chilwell, 21 per cent of homes are detached, 39 per cent are semi-detached, 20 per cent are terraced, 18 per cent are purpose-built flats and flats in converted houses make up one per cent.
In Toton, 57 per cent of homes are detached, 33 per cent are semi-detached, four per cent are terraced, and six per cent are purpose-built flats.
Here's a brief look at what's on offer in each:
1. Beeston
Where is it? A town with a population of 21,000, located three miles west of Nottingham.
What’s there? The Broadgate / Queen's Road area is heavily populated by students and features lots of flats and terraces; a similarly affordable area around Baslow Drive is often described as Beeston but it's really part of Lenton Abbey.
For more Victorian terraces, try the streets off the southern end of Wollaton Road; however, the top end of this road is a lot grander, and Beeston Fields Drive, which leads off here, is a favoured address in Nottingham.
Other top spots for big detached homes are Dovecote Lane and Derby Road. For traditional semis there is an attractive selection between Chilwell Road and Queen’s Road, but these can generally be found all over.
And there are plenty of new-builds to suit all purses. The Anglo Scotian Mills in Wollaton Road have been converted into plush apartments; there are also modern flats at Beauchamp Place off Queen’s Road East and at Rushes Court in Nether Street.
In terms of recently built houses, Birkin Fields is a new development of two- and three- bedroom homes on the former rugby club ground off Ireland Avenue.
Buyers: The range of property is such that it attracts all types of buyers. Being so close to the university means there's a very strong rental market, so it's also a popular place for buy-to-let investors.
Pros: A decent town centre with good pubs and restaurants.
Cons: There could be major upheaval in years to come if the tram and other developments go ahead.
2. Beeston Rylands
Where is it? South of Beeston, specifically the area south of Queen’s Road.
What’s there? There are a lot more terraces here than in Beeston, Toton or Chilwell. There are also semis in East and West Crescent, and Appleton Road, and bungalows in Canal Side.
Buyers: First-time buyers, families and pensioners.
Pros: Handy for the railway station and anyone working at Boots HQ and the technology park; lovely walks by the marina.
Cons: Finding a parking space on some of the residential streets can be difficult, and there are only a few local shops.
3. Chilwell
Where is it? Just to the west of Beeston; the boundary between the two is the point where Chilwell Road becomes High Road.
What’s there? At the far west end of Chilwell are some fairly functional first-time buyer flats in Ribblesdale Court, and there are some homes in the Marriott Avenue area that would suit those on a tight budget.
You'll find lots of semis in Chetwynd Road, Inham Road and in the streets off Bramcote Avenue, and modern apartments in Shaw Road, Delves Court and Thompson Court.
For larger, detached homes try Attenborough Lane, Cator Lane and Brookland Drive, and the old village part of High Road is charming with its detached homes and rambling gardens.
Modern properties include the hundreds of homes - ranging from six-bedroom detached family houses to one-bed flats – which have been built on former MoD land at Chilwell Meadows.
Buyers: Families, young professionals and older couples.
Pros: There's a council-run leisure centre close by, and it's an easy commute into Nottingham or Derby.
Cons: Like Beeston, there could be a lot of disruption from the tram network construction.
4. Toton
Where is it? South-west of Chilwell, Toton is the area between the railway line and Stapleford Lane / Swiney Way.
What’s there? This is the place to be for detached properties, with prime areas being along Nottingham Road, in some of the streets off High Road, and also up in the Banks Road area.
However there are semi-detacheds too, for example in the Whiting Avenue area, and some reasonable entry-level flats in Douglas Court.
Buyers: Mostly families and older people.
Pros: Handy for the M1 and A52, and some attractive detached houses.
Cons: Toton has had some anti-social behaviour problems in the past but it seems to have recovered and is now a desirable area.
Living Here
Transport:
Trains: Beeston station is just one stop west of Nottingham, and has a direct link to London St Pancras which takes less than two hours (operated by East Midlands Trains).
There is also a station at Attenborough, which is the closest option for residents of Toton.
Road: Just ten minutes from Junction 25 of the M1 for those heading north or south, with the A52 offering quick connections to Derby and the west.
The journey along University Boulevard into and out of the city centre can get very congested at peak times.
Buses: The main bus station in Beeston is off Station Road. The Nottingham City Transport number 13 service links Beeston to the city centre, number 14 serves Chilwell, and number 36 goes to both.
The Trent Barton number 18 and 20 services go from Nottingham city centre through Beeston and Beeston Rylands.
The same company’s Rainbow 5 goes from the city centre through Beeston, Chilwell and Toton then onto East Midlands Airport and Loughborough, while its Long Eaton Xpress takes passengers from Chilwell’s West Point stop straight into the city.
Tram: The proposed next phase of the Nottingham tram system would be from the city centre to Chilwell via the Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, and Beeston town centre.
Air: Just 13 miles away from East Midlands Airport at Castle Donington, which has flights to lots of European and a couple of long-haul destinations.
Shopping:
Beeston: There are two main shopping areas, one along High Road – part of which is pedestrianised - and the other in The Square, a 1960s shopping precinct.
The former has shops including Boots, W H Smith and Sainsbury’s, while the latter includes Wilkinsons and Argos.
Beeston Market is held on Fridays and Saturdays off High Road, in between Union Street and City Road.
Beeston Rylands: There is a Co-op in Queen’s Road, a newsagent in Lilac Grove, and an off-licence, hairdresser and takeaway in Meadow Road.
Chilwell: The Chilwell Retail Park is just off the A6005 near Attenborough and has a Next Clearance, TK Maxx, Halfords and Matalan. West Point shopping centre, opposite this site, has a Tesco Express and other outlets.
In the heart of Chilwell, there are fewer chain stores, with small traders in High Road selling everything from furniture to fabrics and art equipment to kitchen tiles. Another row of small shops further along High Road also has a dentist’s surgery.
Toton: A 24-hour Tesco in Swiney Way, plus a convenience store and newsagent in High Road. There is also a library in Stapleford Lane.
Eating & drinking:
Restaurants: Seasons, on the site of the former Brasserie 69 in Chilwell Road, excels in locally-sourced produce and is one of the best eateries in the area.
Elsewhere in Beeston there’s the Bombay Brasserie in High Road, Yod Siam restaurant in Villa Street; Latino Restaurant in Chilwell Road, which serves decent pasta, fish and steak dishes; and Pink Wing Chinese within the Durham Ox pub in High Road.
There are no restaurants in Beeston Rylands, and the only places to eat in Chilwell are pubs such as the Charlton Arms and the Cadland.
Cafes: Beeston is overflowing with cafes, from chains like Caffe Nero to independents such as the Flying Goose in Middle Street, which often has an exhibition of artwork or photography.
The Park Coffee Bar in Technology Drive caters for workers in the business park there. Bardill’s Garden Centre in Toton has a popular cafe with a daily carvery.
Pubs: In Beeston there’s plenty to choose from including the Malt Shovel in Union Street, the Victoria Hotel in Dovecote Lane, and the Star and the Crown in Middle Street.
Beeston Rylands has the Boat and Horses in Trent Road, the Jolly Anglers in Meadow Road, and the New Venture Social Club in Technology Drive, which is cheap to join and has a regular entertainment programme.
Chilwell boasts the Hop Pole, Cadland and Charlton Arms in High Road, and family pubs-cum-restaurants the Beekeeper and Corn Mill in Nottingham Road.
There isn’t a traditional boozer in Toton any more, just The Manor pub/restaurant in Nottingham Road.
Sport:
Football: Nottingham Forest and Notts. County are both just a couple of miles away.
Locally, Toton Tigers play at Bramcote Park Business and Enterprise School in Moor Lane, Bramcote, and have teams ranging from under-7s to under-17s.
Toton FC has teams from under-8s upwards and is based at various locations.
Tennis: The Nottingham Tennis Centre is barely half a mile away off University Boulevard, and has a variety of grass, artificial and indoor courts.
Hockey: Just next to the tennis centre is Highfields Hockey Centre, the home of Beeston Hockey Club, a well-established and successful side which plays in the National League Premier Division.
Golf: Beeston Fields Golf Club in Old Drive and Chilwell Manor Golf Club in Meadow Lane are both good courses, while for beginners there’s the Riverside 9-hole pitch and putt just down University Boulevard in Trentside.
Rugby: For many years Nottingham Rugby Club was based in Ireland Avenue, Beeston, but the club now plays at Notts. County’s Meadow Lane ground.
However, Nottingham Casuals Rugby Club is still based in Meadow Road, Beeston, and runs four men’s teams.
Leisure Centres: Chilwell Olympia in Bye Pass Road offers plenty of indoor and outdoor sporting activities but doesn’t have a swimming pool.
The nearest pool is in Bramcote Leisure Centre in Derby Road, which also has a fitness suite.
Entertainment:
Cinema: Choose between the Showcase, a short trip round the A52 ring road, or head into Nottingham city centre for the multi-screen Cineworld; the smaller Broadway and Screen Room; or the Savoy in Derby Road.
Theatre: The city centre has the Theatre Royal and the Playhouse as well as smaller venues.
Beeston Musical Theatre Group (formerly the Beeston Operatic Society) rehearses and performs at Round Hill School.
Parks and open spaces:
The area south of Beeston is dominated by Attenborough Nature Reserve, a 145-hectare Site of Special Scientific Interest with a decent visitor centre and cafe.
To the north there is Bramcote Hills Park, an area of woodland and parkland with a play area and picnic areas.
Wollaton Hall and Park are also close at hand. This 500 acres site is a historic deer park with a magnificent Tudor Manor which is open to the public. You can also explore the Industrial Museum and the Steam Engine House, and there is a Visitor Centre.
The area has plenty of recreation grounds including Beeston Fields, Broadgate, Dovecote Lane, Weirfields and Leyton Crescent, all in Beeston.
In Chilwell, there are recreation grounds at Chetwynd Road and Inham Nook, and Toton has one at Manor Farm.