🇬🇧 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)

St Mary's Church, NottinghamWikipedia (en) - CC BY-SA

St 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.
Nottingham CastleWikipedia (en) - CC BY-SA

Nottingham 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 BuildingWikipedia (en) - CC BY-SA

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 CentreWikipedia (en) - CC BY-SA

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 LibraryWikipedia (en) - CC BY-SA

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 HallWikipedia (en) - CC BY-SA

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)

The Arboretum NottinghamWikipedia (en) - CC BY-SA

The 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.
Victoria EmbankmentWikipedia (en) - CC BY-SA

Victoria 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.
Nottingham Canal and Beeston LockWikipedia (en) - CC BY-SA

Nottingham 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.
Forest Recreation GroundWikipedia (en) - CC BY-SA

Forest 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.
Rushcliffe Country ParkWikipedia (en) - CC BY-SA

Rushcliffe 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.
Colwick Country ParkWikipedia (en) - CC BY-SA

Colwick 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 GardenWikipedia (en) - CC BY-SA

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 ReserveWikipedia (en) - CC BY-SA

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 LakeWikipedia (en) - CC BY-SA

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 ParkWikipedia (en) - CC BY-SA

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)

Activities (9)

Caves of Nottingham – Drury HillWikipedia (en) - CC BY-SA

Caves 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.
City of Caves NottinghamWikipedia (en) - CC BY-SA

City 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.
Nottingham PlayhouseWikipedia (en) - CC BY-SA

Nottingham 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.
Rock City NottinghamWikipedia (en) - CC BY-SA

Rock 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 MuseumWikipedia (en) - CC BY-SA

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 ContemporaryWikipedia (en) - CC BY-SA

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 CentreWikipedia (en) - CC BY-SA

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 RacecourseWikipedia (en) - CC BY-SA

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 GroundWikipedia (en) - CC BY-SA

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)

What to see in Nottingham - United Kingdom? 30 places · Hozy