Nottingham Attractions and Things to Do

Based at Nottingham’s old courthouse and gaol, the Old Shire Hall, sinister and grim stories of Nottingham’s own outlaws are brought to life. To capture and explain this gruesome history they use actors, audio guides, guide sheets, lighting, sounds, set dressing and exhibitions.

This magnificent neo-Baroque building, whose 200ft high dome dominates the city skyline, has been the heart of the city centre since 1929. The Old Market Square in front, the largest city square in the UK, dates from Saxon times and was the original site of the famous Goose Fair.

Standing high on Castle Rock overlooking the city, Nottingham Castle is visited by over 270,000 visitors each year. Many visitors question where the castle is, as they expect to find a traditional English castle. Instead they find the first Duke of Newcastle's Ducal Palace. Closed until late 2020 for restoration.

St Mary's is the ancient Parish and Civic Church of Nottingham, the largest medieval building in the City and an excellent example of the Perpendicular style of architecture. It is believed that the present building is the third church on the site.

City Of Caves is a subterranean family attraction that is part of a complex of over 500 caves dating back to the Dark Ages, the last of which were in use until as late as the 1940s. Nottingham has more man made caves than anywhere else in Britain, and the cave network has Ancient Monument Protection.

The Lace Market is a district in Nottingham city centre. It's not a market selling lace, but a collection of historic buildings that were once at the centre of the world's lace making industry. Today, the area is home to creative businesses, independent shops, bars and restaurants.

St Peter's Church is a Grade I listed building and was first constructed in 1180, with the tower and spire completed in 1340. Standing in the heart of the city of Nottingham, the church is open seven days a week and plays host to a great many visitors.

At over 3,000 square metres, Nottingham Contemporary is one of the largest contemporary art galleries in the UK. It has four galleries, lit by 132 skylights, shop and café bar. The building appears larger on the inside than outside, since much of its north end is sunk into the sandstone cliff.

The Nottingham tourism centre is located on Smithy Row as part of the Council House on Old Market Square. The dedicated staff are able to inform you about local events, accommodation and attractions and there are maps and leaflets for you to take with you.

The Museum of Nottingham Life is sited in Brewhouse Yard at the base of Castle Rock. It has now closed for general admission for redevelopment work taking place on the Nottingham Castle site until late 2020.

The River Trent is located just south of the city centre and the historic crossing of the river by the London Road is known as Trent Bridge. A pleasant open space for an enjoyable walk, visit the Memorial Gardens or cross the suspension bridge for excellent views of the river's traffic.

This Green Flag award winning park is Nottingham's oldest public park and the closest park to the city centre. A historic, beautifully maintained park that is home to an important collection of over 800 trees, some of which are from the original collection planted in the 19th century.

Green's Windmill is a working mill and popular museum and science centre in Sneinton. The amazing inner workings of the mill can be seen, especially on a windy day, over four floors, including the grain cleaner and grindstones.

Stonebridge City Farm is a small slice of the countryside in the heart of the City of Nottingham. They look after a range of animals, large and small and grow seasonal vegetables and herbs. They also have a playground, café and shop.

Well known to many visitors as the site of the annual Nottingham Goose Fair, the Forest has recently undergone a £5.2m Lottery restoration. This includes the refurbishment and restoration of the pavilion with a new café and public toilets.

Nottingham Park Estate is an historic residential estate in the heart of Nottingham. The Park is one of the most remarkable Victorian residential estates in the country and is an area of national architectural importance as well as a conservation area.

Based within Nottingham Trent University, Bonington Gallery delivers a cultural programme of exhibitions, events and publications, to encourage student engagement and enable public involvement with the work of the University and the wider discourses of Art, Design and Visual Culture.

Wollaton Hall was originally designed by Robert Smythson and built for Sir Francis Willoughby, being completed following eight years of building work in 1588 - the year of the Spanish Armada. It is home to the city's Natural History Museum and Natural Connections Gallery.

Next to the University of Nottingham campus, this 121 acre park is well endowed with magnificent trees, exotic plantings and water features. It also includes on site activities, boat hire (seasonal), bowling, croquet, putting, new children's play area and a variety of events at the Lakeside Arts Centre.

Attenborough Nature Reserve is best known for its birds. In summer many species migrate here to breed including warblers and a large colony of comment terns. The winter brings waterfowl such as goldeneye, goosander and a large proportion of the county's shoveler and great crested grebe.

The Great Central Railway (Nottingham) offers almost ten miles of heritage railway running through the beautiful scenery of South Nottinghamshire and North-West Leicestershire.

Bestwood Country Park offers 650 acres of open green space and varying wildlife habitats to explore. From Mill Lakes, teeming with water birds, to meadows full of wildflowers, from ancient oak woodland to a reclaimed pit tip, Bestwood has a landscape which reflects the varied history of Nottinghamshire itself.

Nottingham Industrial Museum is located in the 17th century stables block of Wollaton Hall, on the western edge of Nottingham. The museum contains a unique collection of working steam and diesel engines as well as examples of textile and transport technologies and exhibits reflecting local industries.

Colwick Country Park is on the outskirts of Nottingham and is a large diverse area of water, woodland and meadows. It provides the perfect backdrop for a variety of wildlife and recreational activities, including angling, sailing, walking and jogging.

Woodthorpe Grange Park is an impressive large green space that sits on the edge of the city and has a wide variety of facilities including pitch and putt, tropical house, formal gardens, sports pitches and café.

Nottingham Lakeside Arts is the University of Nottingham's exciting programme of exhibitions, music, drama, dance, special collections, archaeology, participatory and family events for everyone. There are five main venues including the University of Nottingham Museum, the Djanogly Gallery and the Weston Gallery.

Newstead Abbey was formerly an Augustinian priory. Converted to a domestic home following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, it is now best known as the ancestral home of Lord Byron. A beautiful historic house set in a glorious landscape of gardens and parkland within the heart of Nottinghamshire.

The Cathedral and Parish Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary is popularly known, as it has been for centuries, as Southwell Minster. Although Christian worship has taken place on this site for over 1000 years, the present Romanesque building dates from 900 years ago.

Rufford Abbey sits in 150 acres of historic parkland, woodland and gardens in the North Nottinghamshire area known as the Dukeries. This varied park includes the ruins of a medieval monastery, a contemporary craft centre, gardens, woodland walks, children's play village, sculpture trail, and a lake.

Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve contains some of the oldest trees in Europe, veteran oaks five centuries old and the world-famous Major Oak, still producing acorns after standing at the heart of the forest for an estimated 800 years. Once a royal hunting forest, this is the legendary home of the outlaw Robin Hood.

Newark Castle and Gardens are pretty, formal gardens bordered by the remaining walls of Newark Castle which was partly destroyed in 1646 at the end of the English Civil War.

This beautiful place was designed in the early 1880s to pump millions of gallons of clean fresh water every day to the rapidly increasing population of Industrial Nottingham. Today you can still experience the most spectacular, preserved water Pumping Station in the British Isles.

Clumber Park is a beautiful expanse of parkland, heath and woods covering more than 3,800 acres. Clumber was once the country estate of the Dukes of Newcastle. Although the house was demolished in 1938, there are many glimpses of its grand past to explore.

Immerse yourself in the history of aviation with a diverse range of aircraft and cockpit sections through aviation history. There are over 70 aircraft and cockpits and four covered display areas.

Walking up the paupers' path towards The Workhouse it is easy to imagine how the Victorian poor might have felt as they sought refuge here. This austere building, the most complete workhouse in existence, was built in 1824 as a place of last resort for the destitute.