Nottingham is one of those cities that has a bit of everything. There's history around every corner (and quite a lot underneath it), a brilliant food scene and some of the most unusual pubs I've ever been to. Here's everything I'd recommend seeing and doing, plus where to eat and where to go if you love a metal bar.
Things to Do
City of Caves
Nottingham is built on soft sandstone and there are more than 800 caves carved out beneath the city, used over the centuries for everything from a medieval tannery to air raid shelters during the Second World War. The City of Caves tour was a really interesting insight into the history of Nottingham as well as a chance to actually get down there and explore some of them.
Wollaton Hall
Wollaton Hall was built in the 1580s for Sir Francis Willoughby and much more recently starred as Wayne Manor in The Dark Knight Rises. If you're a Batman fan, it's worth a visit for that alone. The grounds are very pretty and deer roam freely, which is really nice to see. There's often a coffee shop open and there are a couple of different museums on site, but you do have to pay for them.
Green's Windmill and Science Centre
The windmill was built in 1807 by the father of George Green, a miller who taught himself mathematics and went on to become one of the most important mathematicians of his time. It was so cool to see and I was surprised by how central it is. The city around it hides it completely, so you don't see the full windmill until you're right in front of it.
Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem
Claimed to be the oldest pub in England, this is the place to go for a pint in a cave. The pub proudly claims the date 1189, the time of the Third Crusade, although there's no documentary evidence to back it up. The oldest timber frames date to the 1670s, but the caves carved into the castle rock behind it are likely to go back to when the castle was founded.
Southwell Workhouse and Infirmary
This one is outside the city centre, but it was a really good place to visit. Built in 1824, it's one of the best preserved workhouses in the country and is now looked after by the National Trust. I'd never visited a workhouse before and it was very sobering, but a really cool glimpse into the past in the area.
Canal House
A pub with an actual canal and canal boat inside it. You have to see it to believe it. It sits on the Nottingham Canal, which opened in the 1790s and was once a busy route for carrying goods in and out of the city.
Handmade Nottingham
Lovely for gifts made by local artists. Everything is made by makers from the area, so it's a great place to pick up something you won't find anywhere else.
Pitcher and Piano
Cocktails in a beautiful building that used to be a church. It was originally the High Pavement Chapel, a Unitarian church whose congregation dates back to 1690. The Gothic Revival building you see today opened in 1876 and was converted into a bar in 1998, so it's worth popping in even if you're only there to look around.
Hockley
Nottingham's creative quarter is well worth a wander, with lots of independent shops, cafes and bars packed into its streets. Some examples to check out include Ice Nine, Void Clothing and Sneinton Market.
Park Tunnel
This Grade II listed tunnel was built between 1844 and 1855 to connect Derby Road to the Park Estate. It was designed for horse drawn carriages, but the final slope turned out to be too steep for horses to climb safely, so it has only ever been used by people on foot.
Nottingham Castle
The original castle was built by William the Conqueror in 1068, but it was demolished after the English Civil War and replaced with a ducal mansion. That explains why it's less of a castle and more of a manor house today. If you're expecting turrets and battlements you might be a little disappointed, but there's plenty of reference to Robin Hood to make up for it.
Cosy Club
Yes, it's a chain, but the building is pretty impressive and worth seeing in its own right. It was built in 1869 to 1870 for the Imperial Life and Fire Insurance Company and in 1913 became the Reform Club, a social hub for Nottingham's wealthy middle class whose members included Boots founder Sir Jesse Boot. From the 1960s until 2005 it was the Victoria Club casino, then it sat empty for nearly 15 years until Cosy Club restored it.
The Exchange
The Exchange is a historic shopping arcade behind Nottingham Council House, famous for its magnificent 200 foot high glass dome with pictures of Robin Hood. Opened in 1929, this beautiful landmark houses a collection of different fancy shops.
National Justice Museum
The museum is housed in the old Shire Hall and County Gaol, where people were tried, locked up and even publicly executed on the front steps. It's quite an interesting way to delve into the history of Nottingham. Just be aware that there are actors in different areas, so you might find yourself pulled into the action.
The Arboretum
Opened in 1852, the Arboretum is Nottingham's oldest public park and a lovely bit of green in the city centre. Perfect for a picnic.
Hopkinsons
Hopkinson Vintage, Antiques and Art Centre is right by the train station, so it's an easy first or last stop. It's a huge emporium spread over four storeys and filled with vintage clothing, independent makers and curiosities, plus an antique basement laid out like a street and a cafe bar. Perfect for a good rummage.
Markets
There's a market on Saturdays and you'll also find markets popping up in pubs, in Hockley and at the town hall.
Ice Hockey
The Nottingham Panthers were founded in 1946 and are one of the oldest ice hockey teams in the UK. The season only runs from around September to April, so check the fixtures before you go.
Goose Fair
Goose Fair has been held in Nottingham for more than 700 years and is one of the biggest events in the city's calendar. It only runs for a few days each October, so plan your trip around it if you want to go.
Things to Eat
- Bread, pastry and cakes with a coffee - Tough Mary's Bakehouse.
- Doughnuts - Doughnotts.
- Deli foods, cheese and nibbles - The Cheese Shop.
- A bottomless cheeseboard every Monday - The Good Fellow George.
- Tasty tapas - Bar Iberico.
- Ramen and small plates - Everyday People.
- Japanese food - Kuisha Ya.
- Asian food and cocktails - Coco Tang. I visited for a New Year's Eve masquerade party, which was very suave.
- Street food vans that change weekly - Bustlers.
- Great value set menus - Le Mistral in Sherwood. Their Menu à Prix Fixe is two courses for £19.95, Monday to Saturday until 4pm.
- Delicious burgers from Hereford - Beefy Boys.
- Snacks with cats - Kitty Café
Metal Bars
- Goth metal bar - Pit & Pendulum. Named after the Edgar Allan Poe story, it's full of dark gothic decor and even has a secret bookcase door to find.
- Metal dive bar - Tap & Tumbler. A relaxed spot for a drink with rock and metal playing.
- Old metal bar - The Salutation Inn. An alehouse called The Archangel Gabriel Salutes the Virgin Mary was built on this site around 1240, while the timber structure standing today dates to around 1360, when it was a tanner's workshop.
- Punk bar - Foremans Bar. Nottingham's smallest live music venue, this is a proper old school punk, rock and metal dive bar.
- Club nights or gigs - Rock City, Rescue Rooms, Billy Bootleggers and Motorpoint Arena Nottingham.
- BONUS : A retro arcade game and cocktail bar - NQ64
