Top 10 Best Places To Visit In Nottingham
Although Nottinghamshire is best known for its heroic outlaw Robin Hood, it has also been home to many other historical figures, including DH Lawrence and Lord Byron, the most flamboyant of all English poets. The stunning East Midland county is full of myth, legend, culture and history. Sherwood Forest serves as the county’s green lung and the bustling county seat of Nottingham is one of many towering halls, stately country estates and fascinating old castles that dot the region. Here are the best places to visit in Nottinghamshire, listed in order of beauty to help you make your itinerary.
The best place to stay in Nottingham
Muthu Clumber Park Hotel & Spa is the best place to stay in Nottingham. Located on the outskirts of Clumber Park, this beautiful hotel is only minutes away from the Sherwood Forest, and within easy reach of the A1 and M1 motorway networks. Muthu Clumber Park Hotel and Spa is a perfect hotel for both business and leisure.
The hotel offers a variety of bedroom types, a spacious spa, a gymnasium, flexible conference facilities, wedding venues, on-site restaurants and bars, a swimming pool, comfortable lounges, free WiFi and free car parking. View their offers
10 Best Places To Visit In Nottingham
- Sherwood Forest
Home to the enduring legend of Robin Hood, Sherwood Forest is a magical destination for everyone who wants to enjoy this beautiful ancient woodland and its diverse flora and fauna. It is one of the best places to visit in Nottingham. Hundreds of ancient oaks thriving here for more than 500 years, including the legendary Major Oak, estimated to be around 1,000 years old. The public has access to around 450 acres of the forest. For those who enjoy bird watching, there are several treks ranging in length from less than a mile to four miles where they can search for woodpeckers and woodlarks. The visitor centre is a fantastic spot to start your visit and learn more about the history of this amazing area.
2. Wollaton Hall and Park
There are plenty of things to do in Nottingham for young adults. Wollaton Hall and Deer Park are wonderful places to visit if you prefer your enjoyment with a little more peace.
You can take in the natural history collections inside the hall. You can also schedule a Hidden History Tour to explore some of the hidden chambers, such as the Tudor Kitchens and the Prospect Room. There is a fantastic schedule of open-air theatre performances on the grounds during the summer. The grounds have well-kept features including the formal gardens and Camellia House, the continent’s first cast-iron-framed glasshouse.
There is a lot to see and enjoy at the 500-acre deer park, which includes a lovely lake (perfect for bird watching), wetland and wooded sections. Wollaton is home to 120 fallow deer and 90 red deer.
3. Nottingham City Centre
The city centre is the historical, social, economic and commercial centre of Nottingham. The Old Market Square, one of the largest remaining town squares in the United Kingdom, serves as the standard definition of the city’s centre. It gives visitors directions for fine zones including Lace Market, Broadmarsh, Castle, Royal and Victoria.
There are plenty of things to do in Nottingham city centre. However, Old Market Square, a 3-acre paved open space that has been used as a marketplace since the 11th century, is the ideal site to begin your exploration of the city. The Nottingham Council House, a commanding domed landmark built in the 1920s, is located on the west side of the Square. You can also visit the famous Lace Market and stop by the City of Tunnels, a maze of man-made limestone caves.
4. Clumber Park
Clumber Park, a sprawling estate of around 3,800 acres, is renowned as one of the best places to visit in Nottingham. It was formerly the home of the Dukes of Newcastle. The estate was taken over by the National Trust in 1946 and today it is a serene location to go cycling or walking.
Even though the mansion is gone, the estate’s other structures are still standing, most notably the Gothic Revival church of St. Mary the Virgin. The 4-acre kitchen garden is set next to Victorian glasshouses that are used to grow palms and vines. Additionally, the estate has a charming lake with a serpentine shape that is great for fishing and bird-watching.
5. Newstead Abbey and Park
Newstead Abbey was the ancestral home of Lord Byron, another well-known poet of Nottinghamshire. The Abbey is home to a number of the poet’s relics, including letters, manuscripts and his writing desk. Some of the Byron memorabilia that is currently on display in the Abbey was gathered by his wife, Emilia Jane. The Abbey eventually became a part of Nottingham Council’s property in the 1930s.
With 300 acres of parkland, a lake and the Leen River to explore, it is one of the best places to visit in Nottingham. The Leen River meanders through the estate. The magnificent cemetery and memorial for Boatswain, Byron’s devoted dog, is located in the gardens behind the Abbey. The touching poem that Byron composed in memory of his canine friend is etched on the gravestone.
6. Nottingham Castle
Nottingham Castle is one of the top attractions in Nottingham. This castle was the most desirable by many kings and lords in England, and as a result, it experienced many chaotic events, including the British Civil War.
This is the ideal location for any history enthusiast, as the fantastic exhibitions and excursions will teach you more about the history of this castle and its stories. In addition to the tours, Nottingham’s Castle is well worth a visit for its verdant gardens where you may relax with a warm beverage from one of their cafes.
7. Nottingham Arboretum
When seeking romantic activities in Nottingham, you don’t always have to choose something pricey; the setting alone may be romantic and this is where the Arboretum excels. It’s just ten minute’s walk from the city centre. A visit to the tranquil and charming public park known as The Arboretum is one of the best things to do in Nottingham for couples. This place is perfect for a romantic stroll because of the breathtaking natural scenery and tranquil ambience, although it gained popularity for its extensive collection of 19th-century trees. The park has more than 800 trees and several varieties of flowering plants.
8. Creswell Crags
The stunning Magnesian Limestone Gorge known as Creswell Crags is located on the boundary between Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. The place is filled with numerous caves, rock shelters and fissures. The archaeological digs provide evidence that bears, woolly rhinoceroses and cave hyenas all made their homes in this gorge. Each cave has different points of interest and archaeological significance, and they have all been given names. Church Hole is the most significant cave of all.
9. Southwell
Because of its charming streets, beautiful homes and the Greet River, Southwell is considered to be Nottinghamshire’s most beautiful town. The Minster and the nearby Archbishop’s Palace are the main attractions of Southwell. Despite the destruction caused by the Cromwellian army, the Minster is still in good shape whereas the Palace is now in ruins. The Minster, which was finished in 1150, is a beautiful example of a Norman church.
10. Ye Old Trip To Jerusalem
Looking for some quirky things to do in Nottingham? Don’t worry this city won’t disappoint you. Ye Old Trip To Jerusalem is a well-known Nottingham bar, located at the foot of the castle and is reputed to be the country’s oldest inn. It was established in 1189 AD, the same year Richard the Lionheart was crowned king and Pope Gregory the Third issued the Crusade to the Holy Land. Not only this, but it is also the location of a haunted galleon ship and a chair that can make women pregnant. Most of these attractions are made of the same sandstone that Nottingham Castle is built upon.
11. Warwick Castle
Warwick Castle is one of the most sought-after Nottingham attractions for families. Since the 17th century, the castle has welcomed travellers from all over the nation. It was formally opened as a tourist destination in 1978. The attraction has a lot to offer, including Wars of the Roses Live, an action-packed show that transports you to 1455 and features fights involving jousting, stunt riding and cutting-edge special effects.
12. Explore the City of Caves
There is a network of 500 sandstone caves buried beneath Nottingham that date all the way back to the Middle Ages! A tour of the caves is one of the cheap things to do in Nottingham. You can take an affordable guided tour of the caves to explore the ruins of a Victorian town, the places where locals sought refuge from bombings during World War Two and the ancient homes of prehistoric people.
