Nottingham is home to some of the UK's best-known high-street names and designer brands but it also boasts a thriving independent shopping scene, making it the ideal place for a short-break. From vintage to vinyl, specialist books and magazines to creative hubs and boutiques, the city is bursting with individuality.

A new walking trail and mobile app highlighting the best Nottingham has to offer shoppers looking for places off the beaten track has been launched to guide visitors around the array of unique shops, bars and eateries in the 'Hidden' heart of the city.

The trail, which is available as a free Guidigo app (www.guidigo.com) or as a handy pocket sized fold out map, highlights ten independent retail areas in Nottingham city centre – starting out from the buzzing and vibrant Old Market Square and leading to the quiet oasis of Cobden Chambers in Hockley.

Other highlights on the 'Hidden' trail include the Lace Market, Broadmarsh, Bridlesmith Walk, Flying Horse Walk, St James's Street, Hurts Yard, West End Arcade, Derby Road and Kings & Trinity Walks.

Brendan Moffett, Chief Executive of Marketing Nottingham & Nottinghamshire: “We are delighted to have joined with Nottingham City Council and partners in delivering this exciting new walking trail for Nottingham. The tour will help visitors and locals to discover the city's independent retail offer and enhance their overall shopping experience.

“The city plays host to a large number of fantastic independent shops, all within walking distance, which make it such a unique and great place to visit, and sets Nottingham apart from other major UK shopping destinations.”

The Nottingham Independent Shopping Trail is based on a series of entertaining short videos, available on YouTube which tell the story of the independent areas of the city centre. The app is available from GuidiGo.com or by downloading the free GuidiGo app and searching for “Nottingham Independent Shopping”.

The new independent shopping trail has been produced following the successful launch in October last year of the Nottingham Trail, a self-guided walking trail which incorporates all of the leading tourist locations and attractions in the city, which is also available via a GuidiGo app or online at https://www.guidigo.com/

The Hidden Nottingham Independent Shopping Trail fold-out map is available from Nottingham's Tourist Information Centre on Long Row in the city centre.

For details of all Nottingham's tours and trails visit the website: http://www.experiencenottinghamshire.com/things-to-do/tours-and-trails

Ends

For further press information, please contact:

Linda Parker             PR Manager, Marketing Nottingham & Nottinghamshire                                               

Email:                      linda.parker@visit-nottinghamshire.co.uk

Tel:                          0115 962 8304

or

Andrew Napier        Marketing & Communications Officer, Nottingham City Council

Email:                    Andrew.Napier@nottinghamcity.gov.uk 

Tel:                        0115 876 5944                  

Notes to Editors

About Marketing Nottingham & Nottinghamshire:
Marketing Nottingham & Nottinghamshire is the official Place Marketing Organisation (PMO) for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. The promotional agency is responsible for growing the local economy through encouraging inward investment, attracting business and leisure visitors, student retention and aligning with the local business community. Marketing NG is funded by a combination of private monies through membership and grants, and by local authorities including Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council.  Marketing Nottingham & Nottinghamshire is made-up of three core divisions: Visit Nottinghamshire, Invest in Nottingham and Nottingham Partners.

About Visit Nottinghamshire:
Visit Nottinghamshire is the division of Marketing Nottingham & Nottinghamshire responsible for driving leisure and business visitors to the city and county. It also manages the city's award-winning Tourism Centre.  Visit Nottinghamshire works with 500 private sector partners and local authorities including Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, to grow the visitor economy for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. Nottinghamshire is a leading tourism destination with a world-class reputation for its legends, local traditions, culture, sport and heritage.  Tourism in Nottinghamshire is estimated to be worth £1.68bn to the local economy.

HIDDEN films on YouTube

• Hurts Yard - https://youtu.be/ChXkqOSrjrI 
• Bridlesmith Walk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmlRTcZGmdg
• Flying Horse Walk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViTfhw3G1mU
• Hockley, Cobden Chambers and the Lace Market - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbkqgmiP774
• Derby Road - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J_vcY60GXM
• Kings Walk and Trinity Walk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLgCHTy1EJo
• Broadmarsh Upper Mall - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tr3DbRJ5Bc
• St James's Street - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B3vtqThHOo
• West End Arcade - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7KP3eqa9rM