Nottingham
Why we love Nottingham
Steeped in the legends that surround Robin Hood, Nottingham is home to literary greats and a thriving independent arts’ scene. Discover what this city 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. Or take a ghoulish tour under one of England’s oldest pub 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 art gallery
Nottingham’s contemporary art gallery is worth seeing for the building alone. In the cultural Lace Market spot, its actually decorated in traditional Nottingham lace pattern and hosts a cultural menu that doesn’t hold back form the bold and the daring.
Cultural Quarter
Discover where Nottingham’s lace industry once flourished, its red-brick Victorian warehouses have been refashioned into indie shops, gastropubs, and hang-out for creatives.
National Justice Museum
Discover Georgian gaols and ancient cells. See Oscar Wilde’s cell door. Explore 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.
Things to do in Nottingham
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 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 Batman was once filmed - Wollaton Hall and Deer Park becomes home to stacked line-up of music at Nottingham’s biggest music festival.
Learn more about Wollaton Hall
Jungle fun
Adrenalin Jungle is set in 150-acre Sherwood Forest for anything from axe throwing to blindfolded driving.
Learn more about Adrenalin Jungle
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, as well as 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 with in the affluent side of the city, it’s here. This big-budget area is full of Victorian homes, and is just a five minute walk from the castle.
Getting to Nottingham
Nottingham is easy to get to from the UK’s major cities, with international, domestic and European connections avaialble via Birmingham Airport. Train operators also provide direct services to London and the Eurostar hub at St Pancras Station.
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. Walkit.com is a great planner and helps you get to know the city well.
By train
Nottingham has a good local train network. East Midlands Rail connects around the north, while East Coast Trains and Cross-Country Trains also stop at a number of Nottinghamshire towns. Plus, Northern Rail provides local, direct train services to Nottingham cities like Sheffield and Leeds.
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 in Nottingham and the surrounding areas. Running every seven minutes, the trams provide a quick and easy way to zoom across the city, with five stops in the centre.
By bike
Nottinghamshire is ideal for exploring by bike. Citycard Cycles offer bike hire from £1 an hour. There’s plenty of cycle routes, including anything from mountain biking in Sherwood Forest to the car-free Big Track route that runs alongside the River Trent and canal. You can get maps for routes ere.
Want to know more?
Check out Visit Nottingham for top insider tips and travel inspiration.