Nottingham Day-Trip (No Car Necessary)

How to Reach Nottingham

Nottingham is easily accessible from central London, just a 1h 45m journey! Nottingham is also home to East Midlands Airport (EMA), and the city centre is easily reachable using the Skylink bus.

General Tips

Buy a RobinHood Day Pass! I did this route over one day on multiple occasions, but it can be split between two. Either way, buying a RobinHood day pass as you board your first bus or at a tram stop is worth your money if you're getting on 3+ buses/trams in a day.

Accommodation Recommendations 

The Linden Leaf

@sarahsolotravels

My parents stayed here and really enjoyed it, especially for the price!

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Itinerary

Tough Mary's Bakehouse

Tough Mary's Bakehouse

@sarahsolotravels

Start off your day with breakfast at this amazing bakery! I really can't recommend it enough, they have classics and also some more "experimental" items. I am a picky eater, but I can confidently say I have never disliked anything I have gotten from here. My go-to order: Salt & pepper bagel, toasted, with cream cheese Cinnamon monster Sandwich to carry-out Bus: Get here using the L2, L4, L14, X2, 18, 28, 30, 35, 35A, 77, 77C, 78, 79, 79A, 79B, RainbowOne, or Indigo Bus. Tram: Get off at the Old Market Square stop and walk 10 minutes.

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Nottingham Playhouse

Nottingham Playhouse

@sarahsolotravels

A great photo-op! Honestly, I don't know much about this building but it's on the way to Old Market Square and is fun for pictures :)

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Old Market Square

Old Market Square

@sarahsolotravels

Nottingham's town square! Depending on the time of year, there are sometimes various markets or events held here. Most of the time, it is simply home to lots of pigeons.

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Nottingham Tourist Centre

Nottingham Tourism and Travel Centre

@sarahsolotravels

This is a great place to pick up some souvenirs! It has a lot of the infamous Nottingham lace, as well as some free maps of the city.

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City of Caves

City of Caves

@sarahsolotravels

A super cool cave tour of Nottingham's man-made caves! I hadn't gone on this until recently, but I really enjoyed it. My tour guide was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable, and seemed to really enjoy her job. Make sure to book this in advance, as it often fills up a few days before.

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Nottingham Castle

Nottingham Castle

@sarahsolotravels

The castle was recently redone, and I really enjoyed visiting! The views of the city were spectacular, but it is important to note that the inside has been converted to a museum of Nottingham's history. The entry fee is on the pricier side, but if you are really determined to see a castle it might be worth stopping here.

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Robin Hood Statue

Robin Hood Statue

@sarahsolotravels

The infamous Robin Hood! A must-see when you're here, and it is right outside the castle.

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Ye Old Trip to Jerusalem

Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem

@sarahsolotravels

This pub is supposedly the oldest one in England, claiming to be established in 1189. Part of the pub is even in the sandstone that you saw in the cave tour! If you wish to split this itinerary into two days, this is where to stop.

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Wollaton Park

Wollaton Park

@sarahsolotravels

This is a great place for a stroll! The exterior of the Hall was used in one of the Batman movies as Wayne Manor, but the interior has a great little taxidermy museum. Admittedly, some of the pieces aren’t of the best quality, but it’s still worth a stop! If you time it right, the Nottingham Industrial Museum will be open as well. There’s a nice cafe here, I highly recommend getting a Beeston Brownie! Route: Enter through the Lime Tree Ave entrance, continue straight, then take a slight left to see the Hall and Gardens. Walk down towards the lake, walk around the loop, then make your way to the Beeston Lodge exit. Map: https://wollatonhall.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/wollaton-park-map.pdf Transport: Take the i4 bus from Friar Lane (Stop F3) to Hillside (Stop LE12). Walk to the Lime Tree Ave entrance to Wollaton Park (52.94669° N, 1.19111° W).  

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Nottingham Industrial Museum

Nottingham Industrial Museum

@sarahsolotravels

As mentioned above, this is a great little museum! The workers are very knowledgeable and I had a very nice time. There’s a lot of information about lace that I didn’t even know about.

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University of Nottingham

University of Nottingham

@sarahsolotravels

I am a bit biased since this is my uni, but it’s a beautiful campus and worth walking through! If you exit Wollaton Park at the Beeston Lodge exit, walk up the road to the Lenton Hall bus stop. You can enter the campus from here. Walk through Lenton & Wortley Hall, then make your way to the Portland Building, then down the hill to Highfields Park. This is a very nice lake with friendly birds, it’s worth sparing some time to walk around it. If you haven’t gotten food already, there are some options in the Portland Building.

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Attenborough Nature Reserve

Attenborough Nature Reserve

@sarahsolotravels

Established by Sir David Attenborough himself, this reserve is my favorite in the area. I’d recommend taking the Tufted Duck Trail. If you haven’t stopped for lunch already, there is a nice cafe in the visitor centre. Make sure you get a Beeston Brownie, they’re amazing!! Map: https://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/sites/default/files/2019-05/Attenborough%20Nature%20Reserve%20ANC%20Map%20%28Small%29.pdf Transport: Take the Indigo bus from South Entrance (UN07) to Barton Lane, then follow the signs and walk 15 minutes to the reserve. 

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