Nottingham Things to Do

In my opinion, this is Nottingham's best sight. The museum, based in Nottingham's former courthouse and jail, is dedicated to the city's dark history - how villains were punished over the centuries. While elsewhere this might be done with a rather boring exhibition, the Galleries of Justice are designed as an interactive museum. Visitors receive a ticket with an ID number when they enter the building and they can later find out what they have done and what their punishment is. Very well informed and friendly guides wait at certain points in the museum to give more information on several aspects of the history of the place, such as how a typical court hearing looked like, what kind of punishments were used for what kind of crimes, or how inmates were crammed into the small rooms of the prison. Altogether, the museum is a very interesting place to see. We hadn't planned to, but stayed almost 2 hours!
By the way, my crime was that I (a governess) had killed the family's two-year old child. My sentence: to be sent to the gallows. Sigh.

Wollaton Hall, built between 1580 and 1588, is Nottingham's best known manor house, located north of the centre on a hill in a huge park. The house looks nice up on the hill, particularly if you come from the lake and stroll through the little botanic garden before. Inside Wollaton Hall is a museum of natural history which may be interesting for children. I found it a little misplaced and would have enjoyed some information about the house itself more. There are only two rooms in which you get a brief overview about that. Entrance to the museum is free.

This pub claims to be the oldest in England and was established during the crusaders' times (hence the name) in 1189! It's a very interesting place to have a drink and some pub food (try Beef and Abbot Ale Pie) if you manage to order something from the somewhat unorganised staff that prefer taking phone calls or walking away while you have for the third time started to order... Apart from that, the pub is great: low ceilings, crooked walls of rough stone, narrow passageways that lead to yet another room. They also have a "Cursed Galleon" on display. This model ship looks like it has been covered in dust and cobwebs for centuries. According to local legends, whoever cleaned it died an awful death soon afterwards. So for the guests' safety the "Cursed Galleon" is now kept in a glass case.

Theres a small fee to entre the castle grounds. Theres beautiful gardens and a few topiary's of Robin Hood & Maid Marion. You also get free entry into the museum they have on site. You could spend a decent ammount of time here if you like looking into museums in fine detail. We were in a bit of a rush, so we breifly looked at everything and had to leave. There were signs about some cave tours, but we didnt have time unfortunately.

It's an obvious thing to do in Nottingham, but just don't expect anything that looks like Kevin Costner's castle from the film. The entrance to the Castle is on a cobbled pedestrianised street, and make time to explore this - there's a lace museum and shop opposite, the Robin Hood statue (get the obligatory photo) and at the bottom of the hill is Ye Olde trippe to Jeruselum - the oldest pub in Britain (http://www.triptojerusalem.com).

From the grounds of the Castle, you'll get great views over the City and on a clear day, see for miles around. The building itself is home to a vibrant museum and art gallery housing collections of silver, glass, armour and paintings, plus fifteen centuries of Nottingham history. The galleries also bring the best regional, national and international artist's work to the city.
There is of course, a nice cafe and gift shop too. There are also cave tours - see the website for details.

Entrance fee is a few pounds for adults, but the ticket is also valid for the nearby Brewhouse Yard museum of life. See the website for up to date info on ticketing.

With the introduction of the tram to a part of Nottingham comes the 'beer by tram'. The tram runs from Hucknall into Nottingham (City Centre up to the Train Station) and costs £2.20 for an all day ticket). The tram website shows 25 pubs along the way which would be a beer drinkers paradise! I've not yet tackled this route but am planning no doing so soon....maybe I'll alternate alcohol with soft drinks to make sure I can get to the end!

My favourite local pub is on the route where I'll definatley have a Fruli beer!

This museum has a collection of household items from the early 20th century with the focus on Nottingham life in the war years. Downstairs gives access to a few of the many caves beneath Nottingham, and used to serve as air-raid shelters.

Before 1066 castles were pretty much unknown in England. Within five years of the battle of Hastings, William the conqueror had built more than thirty castles to preserve his grip over the English.

One of these castles was the fortification of legend. - Nottingham Castle.

The original castle was not built of stone but was of earth banks topped by palisading built atop the castle rock with its collection of caves and passages. Over the years it progressed to a massive, self-contained stone fortress.

Sadly, following the end of the English Civil War, the year 1651 marked the destruction of the Castle to the general dismay of Oliver Cromwell.

Around 20 years later the first Duke of Newcastle built a Renaissance-style palace on the site of the castle remains. But the turbulent history of Nottingham Castle was to continue as, 150 years later, the palace was gutted by the Luddites angry at the Dukes opposition to Parliamentary reform.

Nottingham Castle remained a gutted shell for nearly 50 years until it was bought by the Nottingham City fathers in 1875 and restored as the first Provincial Museum of fine Art.

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Tel: 0115 915 3700
Castle is now open 10 - 4pm daily (last entrance 3.30pm). (From February half-term the opening times will be 10 - 5pm.) )
Weekdays FREE, weekends and Bank Hols £2.00 adults, £1.00 children/concessions.
Family ticket £5.00. Group rate: one free ticket for every ten tickets purchased.