Everyone thinks that their home town is special. That they have the best people, food, culture and sports team. Of course, that’s as understandable as it is ridiculous, driven by our emotional attachment to where we originate from. Unless you happen to be from Nottingham, in which case it’s all totally true! Or am I just a tiny bit biased?
What is true is that Nottingham is a vibrant city and a great place to visit. It has plenty for everyone: culture vultures, fans of performing arts, foodies, sports fans, nature lovers and those with kids to keep entertained.
As a small city of just over 300,000 occupants, Nottingham will keep you thoroughly entertained for a day trip and is ideal for a two or three-night city-break. Whether you travel by road or rail, it’s an easy two-hour journey from London.
Alternatively, and thanks to Nottingham’s fantastic central location and great road and rail links, the city can be a fabulous base from which to explore huge parts of England. It even has an international airport.
Whatever type of visitor you are, you mustn’t miss Nottingham city centre. It is one of the few cities in the UK where the centre has a more vibrant heartbeat than it did twenty years ago. The focal point of the city for nearly a thousand years is Old Market Square, sometimes called “Slab Square.” It’s the second largest paved public space in the UK after Trafalgar Square in London.
Paved streets lined with shops, bars and restaurants spread out from Old Market Square in every direction. Clumber Street, which runs from the rear of the Council House north to the Victoria Shopping Centre is reputed to be the busiest pedestrianised shopping street in Europe.
Just off Old Market Square, a few paces up King Street, football fans can join the thousands who have had their photo taken next to the statue of legendary Nottingham Forest and Derby County manager, Brian Clough.
Located behind the Council House is Hockley, the creative area of the city where many independent shops, cafés and bars can be found in well preserved Victorian buildings.
Table of Contents
1. Nottingham is Great for Culture Vultures
Nottingham Contemporary
If you like modern art, you will love Nottingham Contemporary. There is always an amazing exhibition or two showing cutting edge artistic creations. These often include an exhibition aimed specifically at young people (Nottingham Contemporary doesn’t use the term children).
Don’t miss the café Blend, a great place for a coffee and cake, or a light meal. Personally, it’s the building that I like most. It’s a bit like the Guggenheim in New York where the building is an iconic piece of art in its own right.
Nottingham Castle
You might be a little disappointed if you are expecting a medieval castle from the Robin Hood movies. Sadly, that building was destroyed in the 1651. Nevertheless, Nottingham Castle is most definitely worth a visit.
The main castle was rebuilt in the 19th Century as the first public gallery outside London. Today it houses a wide selection of traditional art and museum pieces. It also houses the Robin Hood Adventures where kids of all ages can take part in a variety of exciting reality games.
Another highlight is the Nottingham Castle Caves, which include a secret passage used by Roger Mortimer and Queen Isabella to flee from the castle and King Edward III’s goons.
The National Justice Museum
The National Justice Museum used to be a courtroom, police station, jail, and gallows. In other words, somewhere that you could be arrested, tried, jailed and executed in a “one stop shop.”
I have a special connection with the courtroom, then known as the Shire Hall, as in the mid-1980s I stood in the dock in front of the magistrate as an accused. Fortunately, I was only there to contest a traffic violation, and happily the magistrate agreed that there was no case to answer. This is a great museum to take older children and you will enjoy it yourself.
The City of Caves
Carved into the soft local sandstone, Nottingham has the largest network of manmade caves in the UK that date back to the 13th Century. In the late 1960’s it was planned to fill the caves with concrete as part of the construction of the hideous Broadmarsh Shopping Centre. Fortunately, they were declared an ancient monument, and, after extensive restoration, the caves were opened as a visitor attraction in 1978.
They now provide a fascinating tour for visitors of every age, and I highly recommend them. As they are managed by the same group, you can save money by buying tickets for the City of Caves and the National Justice Museum together.
The Nottingham Industrial Museum
The Nottingham Industrial Museum was one of my favourite places when I was a kid, and my attraction to it gave my parents a short-lived hope that I might become an engineer. Located in Wollaton Park, the museum shows the key role that Nottingham played in the Industrial Revolution. It’s yet another attraction that will enthral adults and children.
The D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum
The D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum has a more niche appeal. It’s for those who love literature and others who spent childhood nights under the covers secretly reading novels, such as Lady Chatterley’s Lover. The museum is extremely well organized and the staff are highly knowledgeable.
2. Fans of Performing Arts will Love Nottingham
Broadway Cinema
It may surprise you that I start the performing arts section with a recommendation for a cinema, but Broadway Cinema is no ordinary movie house. It’s located in the Hockley area of Nottingham and Total Film magazine rates it as one of the best cinemas in the world. It’s not elitist either, as along with the less well-known titles, it also shows many blockbuster favourites, just provided that they have some artistic merit. A tip from a local, get there early to enjoy the best stone-baked pizza in the city served in the Mezz Bar.
Nottingham Playhouse
Nottingham Playhouse is my favourite building in the city. This stunner debuted in 1963, the same year as me, but it has definitely aged better than me. It is the sort of place where mainstream stars, such as Judi Dench and Ian McKellen can be seen in slightly edgier productions.
If you choose not to see a production, do stop by for a drink and snack, and admire both the building and the spectacular Sky Mirror by renowned sculptor Anish Kapoor.
The Theatre Royal
The Theatre Royal is a traditional Victorian theatre and one of the primary touring destinations for many major West End musicals. You can enjoy extravagant productions such as Jersey Boys and The Book of Mormon for a fraction of the cost of the West End or Broadway. In 1982 the Royal Concert Hall, a fantastic venue for concerts and other shows, was added to form a joint complex where the old and new combine perfectly.
Rock City
Rock City is possibly the best alternative music venues in the UK, described by the New Musical Express as “sweaty but truly indie.” It’s also been Kernag magazine’s Venue of the Year for ten consecutive years. The long list of notable performers seen at Rock City includes Amy Winehouse, Kings of Leon, Foo Fighters, Oasis and, my personal favourite band, Artic Monkeys.
3. Foodies of All Tastes will Find Something Delicious in Nottingham
In the 1970s and for much of the 80s, Nottingham was a gastronomic wasteland. Fortunately, things have changed dramatically and a visit to Nottingham can satisfy anyone’s palate and pocket. Here are a few of my personal favourites from recent trips “back home.”
Oakdale Chippy and The Cod’s Scallops
The first thing I want when I get back to Nottingham is a great plate of fish and chips, and the standouts in Nottingham are Oakdale Chippy and The Cod’s Scallops, a small regional chain with four locations in the city.
The Bewhouse and Kitchen
For a casual and affordable meal head to The Brewhouse and Kitchen, a gastropub that serves a great traditional English Sunday Lunch.
Pieminister
As a pie lover, I was delighted when Pieminister opened a location in Nottingham. I tend to opt for their take on traditional British pies, but Monique’s Jamaican taste buds enjoy the saag-pie-neer, a vegetarian choice with Indian spices.
George’s Great British Kitchen
If I fancy a slightly more upmarket fish and chips or a swanky full English breakfast, I head for George’s Great British Kitchen. A fabulous atmosphere and even better food.
Tamatanga
Like every British city, there are a huge number of Indian restaurants that range from the sublime to the virtually inedible. At the sublime end is Tamatanga. I highly recommend their railway cabin lamb, utterly amazing. They also have great vegan choices and dishes for those who want great flavours without the spicy heat.
Hart's Kitchen
Occasionally, I will splash out on something special and in Nottingham that usually means Hart’s Kitchen, located in the city’s best hotel by Nottingham Castle. They also offer an amazing traditional afternoon tea.
Petit Paris
The best French style restaurant is Petit Paris where the food is out of this world and the atmosphere, even towards children, is relaxed and friendly.
4. Nottingham is a Sports Fan’s Dream
Whether you want to be a spectator or participant, Nottingham has more to offer the sporting enthusiast than almost any city in the UK.
The National Water Sports Centre
The National Water Sports Centre is situated in idyllic Holme Pierrepoint Country Park. Here you can enjoy the same facilities as the country’s elite aquatic athletes. While not all activities are water based, the best for thrill seekers are the rapids and rafting adventures
National Ice Stadium
Another elite level facility in Nottingham is the fabulous National Ice Stadium where you can try your hand at ice skating or take a few lessons. You will often find exciting events and competitions taking place there including figure skating and speed skating. The centre is also home to Nottingham Panthers, one of the top teams in the Elite Hockey League.
Nottingham Racecourse
If the sport of kings is your thing, you can have a wonderful day out at Nottingham Racecourse in Colwick. As a flat race only venue, it operates during the spring and summer. If you prefer National Hunt racing over fences and hurdles, you should head out to the charming Southwell Racecourse, which operates one of only 6 all-weather racecourses in Britain.
Trent Bridge
Nottingham also boasts Trent Bridge, one of the leading international cricket grounds in England. As well as hosting international Test, One-Day and T20 cricket, Trent Bridge is home to Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club and its limited overs team the Notts Outlaws. If you are new to cricket, you are sure to enjoy the Outlaws in a T20 Blast match.
Notts County
Finally, Nottingham is home to two football (soccer) teams, Nottingham Forest and Notts County. The grounds are located a literal stone’s throw apart, across the River Trent. Until their relegation in 2019, Notts County was the oldest football league club in the world. However, that title didn’t go far, just across the river to Nottingham Forest.
5. You can Get Lost in Nature in Nottingham
Wollaton Park
I can’t count how many childhood hours I spent in the 500-acre Wollaton Park, but it must be in the thousands. Despite being in the city, it’s a nature lover’s delight where you can ramble though woods, open areas and around the lake.
You’ll likely encounter red and fallow deer, rooks, jackdaws, crows, foxes, jays, nuthatches, and sparrowhawks. There is even a small permanent population of ring-necked parakeets, descendants from the exotic pet trade.
Perched on the central hill is the magnificent 16th Century Wollaton Hall, which you may recognize as Wayne Manor from the movie The Dark Knight Rises.
Attenborough Nature Centre
A few miles west of the city centre in Chilwell is the Attenborough Nature Centre. It is located where the rivers Trent and Erewash meet and is a haven for wetland wildlife.
It offers beautiful scenery and a wide range of birds for a relaxing country hike. You can end your walk at the café and visitor centre. While the nature centre wasn’t named after the famed broadcaster, it was opened by Sir David Attenborough who remains an active supporter. The centre won a gold award for eco-tourism and was listed as number 9 in the BBC’s top 10 eco-tourism destinations in the world.
Colwick Country Park and Rushcliffe Country Park
Other sites of note for nature lovers to visit within the city are Colwick Country Park and Rushcliffe Country Park. There are also numerous smaller local nature reserves of which my personal favourite is Martin’s Pond, which was once the Wollaton Hall find pond.
The Peak District
If you are serious about spending time in the great outdoors, Nottingham can be a great base from which to explore the eye-popping beauty of the Peak District National Park. There you can go walking, climbing, caving and camping within 555 miles of natural splendour.
The park is also home to some of the best stately homes in Britain including Chatsworth House, famous for playing Pemberley in the 2005 film version of Pride and Prejudice, Haddon Hall and Lyme House. If you do go, don’t forget to visit some of the picturesque, unspoiled towns such as Buxton, Bakewell and Matlock.
6. Nottingham will Keep Kids of all Ages Entertained
Your children will be delighted that you decided to take them to Nottingham with you, as there is so much to excite and keep them entertained.
Green’s Windmill and Science Centre
Close to the city centre is Green’s Windmill and Science Centre. It’s the sort of place where kids enjoy themselves too much to realize that they’re also learning at the same time.
There is a fully restored, working windmill that was originally constructed in 1807 and the science centre gives children a chance to have hands-on experience of many science experiments.
Planet Bounce
If you want to burn-off child-like levels of energy, try Planet Bounce in the city centre. It’s an indoor inflatable fun park complete with obstacle courses, slides, biff and bash, climbing walls and much more. It is sure to both excite and exhaust any child.
Stonebridge City Farm
For something a little less adrenaline pumping, but equally exciting take your kids to Stonebridge City Farm. It’s an urban farm in the heart of the city. You and they can enjoy the animals and gardens, and there is no fee to enter, although donations are encouraged.
Go Ape Sherwood Pines
Another location for kids to burn energy and for adults to feel an adrenaline rush is Go Ape Sherwood Pines. Take the Treetop Challenge or the even more demanding and new Challenge Plus, the ultimate high ropes adventure.
Closer to ground level, you can try the Nets Adventure or ride a Segway through the forest. How about taking out some of that pent up frustration with axe-throwing as you aim for the bullseye?
The Great Central Railway
Railway fans and lovers of the age of steam will appreciate the short drive south to Loughborough and the Great Central Railway. It’s a wonderfully maintained double track railway and the only place in the world where steam locomotives regularly pass each other travelling in opposite directions.
I know that I am just a little biased, but Nottingham is a great place to visit. It’s a thriving modern city with so much to see and do. The things I’ve described are my personal favourites and combine to form only a fraction of what’s on offer in the fabulous city of Nottingham.
What did you think of this article on my hometown Nottingham? Did I miss anything you needed to know? Let me know below in the comments section. Also, be sure to check out some related posts below.
Author
Nick Abbott
Hi, I’m Nick. Visiting foreign countries has been an important part of my life since my parents moved to Kano in Nigeria in 1977. Since then, as both a military officer and in later jobs I have enjoyed the huge privilege of being exposed to many different countries and cultures.
I am delighted to be able to support my wife Monique and Yes2Yolo primarily by contributing travel articles, providing editing and proof-reading services and being a general sounding board.
