Nottingham

Nottingham is the Queen of the Midlands, a city of 320,000 with a bohemian Hockley quarter, sandstone caves beneath the streets, and the world's oldest professional football clubs. The legend of Robin Hood draws visitors to Nottingham Castle and Sherwood Forest, while the Lace Market area offers trendy bars and restaurants. It's well-connected by rail to London (under 2 hours) and serves as a gateway to the Peak District.

Nottingham railway station sits on the main line from London St Pancras; the cheapest advance tickets are available from East Midlands Railway. East Midlands Airport is 15 miles northeast near Nottingham. Bus services connect to Derby (£6 day ticket, 30 min), Leicester, and other Midlands towns. Direct trains run to Manchester Piccadilly and Birmingham. Nottingham has no metro but excellent bus and tram coverage.

Nottingham has excellent public transport served by buses and trams. The tram network runs through key areas including the Royal Centre, Market Square, and to surrounding areas. Bus services are frequent and connect to suburbs like Wollaton (buses 35, 36, i4). The city is walkable; most sights are within the city centre.

Nottingham is a year-round destination. Summer (June-August) offers the best weather for walking in Wollaton Park and Sherwood Forest, with open-air music at the Arboretum on weekends. Winter brings pantomime season at Theatre Royal. International cricket matches at Trent Bridge can last five days. The city has a large student population making nightlife vibrant year-round.

Budget hostels include Igloo Hostel (£15/night, 5-min walk from centre, free WiFi, kitchen) and Midtown Hostel (£16/night, 1-min from Market Square). Mid-range options include St James Hotel (£40-60 per person per night, period elegance) and Park Plaza Nottingham (£56). The Crowne Plaza and Leonardo Hotel offer standard chain accommodation starting around £80. For luxury, Langar Hall (B&B double £130) is a Georgian mansion with fine dining 12 miles southeast.

Nottingham's Lace Market area has the best concentration of restaurants and bars. Pub food ranges from simple sandwiches to Italian-influenced fare at The Kean's Head (£15-25 mains). Chain options include Wagamama (£15-30) at The Cornerhouse and Las Iguanas in Chapel Quarter. Annie's Burger Shack (£15-25) near the canal serves quality burgers with real ale. For fine dining, Hart's Restaurant and World Service compete for Nottingham Restaurant of the Year awards. The city claims at least three of Britain's oldest pubs—Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem (built 1189), The Bell Inn, and Ye Olde Salutation Inn (since 1240).

Nottingham Castle (£15) has interactive exhibits after 2021 refurbishment; cave tours available separately. The City of Caves (£11) explores a sandstone network used as tannery, pub cellars, and air raid shelters. National Justice Museum (£15, guided tour 1-1.5 hours) shows historical justice in Shire Hall. Nottingham Contemporary (free) hosts major contemporary art exhibitions. Wollaton Hall is an Elizabethan mansion used as Wayne Manor in The Dark Knight Rises. For sport, watch Premier League football at Nottingham Forest's City Ground or the world's oldest professional club at Notts County's Meadow Lane. The National Ice Centre hosts GMB Nottingham Panthers ice hockey games.

While overall a safe city, Nottingham has been highlighted by media for gun and knife crime in suburbs, acquiring the (mostly tongue-in-cheek) nickname 'Shottingham'. Avoid walking late at night through St Ann's (council estate northeast of Victoria shopping centre) and The Meadows (between railway station and river). Normal precautions for large western European cities should be undertaken by individuals after dark, especially lone females.

Matlock and the Derbyshire Peak District can be reached in about an hour by car. By public transport, take the Red Arrow bus from Victoria Bus station to Derby (£6 day ticket, 30 min, every 10 min), then TransPeak to Matlock (£5.90 each way, 1 hour, hourly). Budget option: the 6.1 bus from Derby to Bakewell (included in trentbarton zigzag day ticket). Lincoln is accessible by rail. Sheffield is about an hour away by rail or road. Direct trains run to the seaside resort of Skegness. Sherwood Forest Country Park is 12 miles north with the famous Major Oak where Robin Hood was said to hide.

The M1 motorway runs north-south through Mansfield (north) to East Midlands Airport and Leicester (south). The A46 runs north to Lincoln, south to Bingham and Leicester. The A52 goes west to Derby, east to Grantham. The A60 runs north to Mansfield, south to Loughborough. East Midlands Airport has flights to European destinations. Nottingham railway station provides mainline connections to London, Manchester, Birmingham, and regional cities.