This post will be sharing how to spend 24 hours in Nottingham.
If you’re new here, I have created a summer wishlist of cities I want to visit in England.
Being on lockdown for over a year really pushed back all my travel plans.
While it is safe to travel, I’m yet to be fully vaccinated.
I’m not ready to pay those exorbitant fees for COVID-19 tests and quarantines.
As such, I’m forced to travel locally, which I really don’t mind much.
I already had plans to explore England and the U.K. in general one way or another.
So far, I’ve been to York, Chester, and Nottingham. Before autumn arrives, I have a couple of other cities to visit.
While some might look down on the North of England because they believe it isn’t popping as much as down South, my mission is to highlight some of the best historical attractions the North offers.
Getting to Nottingham from Manchester
For now, the nature of my trips is simply Day Trips.
This is where I try to spend an entire day exploring a particular city.
As such, I try not to spend too much time commuting. Anything more than two hours on the train or coach is too far.
So, I was suprised and equally excited to see that Nottingham was just under a two-hour train journey.
As always, I booked my ticket about a week before and waited patiently.
I currently have flexible work hours.
This allows me to skip the peak hours on weekends and travel between Mondays and Wednesdays when most people are typically at work.
Thankfully, my ticket was flexible and off-peak, so I could travel from Manchester Oxford Road, which is closer to my home, to Manchester Piccadilly, which is much farther.
For less than £30, the journey took 1 hour and 50 minutes, and I arrived at Nottingham Train Station by 12:30.
Here Are 10 Things to Do In Nottingham As A Solo Traveller.
I should have considered the weather before embarking on this trip.
I took this trip on one of those days when the U.K. was experiencing a crazy heatwave.
It was so bad that I did not want to spend any more time than necessary outdoors.
I don’t know how it completely slipped my mind to go on a day trip where I’ll be outdoors all day in a heat wave!
Suffice it to say I did not enjoy this trip.
It was simply too hot to enjoy anything.
While I typically enjoy walking around new cities, I had to stop at various locations to catch my breath and enjoy some cool air.
It didn’t help that one of the biggest attractions—Nottingham Castle, which you will see shortly—was closed.
Despite my experience, I still tried to touch on the handful of attractions and historical landmarks.
It is worth mentioning that there isn’t much to see in the city centre of Nottingham.
So, you should consider combining it with Derby, a nearby city which is about 40 minutes by bus and 28 minutes by train.
If you have a car, that’s even better.
This way, you’re killing two birds with one stone.
Otherwise, you’ll have to travel out of the city centre to explore further attractions.
Indulge in some Art at the Nottingham Contemporary
This is easily one of the best aesthetically pleasing art galleries I’ve seen.
The architecture is simply unique and unmissable.
Unfortunately, they are closed on Mondays, so if you want to enjoy the art on display, you must keep that in mind.
While the gallery was closed, I visited the open shop to grab a few souvenirs.
Unfortunately, nothing really caught my interest, so I left.
Learn more about the gallery on their website.
Explore the history behind the City of Caves (Paid)
It’s not every time you visit a city with the U.K.’s largest network of caves.
The funny thing about this attraction is how long I spent looking for the entrance.
Obviously, it was just beside the Nottingham Contemporary, but I couldn’t figure out where exactly it was for the life of me.
Yes, I did not think there were actual caves in Nottingham,
When I finally found the entrance, they were about to close.
I was so gutted because I was looking forward to the guided tour.
If this sounds like fun and you’re curious about the history of the City of Caves, you can book your tickets on their website.
Learn about 14th Century Law at the National Justice Museum.
Possibly the closest museum to the city centre is the National Justice Museum.
In the 14th century, this was a former Victorian courtroom, prison, and police station.
Like most historical buildings in the U.K., it is now an independent museum.
So, if you’re into Law and curious about how cases were handled in the 14th century, I’ll check this out.
Make sure you check their website to book your tickets before visiting.
Chill at the Old Market Square
When the U.K. weather is excellent, this is the perfect place to chill during lunch or after a long day.
As I mentioned earlier, it was too hot to relax outdoors.
But that didn’t stop me from taking in the scenery.
On a hot summer day, it was pretty busy.
Even though I think the only people who really enjoyed it were the kids playing in the fountains.
Overall, it’s just a lovely chilled place, which I would classify as the centre of Nottingham.
Catch a show at the Nottingham Playhouse (Paid)
While this was closed when I visited, some shows were lined up.
So, you would want to check their schedule and opening hours before visiting.
So, if you love watching theatrical performances, you’ll enjoy spending time at the Nottingham Playhouse.
Stop by the Nottingham Cathedral
While the Nottingham Cathedral might not be as grandiose as other cathedrals, such as the York Minister or the Chester Cathedral, it is still unique in its own way.
Also, cathedrals are hardly ever newly built.
So, the fact that they are ancient buildings by any standard makes them stand out.
If you’re anything like me and absolutely adore cathedrals, you should check this out.
Explore The Robin Hood Experience (Paid)
In case you didn’t know, Robin Hood is a popular fictional character that originated from Nottingham.
Naturally, there should be a museum dedicated to the legend.
To be honest, I was slightly disappointed by how small the museum is.
I was expecting an entire building dedicated to Robin Hood.
Regardless, it looks like an affordable, fun experience for everyone.
Take Selfies by the Robin Hood Statue
Just before climbing up into Nottingham Castle and before it gets busy, it’s not a bad idea to take a few selfies by the Robin Hood Statue.
Experience the Nottingham Castle (Paid)
When I thought the Robin Hood Experience was a tiny museum, the massive Nottingham Castle was just a stone’s throw away.
It was initially built in 1068 by William the Conqueror.
Later, in the 1670s, William Cavendish built a mansion on the site.
It was burnt down in 1831 and left in ruin for about 40 years, which is sad.
Eventually,in the 1870s, it was rebuilt to include an art gallery and museum.
The castle was closed for a significant refurbishment in 2018 and was recently reopened in June 2021.
Read more about the history of Nottingham Castle here.
I like to believe Nottingham Castle is the highlight of Nottingham.
The City of Caves is lovely, but the castle hits it differently.
So, if you’re going to visit Nottingham for any reason, I implore you to stop by the castle, even if that’s the only thing you do.
For guided experiences, tours, and games, including the Robin Hood Adventures, book your tickets on their website.
Shop at Victoria Centre
To wrap up my day, I stopped by the Victoria Shopping Centre to take a break from the scorching heatwave to grab some snacks before heading back to the Railway station.
I wasn’t really in the mood for shopping, but there was a large selection of high-street department stores to choose from.
In Conclusion,
While I didn’t necessarily have the best time due to the heatwave, there’s no denying that you can definitely enjoy spending 24 hours exploring Nottingham.
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