From Turkish restaurants to Asian shops and 'Nottingham's best hair salons', a community has spoken with pride about how "immigrants turned a rough area into a multicultural street". It is the authentic cuisine scene and international shops on Alfreton Road that make people feel like they are "travelling the world" on foot.
Traders on the busy street in Radford said shoppers come to the area for exclusive, international products that cannot be purchased from a standard supermarket. Communities who came to Nottingham 'for a better life' said the area has not always been so popular with shoppers as it is now.
Hilary Silvester, executive chair of the Nottingham Civic Society, said immigrants who came to the city have brought 'life to the area', adding: "It represents another city of Nottingham. I think it is good to have these areas that bring life to the city.
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"And yes, I think there is a number of immigrants who have done that in Radford. Everything has more than one side, but I certainly think this is a very positive contribution to the life of a city - to have so many different cultures and nationalities.
"Alfreton Road used to be a dreary road, and it was that sort of somewhere that you went along. You did not necessarily stay for very long - you went through, but it was not interesting enough to want to become involved.
"But I think now, with the variety of shops in the area, and a variety of people living here, it is just more interesting. Obviously, there have been waves of immigration as a result of world events.
"You get refugees and so on, but also people who have more education about the world. Probably these people have known more about this country and felt that it may have something to offer them."
Matilda Osei, a partner manager at the Achievers beauty salon in Alfreton Road, lived in London for 16 years before coming to Nottingham. She added: "I moved to London because my partner was studying there. Then I came to Nottingham because I wanted a quiet city where I could grow my children."
The 44 year old added: "This used to be a rough area. But now, there is no place like it in Nottingham.
"People from the city come here because we have the best hairdressers and barbers. And then you have Turkish restaurants, and international shops that have everything and more.
"I feel very protected here, in Radford. Everyone comes from somewhere here, everyone has a story. It is like a multicultural centre."
Tahir Saridas is originally from Turkey and said he moved here for a "better life". The 31 year old, who now lives in Radford, is a cashier at the Kaya Food Centre in Alfreton Road.
He lived in Toronto, Canada, for a while before coming to Nottingham. He said: "Canada is so expensive, you cannot afford to live because most of your money goes on rent.
"I used to make C$4000, and then spent C$3000 on rent for my condo. I used to live in Turkey before that, and I would only go there for holidays.
"I came here for a better life, like many other immigrants. The UK is a great place to live, you cannot compare it to anywhere else. I am still in Europe, relatively close to my homeland, but also have a decent life."
He added: "Our customers here are very diverse. Most people ask for exclusive items, things you cannot buy anywhere else. For example, the baklava.
"I just think it is important to have places like this, where refugees can bring and show their culture and where they are from. Walking on this street is like travelling the world on foot."
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