10 Best Things to Do in Nottingham

The historical Castle Quarter of Nottingham is a great place to really get to grips with the remarkable history of the city. The building still known as Nottingham Castle is actually a ducal manor house instead of a strategic fortification, but the museum and art gallery it contains are a good place to start your day.

From there, you can explore the wooded grounds, see the statue of Robin Hood and visit some of the oldest pubs in England, the famous Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem and the arguably older Ye Olde Salutation Inn.

The dramatic Elizabethan country house to the west of Nottingham city centre will probably be familiar to fans of the 2012 film The Dark Knight Rises, since it played the role of Wayne Manor. In the real world, the mansion is home to Nottingham’s Natural History Museum, the Nottingham Industrial Museum and regular concerts and festivals.

The house itself, built in 1588, is spectacular in its own right, and is surrounded by 500 acres of equally beautiful parkland, with herds of red and fallow deer roaming free.

The Cathedral Church of St. Barnabas is the seat of the Bishop of Nottingham, and what a seat it is. Fairly modest from the outside, the interior is very bright and quite colourful. Designed by the same architect responsible for the interior of the Houses of Parliament, the Blessed Sacrament Chapel is especially beautiful.

Aside from the amazing historical surroundings, Nottingham Cathedral provides a little bit of peace during your busy day. It’s a great place to take a break in the middle of a fun-filled day.

Nottingham is obviously best known for its association with Robin Hood, so who better to guide you around the city than the Prince of Thieves himself? Providing an infinitely more immersive and memorable experience than any other kind of city tour, the legend himself, or at least an excellent actor in full costume, will take you around the major historical sites of Nottingham, including the Lace Market, the old jail, Nottingham Castle and, finally, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem.

Other tours are available, but this one has deservedly achieved international acclaim.

The City of Caves is an ancient network of about 500 manmade caves dug out of the sandstone under Nottingham. They are thought to date back as far as the Dark Ages, and have had various uses throughout history. They have housed Britain’s only underground tannery, one of the country’s worst slums and even a public air-raid shelter during the Second World War. You can learn more about the caves and their uses through actor-guided or audio-guided tours.

The caves are operated by the National Justice Museum and you can get a joint ticket, giving you access to both venues.

Nottingham has several big shopping centres around the city centre, but The Exchange stands out from the rest. Sometimes called Exchange Arcade, it’s comparatively small, with only about 20 stores in the opulent setting built in the late-1920s. There’s a distinct leaning towards women’s fashion in the stores here, which include Oasis, Radley and Karen Millen.

There are a couple of small cafés where you can enjoy the surroundings and a break between purchases. If The Exchange doesn’t satisfy your retail itch, take a walk around the surrounding streets for more high-street brands.

It’s impossible to say that Sherwood Forest is really in Nottingham, it’s about 25 miles north. However, it’s one of the city’s most popular attractions, making it impossible for us not to include it here.

Famously the hideout of Robin Hood, there are dozens of walking and cycling routes between the ancient oak, silver birch and rowan trees, among others. The golden sunsets, blinking through the leaves, are especially beautiful. Be sure to see Major Oak, which is said to have been the site of Robin Hood’s main hideout, and the fascinating visitor centre and fun park. If you’re around Nottingham in late-August, you should also check out the Robin Hood Festival.

Once the home of the infamous Sherriff of Nottingham, the National Justice Museum is said to be one of the most haunted buildings in Britain, not surprising, given that it’s housed in the old county jail. For those who want a spooky encounter, there are ghost tours every Friday from 6 pm.

If you’re not into the supernatural, the museum itself is very interesting. The history of law and order in the UK is brought to life by actors and over 40,000 exhibits, including original evidence from the Great Train Robbery.

While it’s not that usual for English cities to have more than 1 football stadium, it’s very unusual to find them as close together as they are in Nottingham. The home grounds of Notts County and Nottingham Forest are only about 730 ft apart, though they are separated by the River Trent.

The local rugby and cricket grounds are also both close by. The excitement of watching a good match live is unrivalled. Enjoy a bit of football history by going to Meadow Lane Stadium to watch Notts County, the oldest league team in the world.

Hockley is home to Nottingham’s creatives, and it shows. The place is packed with innovative shops, restaurants and bars. Check out Goose Gate, in particular, for an impressive range of places to eat. There’s sure to be something to whet your appetite.

After that, you can wander up Broad Street to the Broadway Cinema or head to the Nottingham Arts Theatre on George Street. If you want to party, Hockley is known as the 'Soho of Nottingham', with top venues including Baa Bar, Jam Café and the Hockley Arts Club.