Nottingham, United Kingdom: travel guide
Robin Hood country, with a castle on a sandstone rock and caves beneath the city
The legendary home of Robin Hood features a hilltop castle, vast sandstone caves beneath the city, the oldest inn in England, the world's oldest Ferris wheel, and a vibrant lace market quarter.
About Nottingham
Nottingham is a Midlands city with a strong link to the legend of Robin Hood, whose statue stands near the castle. The castle sits on a sandstone rock, and beneath the city a network of man-made caves, known as the City of Caves, can be explored on a guided visit.
The historic Lace Market district keeps its Victorian warehouses, and Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem is a pub built into the castle rock that claims to be among the oldest in England. Wollaton Hall and its deer park lie to the west and is a major landmark, with a natural history museum inside.
Nottingham suits history lovers, families and weekend visitors. Late spring to early autumn is the pleasant season for the park and the castle grounds.
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Currency
- GBP
- Time zone
- Europe/London
- Nearest airport
- EMA
Last updated
Top places to visit in Nottingham
Wollaton Hall & Deer Park
Heritage · 4.7 rating · about 2.5 h · entry £18 (≈ ₹2,270)
A stunning Elizabethan Renaissance mansion (1588) surrounded by a deer park and now housing a natural history museum. The exterior served as Wayne Manor in 'The Dark Knight Rises'. Free entry to park and museum.
Nottingham Castle
Fort · 4.3 rating · about 2 h · entry £12 (≈ ₹1,520)
A 17th-century ducal mansion built on the rock where the Norman castle once stood. Recently reopened after a major refurbishment with galleries telling Robin Hood's legend and Nottingham's radical political history.
Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem
Heritage · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Reputedly England's oldest inn (est. 1189), carved partly into the base of the Castle Rock. The cave rooms have been licensed premises since the time of the Crusades — the atmosphere is extraordinary.
City of Caves
Heritage · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · entry £10 (≈ ₹1,260)
Nottingham sits on the world's largest network of man-made sandstone caves (over 800). This guided attraction takes visitors through medieval tanneries, a WWII air-raid shelter, and a Victorian slum dwelling.
Nottingham Sherwood Forest
legendary-forest · 4.7 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip from Nottingham to Sherwood Forest — the spectacular 1,045-acre forest with the iconic Major Oak (legendary Robin Hood's hideout), and the famous Robin Hood Visitor Centre.
Nottingham Goose Fair Annual
annual-funfair · 4.6 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate
The Nottingham Goose Fair — England's spectacular 730-year-old funfair (since 1284), held annually in October at the Forest Recreation Ground, with the iconic 500+ rides and stalls.
Nottingham Robin Hood Statue
iconic-statue · 4.5 rating · about 0.3 h · check the fee at the gate
The Robin Hood Statue — Nottingham's spectacular 1952 bronze statue beneath the castle, with the iconic Robin Hood archery pose, the famous photo spot.
Nottingham Lace Market
lace-market · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The Lace Market — Nottingham's spectacular Victorian lace-making district (the world's lace centre 1850-1910), with the iconic 19th-century warehouses, the bohemian atmosphere.
Nottingham Castle Cliff Cave
castle-rock · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Nottingham Castle Rock — the spectacular sandstone cliff beneath the castle, with the iconic Mortimer's Hole (the secret underground passage where Mortimer was captured in 1330).
Nottingham Galleries of Justice
justice-museum · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The National Justice Museum — Nottingham's spectacular legal history museum in the historic Shire Hall and Old County Gaol, with the iconic Victorian courts and the rich legal heritage.
Nottingham Newstead Abbey
byron-house · 4.7 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip from Nottingham to Newstead Abbey — Lord Byron's spectacular ancestral home, the historic 12th-century Augustinian priory turned Gothic country house, with the famous Byron heritage.
Nottingham Industrial Museum
industrial-museum · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The Nottingham Industrial Museum — the spectacular Wollaton Hall stables museum, with the iconic lacemaking heritage, the famous knitting machines, and the rich Midlands industrial heritage.
Where to stay in Nottingham
- City Centre (Cathedral Quarter) about GBP 110 per night
Exeter's beautiful Cathedral Green area. Walk to the Cathedral, the RAMM, and the Quayside. Good boutique hotels.
Hotels
- Hart's Hotel Nottingham 4-star · GBP 120 to GBP 280 per night
Where to eat
- Sat Bains Restaurant Nottingham Modern British, Fine Dining · about GBP 200 per person
Getting to Nottingham
Airport: East Midlands (EMA)
Getting around
- Bus
- Tram
- Walking
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Frequently asked questions about Nottingham
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Nottingham?
- The highest-rated places in our Nottingham guide are Wollaton Hall & Deer Park, Nottingham Sherwood Forest, Nottingham Newstead Abbey, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, Nottingham Goose Fair Annual.
- Where should I stay in Nottingham?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Nottingham: City Centre (Cathedral Quarter).
- How do I get around Nottingham?
- Ways to get around Nottingham covered in our guide: City bus, Tram, Walking.
- Which airport is nearest to Nottingham?
- The nearest airport to Nottingham has the code EMA.