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Nottingham is a city in England known as the "Queen of the Midlands" which is famed for its links with the world-renowned legend Robin Hood.
Understand
Nottingham is the major city in the East Midlands of England, its prosperity historically derived mostly from the lace making and coal-mining industries
- little of which now remains. Nottingham has moved towards a more service-based economy.
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. According to the 2001 census, Nottingham has an estimated city population of 275,100. The Nottingham Urban Area conurbation (which includes surrounding
suburbs outside the city boundary, and neighbouring towns) has a population of 666,358 (2001 Census). Nottingham is a member of the English Core Cities Group.
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 disproportionately tall dome can be seen for miles around, is at
the top 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 in recent years, situated 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.
Get around
By bus
The city has extensive bus services provided by two main companies,
trentbarton and Nottingham City Transport, 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: NCT+tram-only £3 day ticket or £3.40 Kangaroo ticket which is valid on any bus, tram and train within Greater Nottingham. Note: Most NCT buses do not give change.
By tram
NET (Nottingham Express Transit) is the city's modern tram system. It runs from Nottingham Train Station (Station Street) to the South to
Hucknall in the North and Phoenix Park (M1 Junction 26 Park and Ride site) to the North East. 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 £2.70, all day tram+NCT bus is £3, single tickets are £1.50 or £2.50 during morning peak hours. Tickets should be bought from tram conductors on board the trams.
On foot
The city centre is best explored on foot as many of the historic streets are pedestrianised or have good pedestrian access.
See
Museums and galleries
*
Nottingham Castle
(Warning: it is not a castle, but a small stately home.) Museum is a must-see and provides a fascinating insight into the history of Nottingham. The fine mansion also houses the country's first municipal art gallery and the beautifully maintained gardens are ideal for a lazy summer's day stroll. The famous Robin Hood statue is located just outside the castle walls.
* Ye Olde Trip
to Jerusalem Inn off Maid Marian Way - One of various pubs claiming to be the oldest pub in Britain, the "Trip" traces its existence back over 800 years. Charming and well worth a visit if you happen to be in the city. It is located at the Brewhouse Yard, home to the Museum of Nottingham Life which shows the social change in Nottingham that has occurred over the last 300 years.
* City of Caves
is an award-winning visitor attraction which is accessed from the upper mall of the Broadmarsh Shopping Centre. It consists of a network of caves, carved out of sandstone that have been variously used over the years as a tannery, public house cellars, and as air raid shelters. Nottingham has more man-made caves than anywhere else in Britain.
* The Galleries of Justice are well-worth visiting for a fascinating look at the sometimes rough justice meted out in years gone by.
*
Nottingham has a small contemporary
art gallery that's normally worth a look called The Angel Row Gallery. The art ranges from thought provoking, to the plain bizarre and it's located next to the Central Library Building unsurprisingly on Angel Row, just off Old Market Square.
* Wollaton Hall
is a beautiful Elizabethan mansion in a large suburban deer park, Wollaton Park. The hall itself houses the city's Natural History Museum whilst the Industrial Museum is housed in an outbuilding. This is now fully open following restoration works.
* Nottingham Council House is where Nottingham city council meet. It is located in the old market square and tours are free. (Note, you have to book in advance)
Historic sites out of town
* Newstead Abbey, the beautiful home of local poet Lord Byron is located 12 miles
north of the city. It is well worth a visit, and the website supplies extensive information on how to travel to the site. Lord Byron was buried in Hucknall Church, and his tomb can be seen inside the
church which is situated at the end of Hucknall's high street, a few minutes walk from the Hucknall tram stop.
* Sherwood Forest Country Park
is about 20 miles to the north off the A614, north of the village of Edwinstowe along the B6034, and can also be reached by bus (Traveline 0871 200 22 33). There is a visitors centre and you can see 'Major Oak', the tree in which legend has it that Robin Hood hid from his enemies.
Theatre and cinema
* The two largest theatres are the Theatre Royal
(Royal Centre tramstop), and Nottingham Playhouse
(on Wellington Circus, near Derby Road). Theatres also include the Lace Market Theatre (on Halifax Place, near Fletcher Gate). Further out of town, in Nottingham University's Highfields Park is the Lakeside Arts Centre, containing a small but excellent theatre.
* A nationally recognised independent cinema called Broadway is located on Broad Street in Hockley, as is the worlds smallest cinema (just 21 seats!), the Screen Room.
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