Nottingham
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Nottingham is a city in England, affectionately known as the "Queen of the Midlands". It is famed for its links with the world-renowned legend of Robin Hood.
Understand
[edit]Nottingham is one of three major cities in the East Midlands of England, the others being nearby Leicester and Derby. Its prosperity was historically derived mostly from the lace making and coal-mining industries, little of which remains. Nottingham has moved towards a more service-based economy. In the 1960s it was famed for having a gender imbalance.
The centre of Nottingham lies on the River Leen and its southern boundary follows the course of the River Trent, which flows from Stoke to the Humber. Nottingham has an estimated city population of 320,000 (2021). The urban area has a population of 730,000 (2021).
The heart of the city is the Old Market Square, which underwent a major redevelopment in 2006. Most of the main shopping streets are around the square. The Council House, whose tall dome can be seen for miles around, is at the top end of the square. The inside of the Council House is the Exchange Arcade, a shopping centre. A bohemian quarter of the city known as Hockley has arisen close to the Lace Market area. Nottingham receives a lot of tourism, mostly because of the legend of Robin Hood, visiting Sherwood Forest and Nottingham Castle.
Visitor information
[edit]Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]- 1 East Midlands Airport (EMA IATA) lies 12 miles (19 km) south-west of Nottingham and flights are available to many European (mostly tourist) destinations. The Skylink Express bus runs between the airport and city centre every 30 minutes during the day. The bus journey takes approximately 35 minutes, depending on traffic conditions, and costs £5 single, £9.90 return, £9 for a day ticket (zigzag plus) including all trentbarton buses in the area. The slower Skylink Nottingham bus runs all through the night (hourly), with the same fares and a journey time of 50 minutes to an hour.
- 2 Birmingham Airport (BHX IATA) is about 40 mi (64 km) from Nottingham and serves all major European and many international destinations. It is accessible by train, changing at Birmingham New Street.
By train
[edit]Turn right out of the station for an easy 10-minute walk to the city centre.
The tram stop is right above the station, giving access to all tram destinations since both lines pass through the station.
By car
[edit]From the south, travel on the M1 and exit at junction 24 or 25. From the North take the M1 junction 25 or 26.
There are nine Park and Ride[dead link] sites with over 6500 spaces around the city. Many of these park and ride sites are connected to Nottingham city centre by the city's tram network, or buses.
By bus
[edit]Nottingham has two sizeable bus stations near to its two major shopping centres, 4 Broadmarsh and 5 Victoria. Traveline, +44 871 200 22 33
Bus operators offer services to most other UK destinations.
National Express provides cheap advance tickets on a Nottingham-London route, often for as little as £5 each way if booked early enough online. National Express also offers cheap non-changeable tickets (called "Funfare") to many other major cities from Nottingham.
Megabus also serves the city, although only twice a day with one departure at 5AM!
Get around
[edit]
Nottingham has excellent public transport by buses and trams.
By foot
[edit]The city centre is best explored on foot as many of the historic streets are pedestrianised or have good pedestrian access.
By tram
[edit]Nottingham Express Transit is the city's modern tram system. There are two branches which run on the same tracks in the city centre and then diverge at both ends to serve 4 destinations (Hucknall, Phoenix Park, Toton Lane and Clifton South). The system has a number of Park and Ride sites along it, which make travel into the city centre easy. An all day tram-only ticket costs £4, single tickets are £2.20. Tickets must be bought from ticket machines on platforms before boarding.
By bus
[edit]Nottingham has extensive bus services provided by two main companies, trentbarton and Nottingham City Transport (NCT), running from the Broadmarsh and Victoria Bus stations as well as key termini in the city centre such as Old Market Square, Parliament Street and Carrington Street. Fares: Most NCT buses do not give change. Trentbarton buses do, just ask the driver.
Ticketing
[edit]Ticketing can be confusing. Ticketing for most operators is detailed below:
Cash:
- NCT buses:
- £1.50 under-19 single
- £2.50 adult single
- £4.70 day ticket
- £7 Grouprider (up to 2 adults and 3 under-19s)
- (tickets can also be purchased with a credit or debit card when getting on the bus, or in advance through the NCTX Buses app)
- (detailed information can be found on the NCT website.
- trentbarton buses: single fare varies by distance (check website), £6 "zigzag" day ticket or £9 "zigzag plus" including East Midlands Airport. This allows travel on all Trentbarton services as far as Bakewell, Derby or Chesterfield
- NET trams: single fare £2.20, day ticket £4
- Multiple operators: £4.50 kangaroo day ticket for all public transport in greater Nottingham
Robin Hood Prepaid Card (purchase from ticket machines around city centre):
- Buses and Trams: £1.70 single, £3.15 max for single operator, £4 max for all operators
Students with valid ID:
- £1.50 single fare for many NCT buses and all Trentbarton buses (within Nottingham)
See
[edit]
Museums and galleries
[edit]- 1 Nottingham Castle
- 2 Robin Hood statue
- 3 Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem Inn
- 4 City of Caves
- 5 National Justice Museum
- 6 Nottingham Contemporary
- 7 Wollaton Hall
- 8 Nottingham Council House
- 9 Industrial Museum
- 10 Green's Windmill, Windmill Lane, Sneinton NG2 4QB, ☏ +44 115 915 6878. W-Su 10AM-4PM. George Green (1793-1841) was a mathematician whose work unifying magnetism and electricity laid the foundations for James Clark Maxwell. Remarkably he was self-taught, labouring all hours here in his father's mill. So as well as the working machinery there's an exhibit on his contributions to science. Free.
- 11 Haunted Museum, Basement, Hopkinsons, 21 Station St, NG2 3AJ (next to Nottingham train station), ☏ +44 7503 325218, [email protected]. 11am-6pm. A paranormal museum which blends witchcraft, haunted objects and pop-culture horror. Adult: £8.
Historic sites out of town
[edit]- 12 Newstead Abbey
- 13 Sherwood Forest Country Park. The ancient royal hunting forest to the North of Nottingham, stretching throughout Nottinghamshire and up to South Yorkshire. The remnants of Sherwood form a number of country parks and estates. Clumber Park, about 30 miles (50 km) north on the A614 near Worksop, is a vast area of parkland and woods owned by the National Trust, good for walking and cycling (bicycle hire available). Sherwood Pines Country Park houses a CenterParcs village, a Go Ape aerial assault course, and woodland walking. And Sherwood Forest Country Park has the historic "Sherwood" which visitors may be looking for - the Major Oak which was said to be the hideout of Robin Hood and his band of outlaws. The tired visitor centre is due for replacement, and many visitors are surprised to find the Oak is actually in the Birklands, an area of birch trees. The Thoresby Hall estate is run by Warner holidays as a "just for adults" centre, and Welbeck Abbey is now a military college.
- 14 Great Central Railway - Nottingham, Mere Way, Ruddington, NG11 6JS (6 mi (9.7 km) south of Nottingham), ☏ +44 115 940 5705, [email protected]. Sa Su 10AM-5PM. Offers journeys on historic steam and diesel locomotives, has a collection of historic buses on display along with 3 model railway exhibits.
- 15 Papplewick Pumping Station, Rigg Lane, Ravenshead NG15 9AJ, ☏ +44 115 963 2938. Su 11AM-4PM. These twin beam engines were installed in 1884 to lift water 200 ft (61 m) from an underground reservoir to feed the city supply. The interior is richly, almost riotously decorated, as if to out-do the fountains of Alhambra. The engines are in steam one weekend a month, see website. Adult £4; steam days adult £10, conc £9, child free.
- 16 Framework Knitters' Museum, Chapel St, Ruddington NG11 6HE, ☏ +44 115 984 6914. This technology is early 19th century, transitional between cottage industry and the great Victorian mill halls. In 2021 it's closed for refurbishment.
Theatres
[edit]- 17 Theatre Royal
- 18 Nottingham Playhouse
- 19 Lace Market Theatre
- 20 Nottingham Arts Theatre
- 21 Lakeside Arts Centre, East Drive, University Park, NG7 2RD, ☏ +44 115 846-7777. Further out of town, in University Park is the 225-seat Djanogly Theatre. The diverse programme includes drama, dance, comedy, jazz, world music and family events. Cafe.
Cinemas
[edit]- 22 Broadway, 14-18 Broad St, NG1 3AL, ☏ +44 115 952-6611. Four screens, cafes, bars and a mix of independent, foreign-language and mainstream releases. Standard adult ticket: £8.80.
- 23 Cineworld, Cornerhouse, Forman St, NG1 4AA, ☏ 0844 815 7747 (high cost charge number). Has 14 screens, including an IMAX facility. Standard adult ticket: £11.20.
- 24 Savoy Cinemas, 233 Derby Rd, Lenton, NG7 1QN, ☏ +44 115 947-2580. Four screens, a licensed bar and due to its location is popular with uni students. Standard adult ticket: £6.50.
- 25 Showcase Cinemas, Redfield Way, Lenton, NG7 2UW, ☏ 0871 220 1000 (high cost charge number). A 12-screen, American-style multiplex just off the A52/Clifton Boulevard ring road. Standard adult ticket: £10.50.
Do
[edit]
Sports
[edit]- 1 Nottingham Forest FC
- 2 Notts County FC
- Rugby: Nottingham RFC play rugby union in the Championship, the second tier. Their home ground is 3 Lady Bay, a quarter mile east of Trent Bridge.
- 4 National Ice Centre
- 5 National Watersports Centre, Adbolton Ln, Holme Pierrepont, NG12 2LU, ☏ +44 115 982 1212.
- Cricket: 6 Nottinghamshire CCC
- 7 Nottingham Tennis Centre
- 8 Nottingham Hockey Centre
- 9 Nottingham Activity Centre. The professional's choice for quality clay shooting. Stag and Hen, Corporate and private tuition available
- 10 Nottingham & District Gun Club. Try your hand at clay shooting.
Parks and activities
[edit]- In the summer you can hire a rowing boat on the beautiful grounds of the University of Nottingham.
- Nottingham Castle has extensive grounds, which are planted beautifully in the summer time. Each summer open air theatre performances are held in the grounds.
- 11 Arboretum
Events
[edit]
- Nottingham Goose Fair
(date needs updating) - The Forest Recreation Ground also plays host to the city's annual Bonfire Night fireworks display, which also has a funfair.
- The Riverside Festival at Victoria Embankment is held on a weekend at the start of August each year. It features live music, markets and fairs topped off with a huge fireworks display.
- The varsity sports series between the city's two universities, the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University, is the largest outside of North America.
- Nottingham Pride (date needs updating)
- LBC is a monthly electronic music event held at The Bodega featuring upcoming artists from all over the world. Entry is fairly cheap and is predominantly aimed at the student population of the city. Once featured in The Guardian, it is seen as Nottingham's forward-thinking music and arts event.
Buy
[edit]Nottingham has a large excellent shopping centre in the City Centre, "The Victoria Centre". The Victoria Centre is the modern with plenty of shops & facilities.
Close to Victoria Centre are the main shopping streets: Lister Gate and Clumber Street are home to High Street names, while designer labels can be found on Bridlesmith Gate, Victoria Street and in the Exchange Arcade, within the Council House on Market Square. The alternative shopper will find Hockley Village a haven, focused around Goose Gate, the city's Bohemian district. To buy a Nottingham memento, go to the Lace Centre on the corner of Castle Gate, opposite the Robin Hood statue, to buy traditional Nottingham lace.
With regards to the alternative music and fashion scene, Nottingham is highly regarded and caters well for obscure and eclectic tastes. Void, Wild (and its sister store Wilder) and the local favourite Ice Nine can all be found in the bohemian district of Hockley. These stores can often become busy over the weekend in particular, but many original retro and vintage fashion items can be found for very cheap prices here.
Record stores include:
- 2 Rough Trade, 5 Broad Street, Nottingham NG1 3AJ.
- 3 Rob's Records, 4-5 Hurts Yard, Nottingham NG1 6JD.
Eat
[edit]Budget
[edit]Nottingham also has the usual range of chain restaurants and bars that you can find in many cities across the UK. For a budget meal (and drink), JD Wetherspoons is always worth trying. There are also some budget restaurants along Mansfield Road not far from the Victoria Shopping Centre
There is a pedestrianised street full of eateries of varying quality next to the Cornerhouse. These restaurants range from a Pizza Hut and a Subway, to a brassiere (Punchinellos) with an excellent pre-theatre menu. There is also a wide variety of takeaways in Nottingham, catering for many different tastes.
Mid-range
[edit]British
[edit]- 9 The Kean's Head, 46 St. Mary's Gate, Nottingham NG1 1QA, ☏ +44 115 947-4052. M-Th 11AM-11PM, F-Su 11AM-midnight. Open daily from late morning until late. This small pub in the Lace Market area serves simple but tasty food, ranging from sandwiches to traditional English pub food to more Italian-influenced fare. Non-smoking, and an excellent selection of beers to match your food.
- 10 George's Great British Kitchen, Queen St. £15-25.
- 11 Cosy Club, 16-18 Victoria St. £15-30.
- 12 Corinthian Restaurant, 25 Goldsmith St. Modern British £20-30.
International
[edit]- 13 French Living, 27 King Street, Nottingham NG1 2AY, ☏ +44 115 958-5885, [email protected]. Tu-F noon-2PM, 6PM-10PM; Sa noon-2:30PM, 6PM-10PM.
- 14 Las Iguanas, Chapel Quarter Chapel Bar, 4, Nottingham NG1 6JS, ☏ +44 115 959-6390, [email protected]. M-Th noon-11PM, F-Su noon-11:30PM. This is a wonderful Brazilian restaurant.
- 15 Annie's burger shack, The Navigation, 6 Wilford Street, ☏ +44 115 837 1930. Daily noon-1AM. An eating institution to a number of locals. It is in The Navigation, this doubles up as a place for high quality burgers and real ale with canal side seating. £15-25.
- 16 Wagamama, The Cornerhouse, Burton Street, Nottingham NG1 4DB, ☏ +44 115 924-1797. M-Sa 11:30-11PM, Su 11:30AM-10PM. Open late every day. Chain serving affordable Japanese-style ramen, as well as fried noodle and rice dishes. It's usually busy and cafeteria-style benches mean you will rub elbows with your fellow diners. £15-30.
Splurge
[edit]- 17 Hart's Restaurant, Standard Hill, Park Row, Nottingham NG1 6GN, ☏ +44 115 988 1900. Owned by Tim Hart of Hambleton Hall fame. At lunch time the Hart's formula includes "lunch for less" with two or three courses from a shorted menu. There are various fixed price menus in the evenings too. Three courses and wine in the evening.
- 18 World Service, Newdigate House, Castlegate, Nottingham NG1 6AF, ☏ +44 115 847 5587. Similar formula to Hart's; some of the owners used to work there! Regularly top of the pops in the "Nottingham Restaurant of the Year" awards.
Drink
[edit]
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There are at least three pubs in Nottingham which claim to be amongst the oldest in the city (and the country), so there is no shortage of drinking establishments for visitors. The city has a range of pubs and bars serving drinks late into the night.
A good place to start is the trendy Lace Market area east of Market Square where you will also find many good restaurants. Pubs around the Market Square tend to appeal to younger drinkers with a Wetherspoon's and Yates's Wine Lodge, but the area on the canal side around the Canal House pub tends to be a little more discerning. The Hockley area also provides a range of pleasant bars to suit a range of budgets. The Cornerhouse complex (near the Royal Centre tram stop) contains some really nice bars, particularly 1 Revolution, and close to this is The Orange Tree on Shakespeare Street. Slightly further out of the centre in the multicultural and vibrant area known as Sneinton is a wonderful pub called the Lord Nelson with a great garden and real ales. The other historic pubs include The Bell Inn, in the Market Square, and the 2 Salutation, on Maid Marian Way, both of which can trace a long history and lay claim to having resident ghosts. Ask at a quiet moment for a tour of the Salutation's cellars, dug by hand into the sandstone rock below the pub and used in centuries past as a secure brewing area. The 3 Ned Ludd is also located near the Old Market square and serves local ale from 4 Nottingham Brewery. Rock City hosts one of the biggest student disco nights in town, with standard dance/pop music, when popular live rock bands aren't playing in town. For a different experience, try The Pitcher and Piano bar, with a slightly more mature crowd. Built as a large Unitarian church it has been stylishly modernised but still contains the church's architectural history with gothic decor and stained glass windows.
- 5 Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem
- 6 Canalhouse, 48-52 Canal Street, ☏ +44 115 955 5060, [email protected].
- 7 The Cornerhouse
- 8 The Playwright 38 (formerly The Orange Tree), 38 Shakespeare Street, ☏ +44 1159 473239, [email protected].
- 9 The Lord Nelson, Lord Nelson Street, Sneinton, ☏ +44 115 911 0069.
- 10 The Bell Inn
- 11 Ye Olde Salutation Inn
- 12 The Ned Ludd, 27 Friar Lane, ☏ +44 115 924 3415.
- 13 Rock City, 8 Talbot Street, ☏ +44 115 950 6547, fax: +44 115 941 8438, [email protected].
- 14 Pitcher and Piano
- 15 Waterfront, Canal St.
Sleep
[edit]Budget
[edit]- 1 Igloo Hostel. For £15 a night, the Igloo is a very nice hostel and a great choice to spend one or more nights in Nottingham. A 5-minute walk from the centre of town, It's very clean and has 24 hot water in all the bathrooms. It has a fully equipped kitchen with stove, oven, fridge, toaster, and the most important equipment in a kitchen: a radio. The Igloo provides free tea, and coffee all day as well as free wifi and internet. It also has a comfortable, friendly common room, with a TV and many DVDs if you are tired and want to rest and watch something. Lots of books and board games can be easily found as well. A board with several tips of good cheap places to eat and drink can be found in the common room. Downstairs, the Games room offers a Ps2, Pool table and Fooz Ball. Unquestionably, a very good and friendly place!
- 2 Midtown Hostel, Thurland Street. £16 a night Midtown Hostel has lots of good things going for it. It's clean, in a great location (1-minute walk from the main square), hot water in the showers, free internet, decent kitchen (does have oven, does not have stove, has large fridge to store food in), PS2 and a few games, and free coffee and tea. The beds are reasonably comfortable (but some do squeak). Reports of noisy parties at night.
- 3 Britannia Hotel, 1 St James's St, ☏ +44 871 222 0098.
Mid-range
[edit]- 4 Crowne Plaza Nottingham, 17-31 Wollaton Street, NG1 5FW, ☏ +44 115 912-8000, fax: +44 115 912-8080, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM (early check-in by arrangement), check-out: 11AM (late check-out by arrangement). This Days Hotel features non-smoking rooms that include bath and/or shower, work desk, TV with freeview and complimentary broadband. Some rooms have been adapted to allow for easier access. Full or continental breakfasts are available for £10. £79.95 (up to two children can stay free of charge, or for 75% if staying in a separate room.
- 5 Leonardo Hotel (formerly Jury's Inn), Waterfront Plaza, Station Street NG2 3BJ, ☏ +44 115 901-6700. Car parking is roughly 5 minutes from the hotel grounds, with many shops and restaurants close by. Well-equipped room with TV, hair-dryer, coffee/tea and biscuits and internet access.
- 6 Premier Inn Nottingham City Centre (Chapel Bar), 7 Chapel Bar, NG1 6JS, ☏ +44 871 527 9658. This hotel is in the centre of the city centre and is of the high standards of the Holiday Inn chain, with a spacious room, comfortable beds and friendly staff.
- 7 St James Hotel, St James Street, NG1 6FJ, ☏ +44 115 941-1114. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. In the heart of the city, it retains its period elegance, whilst offering comfortable accommodation. £40-60 pppn.
- 8 Park Plaza Nottingham, 41 Maid Marian Way, ☏ +44 333 400 6148, [email protected]. Comfortable hotel in the city centre. £56.
- 9 SACO Apartments, The Ropewalk, NG1 5BB, ☏ +44 117 970-6999. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 10AM. Near the city centre with easy access to Queens Medical Hospital and the University of Nottingham. There are no surprises in the rooms as they meet their website descriptions and pictures perfectly, with friendly reception staff and all the facilities you need, even for a long-term stay. from £64 per night.
- 10 Holiday Inn Nottingham, Castle Bridge Road Castle Marina Park, NG7 1GX, ☏ +44 115 993-5000, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. In a peaceful marina location. £65.
Splurge
[edit]- 11 Eastwood Hall, Eastwood Hall, Mansfield Road, Eastwood, Nottingham. NG16 3SS, ☏ +44 1773 532532, [email protected]. Hotel and event venue offering 150 bedrooms and 36 meeting/event rooms, all connected to WiFi.
- 12 Hart's Hotel, Standard Hill, Park Row, ☏ +44 115 988 1900. £56.
- 13 Village Nottingham, Brailsford Way, Chilwell, NG9 6DL, ☏ +44 871 222 4602. Offers over 130 bedrooms, a health club, the Verve Grill restaurant, the Victory Pub & Kitchen, the Vibe Cafe and a hair salon. The hotel also has 11 meetings & conference rooms. Booking is available online. £55.
- 14 Langar Hall, Church Lane, Langar NG13 9HG (12 mi (19 km) southeast of city), ☏ +44 1949 860559. Upscale country hotel in Georgian mansion with fine dining. B&B double £130.
Camping
[edit]In surrounding area
- 15 Thorntons Holt, Stragglethorpe, ☏ +44 115 933 2125.
- 16 Shelford Nurseries, Shelford Hill, Radcliffe on Trent, ☏ +44 115 933 3433.
Stay safe
[edit]While overall a safe city, Nottingham has been highlighted by the media for gun and knife crime in its suburbs, acquiring the (mostly tongue-in-cheek) nickname 'Shottingham'. It is best to avoid walking late at night through St Ann's (a council estate northeast of the Victoria shopping centre) and The Meadows (between the railway station and the river). Normal precautions for large western European cities should be undertaken by individuals after dark, especially for lone females.
Go next
[edit]- For keen walkers, Matlock and the Derbyshire Peak District can be reached in about an hour by car. To get there by public transport, catch the Red Arrow (£6 'zigzag' day ticket, takes 30 min, every 10 min) from the Victoria Bus station to Derby, and change to the TransPeak (£5.90 each way, takes about an hour, hourly). An alternative for the more budget conscious traveller is the 6.1 bus from Derby to Bakewell, which takes longer but is included in the trentbarton 'zigzag' day ticket.
- Derby is a neighboring city and is easily accessible by bus (£6 day ticket).
- Lincoln is not too far away by rail.
- Sheffield, about an hour away from Nottingham by rail or road, is a slightly larger city and a popular cultural and shopping destination.
- There are direct trains from Nottingham to the famous seaside resort of Skegness.
| Routes through Nottingham |
| Sheffield ← Mansfield ← | N  S |
→ East Midlands Airport → Leicester |
| Lincoln ← Newark-on-Trent ← | N  S |
→ Bingham → Leicester |
| Derby ← Beeston ← | W  E |
→ Grantham → Boston |
| Mansfield ← Arnold ← | N  S |
→ Loughborough |
| END ← | NW  SE |
→ Melton Mowbray → Peterborough |