Nottingham
Why we love Nottingham
Discover what Nottingham has to offer, including a labyrinth of underground caves – complete with a bar. Find its cultural quarter, the Lace Market, fusing old-world architecture with the cool indie vibes of restaurants and bars. Take a ghoulish tour under one of England’s oldest pubs or set yourself loose in the wilds of parklands and adrenaline-filled fun in the acres of Nottingham’s famous Sherwood Forest. And for sports lovers, enjoy a mix of top quality football and cricket.
Nottingham Contemporary
Nottingham’s contemporary art gallery is worth seeing for the building alone. In the cultural Lace Market area, it’s actually decorated in a traditional Nottingham lace pattern and hosts a cultural menu that doesn’t hold back from the bold and the daring.
Cultural quarter
Did you know that Nottingham was once famous for its hand-made lace, which it exported all over the world during the Victorian era? That is how the vibrant Lace Market retail and cultural quarter got its name, though you’ll find much more than textiles in its shops and boutiques. Think designer fashions, bustling bistros and vintage emporiums, with a real emphasis on locally sourced pieces.
Action-packed outdoor experiences
This isn’t just a fun-filled, adrenaline-packed activity centre: you can stay overnight at Holme Pierrepont Country Park too, with a choice of camping, glamping, lake-view rooms and a self-catering cottage. As for adventures, choose from the ‘Sky Trail’ high-ropes course, archery combat and mini golf, while the lagoon offers watersports aplenty – think paddleboarding, kayaking and an inflatable obstacle course.
Ice, ice, baby
Take a spin on an Olympic-sized ice rink, at the home of the Nottingham Panthers ice hockey team. As well as lessons for all abilities and ages, the National Ice Centre hosts everything from skating disco nights to Christmas-themed events and fun children’s sessions. Give one of the ice sports like speed skating or ice hockey a try, right in the centre of Nottingham.
National Justice Museum
Discover Georgian gaols and ancient cells. See Oscar Wilde’s cell door. Explore a mass of sandstone caverns and up to five floors around themes on social justice, giving an insight into law like never before, all from this handsome Grade II listed hall.
Nottingham
Famed for its tales of Robin Hood, Nottingham is a UNESCO City of Literature rich with stories, myths and legends.
Explore the city’s Cultural Quarter, once home to a thriving lace industry and now brimming with independent shops and bars, or catch a cricket match at historic Trent Bridge.
Uncover tales of history and rebellion at Nottingham Castle, try out archery in Sherwood Forest, or visit the interactive National Justice Museum for stories of crime and punishment.
Discover The City of Caves, the UK’s largest network of underground caves beneath the city, or head to Wollaton Hall for its Natural History Museum, open-air theatre and live music.
Fun fact
Fun fact
In 600AD Nottingham was under the rule of an Anglo-Saxon tribe, the Snotingas. During this time, the tribe called the town Snotingham, and it wasn’t until later that the name Nottingham took hold.
Did you know?
Did you know?
One of England’s oldest inns, the 800-year-old Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem pub claims to have once been a pit stop for crusader knights, and is attached to the city’s underground cave network.
The 10-tonne Little John bell at Nottingham Council House sounds every 15 minutes during the day and can be heard up to seven miles (11km) away.
Historic Sherwood Forest is home to the legendary Major Oak, an ancient tree dating back 1,000 years that boasts an impressive 11-metre-round trunk.
Nottingham’s Goose Fair, dating back centuries and originally a trading event, is a hugely popular funfair held in October and is one of the largest travelling funfairs in Europe.
- Inspired by the city’s historic lace industry, Nottingham Contemporary Art Gallery features a mid-19th-century cherry blossom lace design embedded on the building’s outer walls.
Things to do in Nottingham
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Featured things to do
Underground haunts at England’s oldest (perhaps) pub
Damp, dimly lit, and decorated. Add a few skulls and the odd stuffed animal, and you have this quirky 800-year-old drinking spot cut into the city’s underground cave network.
Learn more about Nottingham’s Underground Caves
Splendour Festival
A late July weekend at the gothic manor where The Dark Knight Rises was once filmed – Wollaton Hall and Deer Park becomes home to the stacked line-up of music at Nottingham’s biggest music festival.
Learn more about Wollaton Hall
Forest Bathing
With its tranquil walking trails and 1,000-year-old ‘Major Oak’ tree, this historic forest is a joy to explore. Legend has it, Sherwood was home to Robin Hood and his Merry Men – but these days you’ll find folk festivals, outdoor yoga classes, and Medieval battle re-enactments.
Go wild at Sherwood Forest
Walking in a Winter Wonderland
Explore the Old Market Square’s magical transformation for a festive fix of Bavarian-proportions. Complete with ski lodges and mulled wine by twinkling lights, an ice rink and ice bar.
Learn more about Nottingham Winter WonderlandPlaces to stay in Nottingham
Beeston
This large town south west of the city centre is very popular with students. You’ll find budget-friendly places here as well as lots of lively bars and pubs, plus woodland walks and lake views.
Mapperley
In the north of the city, it’s the place for great for shopping, cafes and pubs, though is largely residential, and being hilly offers great views too. Just a 15-minute walk to the centre, yet it’s a conservation area too, so has a parkland feel to it.
The Park
If you want to stay in the affluent side of the city, look no further. This big-budget area is full of Victorian homes, and is just a five minute walk from the castle.
Explore nearby
Getting to Nottingham
Nottingham is served by Birmingham Airport for international arrivals, as well as East Midlands Airport for shorter connections. Birmingham Airport is 48 miles (77km) from the centre of Nottingham, while East Midlands Airport is around 13 miles (21km).
Direct trains from London St Pancras to Nottingham take around an hour and a half. There are trains to Nottingham from all of Britain’s major cities, including Birmingham, Leeds and Sheffield.
Coaches also connect Nottingham with London and beyond, with operators National Express and Megabus.
Getting around
By bus
You will not be short of buses to get you around the county. Most bus services from the city operate from Nottingham’s Broad Marsh and Victoria bus station and are mostly run by Nottingham City.
By foot
Nottingham’s compact and often car free centre means it’s the perfect place to explore by foot. From riverside rambling to woodlands, city centre and nature reserves, there's something for all.
By train
EMR connects around the north, while Cross-Country Trains also stop at a number of nearby towns and surrounding areas. Northern Rail provides local and direct train services.
By taxi
There are a few registered taxi companies in the city centre, situated outside of Nottingham Station, Victoria Centre, and next to the Old Market Square.
By tram
Nottingham Express Transit (NET) forms good connections for shopping, leisure and tourist attractions. Running every seven minutes, the trams provide a quick and easy way to zoom across the city.
By bike
Exploring by bike is an eco-friendly option. There are bike parking bays dotted all over the city and plenty of cycle routes, from mountain biking in Sherwood Forest to the car-free Big Track route along the River Trent and canal.
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