The legend of Robin Hood might be what draws many visitors to Nottingham, but folklore isn’t this compact city’s only asset. Its property market is unusually diverse, with many areas still offering fantastic value for money, particularly for first-time buyers. There are lovely Victorian houses in Sneinton, slick city-centre apartments, and family homes in the more mature suburbs of Mapperley Park, West Bridgford and Edwalton.

Outside the city lie dozens of desirable villages, with easy access to the countryside. The Derbyshire Peak District is only an hour’s drive from the city centre

Intrigued? Here are five more things you probably don’t know about Nottingham.

1. Great transport links

The newly dualled A453 provides a quicker link between the M1 and the city, and also improves access to East Midlands Airport. Rail services from East Midlands Parkway now offer faster journey times between Nottingham, London and the Southeast, while the planned HS2 Hub in nearby Toton will provide vastly improved journey times to both London and the North.

2. Easy to get around

Nottingham has the only tram system in the East Midlands, making it easy to get around the city and out to the suburbs, with direct links to the main rail station. There have been considerable improvements in road access around the city, too, with the recently completed dualling of the A46 providing rapid access to the east to Newark Leicester and the M1.

3. Cultural hub

Nottingham has two renowned theatres, Nottingham Theatre Royal, and the award-winning Playhouse, which offers Pay What You Can performances. Its many museums include The Nottingham Contemporary, one of four in the country selected by the Arts Council England to show Pablo Bronstein’s forthcoming Grand Tour exhibition. The historic Lace Market area, meanwhile, offers an eclectic mix of attractions from cafés and restaurants to nightclubs, and educational buildings.

4. Sport

The Ashes returns to historic Trent Bridge this summer and is already a sell out. Nottingham Forest Football Club and Notts County Football Club all lie within walking distance of Trent Bridge. Nottingham recently hosted the Milk Race, with elite high speed cyclists speeding through the city streets.

5. Architecture

The Private Park Estate which sits on the edge of the city centre near the castle was once the deer park created by the Duke of Newcastle and is some 150 acres now defined by some of the city’s most glorious period houses, many having been designed by the pre-eminent architect Thomas Chambers Hine for the 5th Duke of Newcastle in the early 1850s. A number of the properties remain as single family houses while others have been divided into high-quality luxury apartments. The estate is now run by Nottingham Park Estate Ltd who also control the historic gas street lighting system which adds much to the character of the location.