Is Nottingham safe?
Birmingham, Alabama · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Nottingham as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Nottingham
“Go with care. Nottingham is a modest, primarily residential neighborhood in southwest Birmingham that offers little in terms of dedicated tourist attractions. While daytime visits are generally quiet, property crime and elevated violent crime rates across surrounding southwest Birmingham precincts warrant standard vigilance.”
Local news in southwest Birmingham frequently covers ongoing city initiatives addressing blight remediation, roadway repairs, and gun violence reduction programs across adjacent corridors.
About the area
Nottingham is an established, quiet residential enclave nestled between Midfield and Green Acres in southwest Birmingham. The neighborhood features mid-century brick ranch homes, shaded suburban streets, and a tight-knit community of longtime residents.
- Residential
- Quiet Suburb
- Car-Dependent
- Working-Class
Walking and biking in Nottingham
Walk score: 28/100 · Bike score: 32/100
There are no dedicated bike lanes or multi-use trails inside Nottingham, and the area lacks bikeshare stations like Zyp/Veo.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Predominantly quiet, low-traffic residential streets with detached single-family homes
- Higher rate of owner-occupied housing compared to adjacent northern industrial neighborhoods
- Convenient access to major commuter corridors like Bessemer Highway (US-11) and I-59/20
Cons
- Property crime and occasional spillover violent incidents from nearby high-crime corridors
- Poverty rates and vacancy rates in the wider zip code remain higher than national averages
- Virtually no dining, shopping, or entertainment amenities directly within neighborhood boundaries
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the strictly residential streets of Nottingham, though occasional panhandling occurs at major commercial intersections along nearby US-11.
What Nottingham is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and quiet as residents commute to work and school, feeling safe for casual strolls.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Subdued residential activity with light traffic; generally calm and low-risk.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Streets clear out quickly at dusk; visitors should stay aware and stick to well-lit areas.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark with limited municipal street lighting; walking on foot is not recommended.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is operated by the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority (MAX Transit), with limited bus service along peripheral arterial roads; there is no light rail or BRT in this immediate area.
Street parking is free and readily available along residential streets, with ample private driveway space throughout the neighborhood.
Things to do in Nottingham
- Take a quiet walk through the residential grid and view mid-century mid-Alabama suburban architecture
- Visit nearby Midfield Park for outdoor recreation and community green space
- Explore regional soul food and down-home Southern diners along adjacent Bessemer Highway
Local favorites
- Green Acres Cafe · Southern / Soul Food · 4.3★ (1250)A legendary Birmingham institution nearby famous for crispy chicken wings and fried catfish.
- Eagle's Restaurant · Soul Food Restaurant · 4.6★ (840)Historic nearby spot serving classic meat-and-three dishes, oxtails, and collard greens.
- T-Bone's Authentic Philly Style Cheesesteaks · Sandwich Shop · 4.7★ (1100)Beloved metro eatery serving authentic cheesesteaks and hoagies on fresh rolls.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.