Nottingham is good, but only 'prestigious' for certain fields - the great benefit is that we are making so much money, and throwing cash at problems, that I dare say Notts will be back in the top 10 within 5 years - we have just bought some of the best scholars in the world, and it shows.
League tables are all internal politics anyway, as are even the RAE to an extent, although their findings are more accurate.
Nottingham doesn't fit the label of 'prestigious exactly imo, but it's bloody good nonetheless.