🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Places to discover
What to see in Nottingham ?
30 places curated by Hozy - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.
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Landmarks & heritage (6)
Wikipedia (en) - CC BY-SASt Mary's Church, Nottingham
Landmark
Nottingham's oldest parish church, dating to the 15th century and tucked within the Lace Market. Its Perpendicular Gothic architecture and fine stained glass make it a hidden gem, frequently overlooked by hurried visitors.
Wikipedia (en) - CC BY-SANottingham Castle
Landmark
A medieval fortress reimagined as a museum, commanding sweeping views across the city from its commanding hilltop position. The sandstone cave network carved beneath the fortress offers essential insight into Nottingham's underground heritage.Nottingham Trent University Arkwright Building
Landmark
Grade II* listed Neo-Baroque building from 1877, formerly Nottingham University College, boasting a spectacular terracotta façade on Shakespeare Street. A hidden architectural gem that locals walk past without truly noticing.Green's Windmill and Science Centre
Landmark
A fully restored and working 19th-century windmill, once home to mathematician George Green. This surprising landmark sits squarely in the residential heart of Sneinton, with an attached small science museum.Bromley House Library
Landmark
Subscription-based private library founded in 1816, nestled within a Georgian townhouse in the city centre. Its rooms remain unchanged since their Victorian heyday, and a secret garden adds to the timeless atmosphere—a rarely visited gem for non-members.Wollaton Hall
Landmark
A striking Elizabethan mansion from the 16th century, now housing Nottingham's Natural History Museum. Instantly recognisable as Wayne Manor from The Dark Knight Rises, it presides over a deer park of considerable charm.Nature & parks (10)
Wikipedia (en) - CC BY-SAThe Arboretum Nottingham
Nature
Nottingham's first public park, opened in 1852, showcasing a remarkable collection of trees and a central pond. Beloved by Forest Fields residents, it preserves an authentic Victorian atmosphere.
Wikipedia (en) - CC BY-SAVictoria Embankment
Nature
A riverside promenade along the Trent with gardens, bowling green and war memorial. It's the locals' go-to spot for an early morning jog or summer picnic, with peaceful water views.
Wikipedia (en) - CC BY-SANottingham Canal and Beeston Lock
Nature
A stretch of the Nottingham Canal leading to the picturesque Beeston Lock, lined with colourful narrowboats and wetland meadows. A cycle or walking route from the city centre to Beeston ranks among the region's most pleasant.
Wikipedia (en) - CC BY-SAForest Recreation Ground
Nature
Vast 72-acre green space north of the city centre and one of England's oldest public parks (1845), home to the annual Goose Fair each October. Locals come here to run, play cricket and picnic well away from the tourist trail.
Wikipedia (en) - CC BY-SARushcliffe Country Park
Nature
Countryside park south of Nottingham with wildflower meadows, ponds and sweeping views across the Trent valley. Far less crowded than Attenborough, it's ideal for a quiet walk well away from the beaten track.
Wikipedia (en) - CC BY-SAColwick Country Park
Nature
A sprawling 250-acre park along the Trent featuring two lakes, perfect for cycling, fishing and leisurely walks. Less crowded than Wollaton, it's where locals genuinely come to recharge at weekends.Bunkers Hill Allotments and Community Garden
Nature
Allotments perched on the heights of Sneinton offering surprising views across the city rooftops. A thriving community green space that reflects Nottingham's strong working-class allotment tradition.Attenborough Nature Reserve
Nature
A nature reserve carved from former Trent gravel pits, a haven for birdwatchers just minutes from Nottingham. Over 200 bird species have been recorded here—best visited early morning alongside locals armed with binoculars.Highfields Park and Boating Lake
Nature
Grand university park with a boating lake inherited from the 1920 British Empire Exhibition, surrounded by flower gardens and a waterside café. The favourite haunt of Nottingham University students for a peaceful afternoon out.Bestwood Country Park
Nature
Former royal hunting estate of Charles II sprawling across 700 acres of woodland and meadow north of Nottingham. The remnants of the Bestwood Colliery steam pump add a fascinating industrial layer to the natural landscape.Viewpoints (3)
Clifton Grove
Viewpoint
A 2 km wooded promenade along limestone cliffs overlooking the Trent south of Nottingham, celebrated by 19th-century poet Henry Kirke White. Spectacular views across the Trent valley and floodplain meadows, yet largely unknown to visitors.Nottingham Trent Bridge
Viewpoint
Victorian ashlar stone bridge from 1871 with ornamental lamp standards, spanning between the city and West Bridgford. Splendid views across the Trent at sunset, far from the city centre bustle.Trent Bridge and Embankment View
Viewpoint
The Victorian Trent Bridge and south-bank meadows offer the quintessential view across the River Trent with Nottingham Forest Ground framed beyond. A classically English tableau, especially at sunset.Activities (9)
Wikipedia (en) - CC BY-SACaves of Nottingham – Drury Hill
Activity
Network of medieval caves distinct from the City of Caves, accessible beneath the Broadmarsh shopping centre currently undergoing redevelopment. These sandstone chambers reveal the underground history of a city built upon 800 caverns.
Wikipedia (en) - CC BY-SACity of Caves Nottingham
Activity
Network of 800 caves carved into sandstone beneath the city centre, accessible from Broadmarsh. These medieval tunnels reveal millennia of Nottingham's underground story, from tanneries to bomb shelters.
Wikipedia (en) - CC BY-SANottingham Playhouse
Activity
The city's principal theatre since 1963, producing original work of national calibre. The prism-shaped main auditorium and panoramic bar are essential cultural gathering spots for locals.
Wikipedia (en) - CC BY-SARock City Nottingham
Activity
Legendary 2,000-capacity concert venue on Talbot Street, a temple of rock and alternative music since 1980. Nearly every major act has played here before achieving stardom.National Justice Museum
Activity
Eighteenth-century courthouse and prison transformed into an immersive museum exploring British legal history. The preserved original cells and courtrooms give you genuine goosebumps.Nottingham Contemporary
Activity
Internationally renowned contemporary art centre housed in a striking concrete building with lace-pattern façade. The exhibitions are always cutting-edge and admission is free—one of the finest contemporary art venues in the Midlands.Nottingham Ice Centre
Activity
Twin-sheet ice rink in the city centre, a training club for British Olympic champions for decades. An afternoon skating here is to experience Nottingham as locals do through the winter months.Nottingham Racecourse
Activity
Flat racing course from 1777 nestled in Colwick Park, with accessible race days and thoroughly British atmosphere. Less formal than Ascot, it's horse racing the English way without pretension.Nottingham Forest Ground – City Ground
Activity
Historic stadium of the double European champions 1979–1980 on the banks of the Trent, facing Trent Bridge. On match days, the atmosphere in Trent Bridge is electric and authentically working-class.More to discover (2)
Wikipedia (en) - CC BY-SANottingham General Cemetery
Place
Victorian cemetery from 1839 with remarkable funeral monuments, neo-Gothic chapels and lush vegetation creating an unexpected sanctuary of peace. Forest Fields residents walk their dogs amongst its leafy paths.
Wikipedia (en) - CC BY-SASneinton Market
Place
Alternative Sunday market in the Sneinton neighbourhood, featuring local makers, street food and regional producers. This is where Nottingham reveals its most authentic, community-spirited face.