
Places to visit in Nottingham
Wondering about where to stay and the best things to do in Nottingham? You’re spoilt for choice in this historic city in England’s East Midlands. The home of legends, from Robin Hood to Batman, Lord Byron to Paul Smith, Nottingham is a city with a legendary past and a fashionable future. Explore historic Nottingham Castle and its unique City of Caves, roam around Sherwood Forest and enjoy some of the city’s stand-out shopping. And that’s just the start. Read on to discover how to spend three epic days in and around Nottingham.
Day 1
Nottingham
Start at Nottingham Castle
- Sightseeing
- Suggested time at location: 2 hours
Begin your Nottingham mini-break at the revamped Nottingham Castle and discover 1,000 years of history at the historic site, rich in Robin Hood legends. While exploring, don't miss the Rebellion Gallery which delves into Nottingham’s history of protests and uprisings – and consider booking onto a Cave Tour, to explore the dungeons and secret passageways under the castle (tours depart every hour, from 11am).
Lunch at the Lace Market
- Eatery
- Suggested time at location: 1 hour
The Lace Market was once the industrial heart of Nottingham and is now part of its lively Creative Quarter. Enjoy one of the must-do things in Nottingham and wander the quarter, stopping for lunch at one of its restaurants, including Annie’s Burger Shack, a local institution. Every hand-made patty is given the star treatment – whether it's the Bacon Stilton Blue, slathered with Nottinghamshire stilton and crispy bacon rashers, or The Lemmy with melted cheddar, grilled jalapeños and bourbon-infused mustard.
Take a tour
- Guided Tour
- Suggested time at location: 2.5 hours
After lunch, the best – and most entertaining way of seeing Nottingham – is via an Ezekial Bone Robin Hood Town Tour, one of the city’s most popular things to do. You’ll learn the real history behind this 700-year-old tale, visiting the places intertwined with the “Prince of Thieves” story: from the old County Gaol to spooky ancient caves beneath the city. Don’t forget to stop for a selfie with the statue of the famous man himself, Robin Hood, in the Castle Quarter.
Pop in for ye olde pint
- Eatery
- Suggested time at location: 45 mins
Happily, the Robin Hood Town Tour ends at Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem – which according to legend is the oldest inn in England, dating back to the 12th century. It’s located near Nottingham Castle and the Museum of Nottingham Life. While there, you can explore the pub's unique cave rooms carved into its sandstone foundations, which are said to have been where Nottingham Castle’s beer was once brewed. The pub counts ghosts among its regulars, so keep your eyes peeled…
Check into Colwick Hall Hotel
- Accommodation
- Suggested time at location: Overnight
Wondering where to stay in Nottingham? How about booking into the grand Colwick Hall Hotel, the Georgian country house that was once poet Lord Byron’s ancestral home. For dinner, book a table at its restaurant Byron’s Brasserie, whose seasonal menu champions local ingredients. Think butter-soft braised lamb shank, spiced cauliflower fritters with tomato chutney, and cheeseboards loaded with Nottinghamshire’s finest fromages.
Top Tip - Nottingham Contemporary
- Sightseeing
A great thing to do whilst in Nottingham is visit the free Nottingham Contemporary - one of the biggest contemporary art galleries in the UK. You’ll find both emerging and established artists here – and check its schedule for special events too, as it often features live music, performances and curator talks.
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Day 2
Nottingham
Visit Wayne Manor
- Sightseeing
- Suggested time at location: 2 hours
- Free

Be wowed by Wollaton Hall – the grand Elizabethan mansion in a deer park, which is home to a Natural History Museum and a popular thing to do in Nottingham. Movie fans will recognise it as Wayne Manor from the Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises. At 11am, join the Hidden History Tour to snoop inside its secret corners – such as the beautiful Prospect Room, the Tudor Kitchens, the basement and the Admiral’s Bath caves.
Do a spot of shopping
- Shopping
- Suggested time at location: 1 hour
Nottingham doesn’t hold back when it comes to great shops. Fashion designer Paul Smith was born in the nearby town of Beeston, so visiting his flagship store in Willoughby House is a must-do. Have a wander around shopping centres such as the Victoria Centre and The Exchange, or the independent shops of Cobden Chambers and Hockley – such as COW Thrift and White Rose for vintage clothes, and Rough Trade for vinyl records.
Go underground
- Sightseeing
- Suggested time at location: 1 hour

Nottingham is famous for its cave network, so another top thing to do is to head underground. You can discover this magical other-world in the winding passageways of the City of Caves. Pre-booking is essential, but you can stroll solo inside the caves – venturing deep underneath the city to the hidden corners that have served as a medieval tannery, wartime air-raid shelters and much more.
Enjoy fine dining at Sat Bains
- Eatery
- Suggested time at location: 2+ hour
Treat yourself to the very best cuisine Nottingham has to offer, at two-Michelin-starred Restaurant Sat Bains, where you can also stay overnight, as it has eight stylish, cosy rooms. The innovative, seasonal cuisine is also proudly low-waste – so will you choose the three-course Dinner Menu, the seven-course Saturday Lunch Menu, or the 15-course Tasting Menu? It may be extravagant, but the restaurant is homely and welcoming too.
Rock out at Rock City
- Show
- Suggested time at location: 1+ hour
You can’t come to Nottingham and not visit its legendary music venue, Rock City, one of the top things to do after dark. It’s been hosting gigs and club nights since 1980 – from Primal Scream to Razorlight and Supergrass.
Top Tip - Nottingham Arboretum
- Sightseeing
Visit Neverland, or rather Nottingham Arboretum. According to local legend, the park inspired local resident J.M. Barrie to write his novel Peter and Wendy, more commonly known as ‘Peter Pan’.
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Day 3
Sherwood Forest and surrounds
Wander through Sherwood Forest
- Sightseeing
- Suggested time at location: 2 hours

Start day three in one of England’s most famous forests – Sherwood Forest, the legendary home of folklore outlaw Robin Hood. Pick up a map from the visitor centre and take a walk, ride, or cycle around its traffic-free trails. Keep an eye on its events listings, too – maybe you’ll take a walking tour with the “Sheriff of Nottingham”, or try your hand at archery with the “Sherwood Outlaws”?
Find the Major Oak
- Sightseeing
- Suggested time at location: 1 hour
Visit the main attraction in Sherwood Forest – The Major Oak, which is estimated to be around 1,000 years old., According to folklore, it provided shelter and sanctuary for Robin Hood and his Merry Men. While once you could trample right up to it, now it’s protected; snap a pic from a safe distance, and marvel at all of the things it has witnessed, from battles and two world wars to more than 50 different monarchs.
Stop for lunch at Edwinstowe
- Eatery
- Suggested time at location: 1 hour
Next to Sherwood Forest, you’ll find ancient Edwinstowe, a pretty village with lots of Robin Hood links. Visit the church, where Robin and Maid Marian are supposed to have married, and stop in at Launay’s restaurant for lunch. Set in a 16th-century cottage, it sources ingredients from nearby farms and producers – with a menu ranging from home-made pie of the day, to wild garlic linguine and thyme-baked camembert. There are plentiful veggie and vegan options, too.
Tour Newstead Abbey
- Sightseeing
- Suggested time at location: 2 hours
Another top thing to do in Nottinghamshire is visit the other home of Lord Byron, Newstead Abbey. This medieval monastic abbey is where the poet lived from 1808 to 1814 and you can admire his apartments, manuscripts and possessions on a self-guided tour, as well as the magnificent themed gardens: Japanese, American, sub-tropical and more. To delve even further, look out for guided tours and ghost walks – and it hosts an open-air theatre in summer, featuring works by the likes of Shakespeare, Austen and Lord Byron, of course.
Be "in-spired" at Southwell
- Sightseeing
- Suggested time at location: 1 hour
- Free
Finish up at Southwell, the country town that reveals a lesser-known thing to do – a visit to the Cathedral of Nottinghamshire. Southwell Minster is renowned for its pepper-pot spires and medieval carvings, and the town has lots of charming cafes and shops to explore, such as Violet Rose (for clothes) and Burley’s (for locally-inspired gifts).
Top Tip - National Justice Museum
- Sightseeing
See the gory side of Nottingham with another top thing to do – a visit to its 800-year-old gaol, now the National Justice Museum, in the historic Lace Market. Test your puzzle-solving skills in its fiendish escape room, and learn about the gaol’s notorious characters (and ghosts!) on its talks, tours and live-action events.
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