List of Best Things to do in Nottingham 2024 – UniAcco

things to do in Nottingham

Published on Feb 4, 2020 | Last updated Jun 13, 2024

A unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire. Situated in the East Midlands region, it is a tourist destination, since it received the highest amount of overnight visitors in the region. The city is known for a lot of ties with history, especially production industries like lace-making, bicycle manufacture, the tobacco industry. It was declared “City of Literature” by UNESCO in 2015, a well-deserved title since it is known for being the grounds for animosity between the corrupt Sheriff and the benevolent Robin Hood. What to do in this place to make your trip memorable? Here is a list of the best things to do in Nottingham.

What To Do In Nottingham | Top Attractions in Nottingham

Wondering what to do in Nottingham? No matter the purpose of your visit, Nottingham sightseeing is a must. Attractions are an identifying trait of a place and sometimes also are the reason for someone to visit. Here are some of the top things to do in Nottingham.

1. Nottingham Castle

A trip to Nottingham castle peaks the list of top things to do in Nottingham. Nottingham’s castle crowns a sandstone outcrop worm-holed with caves and tunnels. Established by William the Conqueror, the original castle was held by a succession of English kings before falling into the English Civil War.

  • Address: Lenton Rd, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG1 6EL
2. Wollaton Hall

Built-in 1588 for coal mogul Sir Francis Willoughby by architect Robert Smythson, Wollaton Hall sits on 200 hectares of grounds visited by fallow and red deer. Tours lasting 45 minutes lead you through extravagant rooms from the Tudor, Regency and Victorian periods.

  • Address: Wollaton Park, Derby Rd (0115-876 3100)
  • Tour hours: noon & 2 pm, grounds 8 am -dusk Mon-Fri, from 9 am Sat & Sun
  • Tour prices: adult/child £5/free, grounds free
3. Museum of Nottingham Life at Brewhouse Yard

The underground passageway Mortimer’s Hole, at Nottingham Castle, emerges at Brewhouse Yard, where five ethereal 17th-century cottages house the Museum of Nottingham Life at Brewhouse Yard.

  • Address: Castle Blvd

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Top Speciality Museums

Museums are the place where history comes alive. All those who love history and want to enlighten themselves about Nottingham must visit the below-listed museums.

1. Nottingham Industrial Museum

Discover the people, companies and industries that made Nottingham famous around the world. Nottingham Industrial Museum has five galleries, each relating to a vital Nottinghamshire industry: textiles, transport, communication, mining and power.

  • Address: Wollaton Hall The Courtyard, Wollaton Hall and Deer Park, Wollaton, Nottingham NG8 2AE
  • Suggested duration: 2-3 hours (Sat-Sun 11:00 am – 4:00 pm)
  • Cost: Adults £3 – Concessions and Students £2 – Kids go free
2. Framework Knitters’ Museum

Amongst the many things to do in Nottingham for students, Nottinghamshire folk, have been Framework Knitting for over 400 years. Discover how the Knitters lived and worked, visit the workshops and see a Framework Knitter in action and create your souvenir on a circular knitting machine.

  • Address: Chapel Street Ruddington, Nottingham NG11 6HE England
3. The Haunted Museum

Here at the haunted museum, they house many oddities and spooky items from around the world are present, once an old cinema with many of the original features intact, their tearoom within the museum has a five-star food rating with excellent low prices.

  • Address: Woodborough Road, Nottingham NG3 5GJ England
  • Suggested Duration: < 1 hour

Top Things To Do in Nottingham

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, ever heard of this phrase. If you are a believer in this philosophy of life here are some fun places to visit Nottingham to indulge the kid in you. Here are the things to do in Nottingham at night.

1. Logiclock Escape Rooms

The logic block is an entertaining puzzle-based live escape game; designed for small groups of 3-5 people. The goal is simple: escape from the room or series of rooms in 60 minutes using only the mind, logic and teamwork, solving all the puzzles and mysteries.

  • Address: 6 Trinity Walk, Nottingham NG1 2AN England
  • Suggested Duration: 1-2 hours (Mon – Fri 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM & Sat-Sun 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM)
  • Contact: +44 7950 205499
2. Skirmish Paintball Games Nottingham

Top things to do in Nottingham include visiting the Skirmish Paintball Games. Arm to the teeth and go all guns blazing in some of the finest and most exhilarating paintball games zones. Experience the Adventure while you duck and dodge paintballs, dispatching foe and claiming victory at this paintball venue. 

  • Address: 6034 Ollerton Road Budby, Nottingham NG22 9FG England
  • Suggested Duration: More than 3 hours (Sun-Sat 9:00 am – 5:00 pm)
  • Contact: +44 115 945 2427
3. The Adrenalin Jungle

A great chance to do Nottingham sightseeing. The Adrenalin Jungle offers the very best in outdoor entertainment including paintballing, quad biking, 4×4 off-road, archery, assault course, blindfold driving and off-road karting activities available to the general public in the Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Doncaster and Lincoln area.

  • Address: Off A 614 Deerdale Lane, Nottingham NG22 8SY England
  • Suggested Duration: 2-3 hours (Sun 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM & Mon-Sat 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM)
  • Contact: +44 1623 883980

Top Shopping Places in Nottingham United Kingdom

No trip is complete without a little shopping. These are some of the well-known places for the shopaholic in you. Add this to your things to do in Nottingham for students!

1. Debbie Bryan

An award-winning, independent creative retailer with an in-house design studio, gallery, creative space and tea room– Debbie Bryan is one of Nottingham’s hidden treasures and one of the finest souvenirs of the historical legacy of the Lace Market. Specialising in British and International craftsmanship, Debbie Bryan’s brand collections sit alongside selectively picked handmade work of talented designers.

  • Address: 18 St. Marys Gate The Lace Market, Creative Quarter, Nottingham NG1 1PF England
  • Suggested Duration: 1-2 hours (Sun 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Thu – Fri 11:30 AM – 5:00 PM & Sat 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM)
  • Contact: +44 115 950 7776
2. Notts Derby Wine School

Fun and informal wine tasting for all in the heart of Nottingham and Derby. Notts Derby Wine School offers an array of wine tasting courses, including Introduction courses, 8 Week World of Wine, WSET qualifications, corporate and private events. 

  • Address: Station Road Jurys Inn, Nottingham NG2 3BJ England
3. Dukki Ltd

A local gift shop, celebrating Nottingham and the East Midlands. Homeware, humour, memento. They have plenty of gifts for visitors and those local to Nottingham.

  • Address: 18 St. James’s Street, Nottingham NG1 6FG England
  • Suggested Duration: < 1 hour (Sun 11:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Mon-Wed 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM & Fri – Sat 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM)
  • Contact: +44 115 941 3800

Top Sights & Landmarks

We all have heard that history repeats itself, no one knows how true it is but we have been fascinated nonetheless. What better way to witness history than visiting the landmarks and sights it has left behind. For all your history aficionados here’s a list of some of the oldest buildings in Nottingham.

1. Green’s Windmill

Green’s Windmill is a19th Century tower mill, once the abode of mathematical physicist George Green. Turning again in 1986, climb atop the windmill and see how the sails turn grain into flour. In their interactive Science Centre discover the remarkable story of George Green, and experiment with light, electricity and magnetism. There’s something for all the family!

  • Address: Windmill Lane Sneinton, Nottingham NG2 4QB England
  • Suggested duration: 2-3 hours (Wed-Sun 10:00 am – 4:00 pm)
  • Contact: +44 115 915 6878
2. Old Market Square

The Old Market Square (Slab Square) is an open, pedestrianised city square forming the heart of the city. The Eastern end of the square is dominated by the Council House, which functions as Nottingham’s town hall. The square means is often used for large local events, fairs, concerts and exhibitions.

  • Address: Nottingham’s City Centre, Nottingham England
3. Holme Pierrepont Hall

The earliest built brick building in the county. Constructed by Sir William Pierrepont in 1500 and still inhabited by his descendants, the house surrounds a Courtyard Garden of 1875 possibly influenced by Nesfield on three sides with the local Parish Church of St Edmund on the fourth. The East Garden which was established in 1973 has a winter flower garden full of snowdrops, aconites, daffodils and hellebores among other plants.

  • Address: Holme Lane, Nottingham NG12 2LD England

Top Natural Spaces & Parks

Mary Davis so rightfully said “To walk into nature is to witness a thousand miracles”, for those nature lovers who truly believe that, here are a few parks and natural spaces to help you feel serene.

1. The Arboretum

The Arboretum is the first designated public park in Nottingham selected under the authority of the Inclosure Act 1845. The park was planned as a botanical collection and as a tranquil place in which to relax. The Arboretum has become one of Nottingham’s ‘green lungs’. It is the city’s oldest public park and also the closest park to the city centre.

  • Address: Waverley Street, Nottingham NG7 4HF England
  • Contact: +44 115 941 7065
2. City of Caves

A set of man-made caves dating from 1250 AD was discovered under the local shopping centre. Part of the National Justice Museum.

  • Address: Garner’s Hill Next to the Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham NG1 7LL England
  • Suggested Duration: < 1 hour (Sun-Sat 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM)
  • Contact: +44 115 988 1955
3. Highfields

Highfields Park is a Grade II listed park. The park includes a boating lake, complete with boats to hire throughout the summer months. To the south of the lake the Tottle Brook, a tributary of the River Trent, flows on the surface, this brook is culverted for much of its length. At the eastern end, there are kid’s play facilities and a pavilion with a cafe.

  • Address: University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD England
  • Contact: +44 115 915 2733

Top Theatres in Nottingham

Food is for the body and art is for the soul. Here are a few theatres for the love of Shakespeare, that every Bardolator will love.

1. Nottingham Playhouse

It was first built as a repertory theatre in 1948 when it operated from a former cinema in Goldsmith Street. Directors during this period included Val May and Frank Dunlop. The current building opened in 1963.

  • Address: Wellington Circus, Nottingham NG1 5AL England
  • Contact: +44 115 941 9419
2. Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall

The Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall are 2 first-class entertainment venues in Nottingham. Come and see top West End musicals and plays, opera and ballet, pop, rock and classical music, children’s shows and side-splitting comedy.

  • Address: Theatre Square, Nottingham NG1 5ND England
  • Suggested duration: 2-3 hours (Mon-Sat 9:00 am – 8:30 pm)
  • Contact: +44 115 989 5555
3. Lakeside Arts

Founded on the University Park campus Lakeside Arts is the University of Nottingham’s public arts and heritage programme. From evenings out to family day trips, from exhilarating experiences to relaxing afternoons, from a stroll in our gorgeous parkland to a delicious bite – there’s something for everyone at Lakeside.

  • Address: University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD England
  • Suggested duration: 2-3 hours
  • Contact: +44 115 846 7777

Top Shopping Malls

Malls are the go-to place for a little browsing, shopping, mingling. Here are some of the best shopping malls Nottingham has to offer.

1. The Exchange

This place is charming with a range of high-end shops but well worth wandering through to see the gorgeous ceilings.

  • Address: High Street, Nottingham NG1 2DD England
  • Contact: +44 115 947 0591
2. Flying Horse Walk

Look for the flying horse wire statue and come through the doorstep of this little covered passage. Loads of little independent shops are waiting for you. Whether you like art, cheeses or Nottingham made craft gifts, you’ll find interesting Nottingham things to do.

  • Address: 2 Flying Horse Walk, Nottingham NG1 2HN England
3. The Corner House

The building looks fantastic, it houses a cinema, bars and restaurants and plays areas for the kids. It seems cool, especially when illuminated at night.

  • Address: The Cornerhouse Burton Street, Nottingham NG1 4DB England
  • Contact: +44 115 950 5168

Nightlife in Nottingham

For the night owls and party animals here is a list of some of the well-known bars and pubs in Nottingham.

1. Be At One Cocktail Bar

A cocktail institution – you can expect great service, an unbeatable party atmosphere and a pretension-free attitude!

  • Address: 20a Victoria Street Nottingham Central Station, Nottingham NG1 2EX England
  • Suggested Duration: More than 3 hours (Sun – Thu 4:30 PM – 1:00 AM, Fri 4:30 PM – 3:00 AM & Sat 3:00 PM – 3:00 AM)
  • Contact: +44 115 822 4503
2. Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem

Carved into the cliff below the castle, this ambient alehouse claims to be England’s oldest pub. Established in 1189, it supposedly slaked the thirst of departing crusaders, and its warren of rooms and cobbled courtyards make it the most ambient place in Nottingham for a pint.

  • Address: 1 Brewhouse Yard Castle Road, Nottingham NG1 6AD England
  • Hours: 11 am-11 pm Sun-Thu, to midnight Fri & Sat
  • Contact: +44 115 947 3171
3. The Lost City

The Lost City is a fun, interactive adventure for everyone and challenges you to ‘put’ your skills to the test in our Inca-themed rainforest. Challenge your team to play amid a thunder and lightning storm on our “carpeted” greens, avoid the crush of our venomous 23 foot animatronic snake, risk the jaws of our snap-happy alligator, and witness talking idols and rumbling walls. Both the courses have been designed to be wheelchair user-friendly so all adventurers can play!

  • Address: The Cornerhouse Burton Street The Corner House, Nottingham NG1 4DB England
  • Suggested Duration: < 1 hour (Sun 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM & Mon-Sat 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM)

Food & Wine Tours

Clubbing history and food is always a great combination. For the foodies who want to know how it’s made too, this is the way to go.

1. Raglan Road Irish Bar

Modern Irish Bar in the City Of Nottingham showing major sports! Massive Rugby, Football & GAA, Live Music & DJ, Open Mic nights & Trad Irish Sessions 4 Nights a week. Partially built into the caves with an outside garden terrace and lounge.

  • Address: 69-73 Derby Road, Nottingham NG1 5BA England
  • Suggested Duration: More than 3 hours (Mon-Wed 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM & Thu – Sun 12:00 PM – 2:00 AM)
  • Contact: +44 115 958 3359
2. Redsmith Distillery

Micro distillery situated in Nottingham’s Creative Quarter, just outside the city centre. Distillers of the award-winning Redsmith London Dry Gin. Other expressions include Nottingham Dry Apple Gin and Rose Old Tom.

  • Address: Unit 33 Sneinton Market Avenue C Nottingham Creative Quarter, Nottingham NG1 1DW England
  • Suggested duration: 1-2 hours
  • Contact: +44 7904 837595
3. Castle Rock Brewery

Built-in 1977 as “tynemill” by former Camra chairman Chris Holmes, Castle Rock has grown strong over the years, developing a reputation for both inviting and unique pubs, and excellent quality real ale.

  • Address: Queens Bridge Road, Nottingham NG2 1NB England
  • Contact: +44 115 985 1615

Food & Drink Places To Visit in Nottingham

The best way to know a new culture is through its cuisine. Food holds history, culture, memories and all of that can be learnt while enjoying a scrumptious meal and speaking to the chef. Below are a few of the famous food and drink places in Nottingham.

1. Delilah Fine Foods in Nottingham (DELI)

Immaculately selected cheeses, pâtés, meats and more from artisan producers are available, housed in a former grand bank with mezzanine seating. It does not take reservations, but you can preorder customised baskets for a gourmet picnic.

  • Address: 12 Victoria St
  • Contact: 0115-948 4461
  • Hours: 8am-7pm Mon-Fri, from 9am Sat, 11am-5pm Sun
  • Price: Dishes £4-10, platters £17-20
2. Larder on Goosegate in Nottingham (BRITISH)

Floor-to-ceiling windows fill this 1st-floor restaurant with light and provide bird’s-eye views of busy Goosegate below. On Fridays and Saturdays, afternoon tea is served on antique bone china. Blue goats cheese and beetroot cheesecake, Shetland Queen scallops with wild-garlic butter and roast spring lamb with smoked aubergine are among its superbly executed British dishes. Book ahead.

  • Address: 16-22 Goose Gate
  • Contact: 0115-950 0111
  • Hours: 5.30-10 pm Tue-Thu, noon-2.30 to 5.30-11 pm Fri & Sat
  • Price: mains £13.50-22, afternoon tea from £16.50
3. Aubrey’s Traditional Crêperie in Nottingham (CRÊPES)

Traditional down to its savoury galettes made with buckwheat flour, sweet crêpes comprising salted caramel and its Breton ciders, this small hole in the wall is a charming spot for lunch. Alongside classics like ham, egg and Emmental, there are galettes you’ll never see in Brittany, such as chorizo, egg, caramelised onions and cider mustard cream sauce. No reservations.

  • Address: 14-16 West End Arcade
  • Hours: 11am-5pm Wed-Fri & Sun, from 10am Sat
  • Price: Galettes £4.50-8.50, Sweet crêpes £3.50-7
4. Annie’s Burger Shack in Nottingham (BURGERS)

More than 30 different burgers are on the menu at Annie’s, a popular joint in the Lace Market that remains true to its owner’s US roots (and adds real ales to its offerings). Midweek breakfast menus feature American classics (blueberry pancakes with maple syrup and bacon; Boston franks’ n’ beans). Book ahead.

  • Address: 5 Broadway
  • Contact: 0115-684 9920
  • Hours: 8-10.30am & noon-11pm Sun-Thu, 8-10.30am & noon-midnight Fri & Sat
  • Price: burgers £8.90-13.20, breakfast £6-10

5. Alley Cafe Bar in Nottingham (VEGETARIAN)

Down a narrow alleyway, this old-school, beat-spinning hippie hideaway serves vegetarian and vegan dishes like tofu, tempeh and hemp-seed burgers, alongside organic beers, wines and ciders. It hosts events such as open-mic nights and exhibits local art.

  • Address: 1a Canaan Ct
  • Contact: 0115-955 1013
  • Hours: 11 am-8 pm MonThu, to midnight Fri & Sat, noon-6pm Sun
  • Price: mains £6.35-9

Best Accommodations in Nottingham

When travelling for either leisure, work or education accommodation is the most important aspect to consider. Make sure you add it to the places to visit in Nottingham. Without a good night’s rest, one cannot function properly and one cranky person can ruin the trip for everybody. Here are some of the best accommodations Nottingham has to offer.

1. Trinity Square

Where? North Church Street, Nottingham NG1 4BR, United Kingdom

Trinity Square student accommodation Nottingham has en-suite suites and studio rooms. Regardless of the space you pick, a high-tech kitchen, a Wi-Fi connection and a living room with a big TV and a seating area will be given. On-site staff are accessible 24/7 at the beck and call of students.

Pricing: £159 – £195 /week

2. Hydrogen

Where? 1 Goldsmith St, Nottingham NG1 5ND, United Kingdom

Hydrogen student accommodation in Nottingham has studio rooms. Expect a Wi-Fi connection, a surveillance monitor with a CCTV and a bookshelf. On-site personnel are accessible 24/7. The University of Law Nottingham is the closest university here. The Royal Center is the nearest tram station, while Upper Parliament Street (Stop U5) is the nearest bus stop.

Pricing: £189 – £279 /week

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