What to see/do in Nottingham?

I have a friend visiting in just over a week and she decided that she wants to take a day trip to Nottingham. So we're doing just that. I've booked the train tickets and now realise I have no idea what there is to do there! Any suggestions?

I have a friend visiting in just over a week and she decided that she wants to take a day trip to Nottingham. So we're doing just that. I've booked the train tickets and now realise I have no idea what there is to do there! Any suggestions?

There are quite a few touristy things you can do:
- Visit Nottingham Castle & the Brewhouse Yard Museum. 

- From there, you can also have a tour of the caves
- The "Old Trip" claims to be the oldest Inn in England (since 1189), and is quite neat, as it's built into the side of a cave.

- The Bell Inn has similar claims of being the oldest Inn in Nottingham (since 1437...), and is just another nice old pub.

- Keeping with the theme of pubs, there's also The Malt Cross, which apparently used to be a train station, and has a nice atmosphere and regular events such as life drawing, pub quizzes, live music, even knitting, etc.

- Depending on when you're going, there are pretty regular festivals/fairs at Old Market Square, but mostly on the weekends.

- If you're into art, entry to Nottingham Contemporary is free. They also have regular events and talks from artists which range from free to £3.

- If you've been to Nottingham Contemporary, then you might as well pop in to the Pitcher and Piano just next door, which is a bar inside an old cathedral and is beautiful. They also give voucher codes for free drinks if you sing up for their mailing list.

- There's also plenty of shopping, but coming from London, that's probably irrelevant for you.

- If you'd like to go to the theatre, there's the Theatre Royal and Nottingham Playouse

- If you prefer comedy, then there's The Forum in Cornerhouse or Glee Club

Hopefully this list will help get you started...If you're looking for anything else in particular, let me know!

I honestly would skip the castle and head for Wollaton Hall instead. It is an  easy bus ride from town and absolutely beautiful. The Brewhouse Yard is worth it, I just think the castle isn't.

The Trip is definitely worth it and an interesting place for lunch and a pint.

If you do decide to do the castle, you can do a tour of the caves that are under it. I think you can get more info from the Council's website.

There isn't much to do with Robin Hood in town so unless you have a car you won't have much luck finding that, except for a couple of statues.

I'll have to check these out myself...been 30 minutes away from Notts for over a year and I just go for the shopping and the dining! LOL.

Thanks for all of these! This is a great starting point for us! She did say something about seeing the Major Oak, but as far as I can tell that's a ways from the centre of town and we won't have a car. A bit strange to head all that way just to see a tree if you ask me. 

Major Oak is in Edwinstowe, which is the town next to mine. Its about 35 minutes if you had a car. Its not in Nottingham itself, but Nottinghamshire.  That said, yeah its a tree LOL. but WOW is it massive! Impressive if you are spending the day enjoying Sherwood Forest, but not necessarily a place to visit if you don't have the transport.

I almost always eat at Las Iguanas when I'm in Notts.  It reminds me of home and the food is sooo good!  And they've got 2 for 1 happy hours on certain drinks, which includes PITCHERS of Cuba Libres.  So hubby and I each get a pitcher (that's 4 drinks) for just 13 quid! Hee hee.

Just wanted to say thanks again! We ended up going to the Castle because it's what my friend really wanted to do. We then mainly walked around a bit, stopped in a couple of pubs and the contemporary art museum as well as a few shops. In all it was a pretty good day! 

Thanks for posting this.. My boyfriend lives in Nottingham and out of my 16 day trip to the UK I'll be there for 3 days and these are ALL excellent suggestions. I would also like to add that there's a place called Go Ape in Sherwood Forest that my bf and I plan on going ziplining in  Can't wait to do that and go to the ONLY Hooters in the UK haha.