Nottingham is definitely the place to be but there again I am a little biased since I am a native of the city!
Stacks of good shops, a theatre and a playhouse, lots of good eating and drinking establishments and the casinos are good if you like to gamble!
The night life is fantastic and as a regular partcipant I have get to see any of the violence which the media seem so keen on highlighting - steer clear of the hotspots of St Annes and Radford and you will be ok.
Nottm also sports a tram system up to Hucknall now and there are other routes planned. There is more and more apartment accomodation being built within walking distance of the city centre.
We have also got Robin Hood! Enjoy!