Nottingham tourist attractions

Nottingham Castle today bears little resemblance to its medieval predecessor (it’s mostly a Victorian construction), but it does provide a splendid home for the Castle Museum and Art Gallery (check the website for up-to-date information, the museum and gallery is currently closed for refurbishment and due to reopen this year), with collections of silver, glass, armour and paintings. This is Nottingham sightseeing at its best. There are also tours of the castle caves, but be warned, they are quite strenuous.

Nottingham is also famous as the birthplace of the writer D.H. Lawrence, and for its lace making. To discover more about the history of life in the city, visit the Museum of Nottingham Life in Brewhouse Yard at the base of the castle rock. Set in five 17th-century cottages, it covers 300 years of social history and contains a reconstructed Victorian schoolroom. North of here, Nottingham Playhouse is a modern venue for top-notch theatre as well as comedy, dance and music performances. Watching a show here is one of the best Nottingham attractions.

Until the 20th century, Nottingham was world-renowned for its lace-making industry. The historic Lace Market district in the city centre has been revamped in recent years, with shops, restaurants and now also Nottingham Contemporary, a stylishly designed art gallery. It proudly stands as one of the top Nottingham tourist attractions.

On the west side of the city is Wollaton Hall, a fine Elizabethan mansion that is also home to the city’s natural History Museum and Industrial Museum. Visitors can also see the Tudor kitchens (on a guided tour only), as well as the Regency Dining Room and Salon. Searching for Nottingham holidays? It’s a hugely accessible city with a train station and coach station at your fingertips.

Go to Ravenshead on the northern outskirts of Nottingham to visit Newstead Abbey. The ancestral home of Lord Byron, the house is surrounded by lakes, terraces and Japanese and Spanish gardens. A little further north is Clumber Park, one of Nottingham’s famous “Dukeries” or large hunting estates, consisting of a park, farm and woodland, a serpentine lake, and a walled garden enclosing a Victorian apiary, fig house and vineries.

Nottingham is top for shopping experiences in the country. The city was once the place for lace and hosiery and is the birthplace of top designer Sir Paul Smith. With the compact size of the city, it’s easy to get around all the brilliant places to shop. Find a vibrant mix of independent shops, trendy boutiques and your favourite brands dotted all over the city. The Victorian Centre is a firm favourite. Here is where you’ll find all the big labels from Urban Outfitters to Topshop with a fun Build-a-Bear for little ones. If that’s not enough, intu Broadmarsh is another huge shopping centre in the city.

Nottingham is the proud motherland of Robin Hood. Enjoy a wonderful walk around the gorgeous woodland of Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve. Here you will find Robin Hood’s famous hiding spot, Major Oak. Learn some archery skills and you can even attend a bush craft class and master how to survive in the woods.