City guides
United Kingdom
England
Things to do in Nottingham
Although the Robin Hood legends give the city a certain romantic allure, the network of manmade sandstone caves called the City of Caves is Nottingham's greatest tourist attraction. Just outside of the city, the Cresswell Crags offer natural cave systems of great archaeological significance due to the evidence of Ice Age inhabitants.
Above ground Nottingham is a pleasant and busy English town, equipped with an impressively large Market Square and thriving shopping streets around the site of its central Castle Rock, which is now topped with a Ducal Mansion (the original castle having been destroyed).
The city was once a lace-producing centre and the Lace Market Centre provides some insight into the history of this delicate art form. Nottingham is also renowned for its watering holes, and three of the local pubs claim to be England's oldest: The Bell, Old Salutation, and Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem.
Those on the trail of Robin can seek him out in Sherwood Forest where the huge and ancient oak trees are accessible via a pleasant network of walking trails. There is also a Robin Hood Festival held annually in summer in Nottingham that will delight fans of the legends.
Ducal Mansion (Nottingham Castle)
Towering over the city centre of Nottingham is a magnificent 17th-century mansion, built on a sandstone outcrop (Castle Rock) on the site of the original medieval castle erected by…
Ducal Mansion (Nottingham Castle)
Towering over the city centre of Nottingham is a magnificent 17th-century mansion, built on a sandstone outcrop (Castle Rock) on the site of the original medieval castle erected by William the Conqueror in 1067. The castle building now houses the city's finest art collection, and a small museum charting the history of the Sherwood Foresters Regiment. The art galleries include interactive displays and the artworks are presented in a vibrant, interesting way. The well-kept grounds of the castle are used for a full calendar of events, from historic pageants to an outdoor theatre season. There are also fascinating cave tours, a medieval-style children's playground and a picnic area, as well as a rather famous statue of Robin Hood himself.
Website www.nottinghamcastle.org.uk
City of Caves
A system of man-made caves carved into the sandstone beneath the city of Nottingham has been developed into a modern, award-winning attraction known as The City of Caves. Anglo-Sax…
City of Caves
A system of man-made caves carved into the sandstone beneath the city of Nottingham has been developed into a modern, award-winning attraction known as The City of Caves. Anglo-Saxons originally inhabited the caves, and their lifestyle is depicted in dramatic presentations for visitors who come to explore Nottingham's 'underworld'. Over the centuries, the caves have been put to various uses by the locals, and were saved by protestors when developers planned to build a modern shopping centre over the top of them. Now guided tours take visitors through the caves and through the ages, from the mystical 'Enchanted Well', through a working medieval tannery, to the Victorian slum of Drury Hill and a World War II bomb shelter. Visitors should note that The City of Caves is not wheelchair accessible.
Website www.cityofcaves.com
Sherwood Forest
Accessed by the A614 highway, Sherwood Forest makes a great getaway close to Nottingham city. Rather reduced from the green splendour it evinced in the days of Robin Hood, Sherwood…
Sherwood Forest
Accessed by the A614 highway, Sherwood Forest makes a great getaway close to Nottingham city. Rather reduced from the green splendour it evinced in the days of Robin Hood, Sherwood Forest is nevertheless as ecologically important and interesting as it is historically. Around 500,000 visitors a year come to enjoy Sherwood Forest Country Park, wandering the family nature trails, and admiring the huge ancient oaks and teeming insect and bird life. A big attraction is the mighty Major Oak, still flourishing in the forest after 800 years. Sherwood Forest is also the site of the popular Robin Hood Festival, held annually in summer.
Cresswell Crags
A short distance from the M1 motorway near Nottingham is an ancient limestone gorge, honeycombed with caves, where archaeologists have found traces of Ice Age inhabitants who lived…
Cresswell Crags
A short distance from the M1 motorway near Nottingham is an ancient limestone gorge, honeycombed with caves, where archaeologists have found traces of Ice Age inhabitants who lived here up to 50,000 years ago. The Cresswell Crags are a rare site, featuring Britain's only known Ice Age-era rock art. At the east end of the gorge visitors can find out its archaeological significance at a museum and education centre, equipped with several high-tech interpretive exhibitions. The area itself can also be explored, rewarding visitors with its sweeping views and interesting rock formations; while actual tours of the caves are run on weekends and during school holidays only. Check the website for details.
Website www.creswell-crags.org.uk