Ruddington: We discovered what life is really like in Nottingham's 'best place to live'

Earlier this month Garrington Property Finders released its annual Best Places to Live guide. 

The impartial guide is based on publicly available data concerning factors such as schools, employment, and house prices. 

This year, the large village of Ruddington was named the best place to live in Nottingham for 2024.

It ranked an impressive 65 / 1429 on the national list and scored highly for house price quality and value, wellbeing and culture.

Read more: Your Nottingham

So in light of this new accolade, we decided to dig a little deeper into what life is really like in Ruddington. (And spoiler alert, we want to live there now too.)

The charming village is located in the Rushcliffe area of Nottingham. It's about five miles south of the city and 11 miles from Loughborough making it an ideal home for commuters.

Things to do in Ruddington

It boasts a range of great amenities and is located near several attractions including the Great Central Railway and Rushcliffe Country Park.

It is home to three notable museums: The Ruddington Village Museum which features a Chemists, Ironmongers, and Fish and Chip shop from the Edwardian era.

We're big fans of quirky museums and if you are too, look no further than The Ruddington Framework Knitters' Museum.

The site has been restored to show the working and living conditions of the framework knitters who occupied it throughout the nineteenth century and is one of the few places in Britain where you can see a working Framework Knitting machine.

Ruddington is also home to the Nottingham Heritage Railway. Located next to Rushcliffe Park, there is a preserved stretch of the Great Central Railway line. It is a must-visit for train enthusiasts and draws in a decent tourist crowd each year.

Eating and drinking in Ruddington

As well as being a spitting distance from the main city centre, Ruddington has its own eclectic food and drink offerings including pubs and restaurants.

The pub scene in Ruddington is really popping off, some notable mentions (but not all) are below.

The Ruddington Arms is especially popular with the locals thanks to its epic food offerings including a takeaway Sunday lunch (complete with pre-mixed cocktails).

One person described the Ruddington Arms as an "excellent all-round venue and somewhere to return to."

And Karen M said: "We visit The Ruddington Arms most weeks as it is [our] local: sometimes we eat and sometimes just for a drink or two. The food is excellent with fresh, imaginative ingredients, and well prepared. There is a good range of drinks including an extensive gin menu. Would recommend."

The Nottingham Knight is another good option for reliable Greene King pub grub and drinks.

Of an eve locals can be found at the White Horse Inn for quiz nights, wine tastings, and live sport.

Living in Ruddington

Of course, a bustling social scene is great but what is life without a comfortable place to lay your head at night?

Ruddington is filled with gorgeous houses from tucked-away mansions to spacious family homes.

The village is clearly very desirable for homeowners and because of that the properties come at a price. The cost of an average family home in Ruddington is well above the national average at £475,849.

There are several swish new build properties for sale on the Wilbur Chase Development. A detached five-bed house here will set you back more than £600,000.

View houses for sale in Ruddington on Rightmove or by clicking here.

Points of interest

Ruddington is home to several churches including the impressive St Peter's, which has a tall steeple that can be seen throughout the village.

Additionally, the village has other places of worship including the Ruddington Methodist and Baptist churches.

There is a lovely well-kept green in the heart of the village which is the location for the popular market.

There is also a golf club and several pretty little shops selling everything from gifts to garlic (or you know other household staples).

Crime in Ruddington

According to the latest police data, 40 crimes were reported in Ruddington in November 2023.

The majority of those crimes were related to violence, sexual offences and anti-social behaviour.

There were 6 burglaries reported in the area between September and November 2023.

You can view the latest crime map data on the police.uk website here.

Schools in Ruddington

Understandably Ruddington is a popular place for families to live, so access to schools is one of the most important factors to consider.

Luckily, the village is near to several Outstanding schools for nursery, primary and secondary-aged children.

It's worth noting that many are located in neighbouring villages such as Wollaton, Clifton or West Bridgford.

The village itself is home to Easthorpe School, an independent school for special needs, which has an Outstanding Oftsed rating.

You can view a full list of nearby schools and their Ofsted ratings here.