Known to history as the home of arrow-toting outlaw Robin Hood, there’s much more to modern Nottingham than its medieval hero. A confident city set in the heart of the Midlands, its huge student population gives the nightlife a big buzz, while its imposing castle firmly roots Nottingham in its storied past.
Venture below ground into the City of Caves, have a pint in a pub claiming to be the oldest in England, and check out the city’s creative side at Nottingham Contemporary. But still, Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men and Maidens are still firmly ingrained in the local identity, and you can take a selfie by the Robin Hood statue or join the Robin Hood Town Tour to learn more.
And having spent three years of my life at the University of Nottingham, I’m recommending all of my favorite restaurants, cafes, and old haunts as part of this ultimate 3-day Nottingham itinerary.
It’s a city I still return to several times a year to see friends and family, and while the parks and pubs lining the River Trent are perfect in summer, don’t forget that in winter, Nottingham also hosts one of England’s best Christmas markets.
Keep reading, as I unveil the perfect way to spend a weekend in Nottingham!
If you’re still deciding where to stay then make sure to check out our article on the best luxury hotels in Nottingham!
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How to Spend a Weekend in Nottingham, England
Nottingham Weekend Itinerary – Day 1
Spend any length of time in Nottingham, and you’re likely to see an eccentric man with a bow and arrow leading groups of slightly bewildered tourists through the city. That’s Ezekiel Bone, a local tour guide whose legend is almost as strong as Robin Hood himself. Bone leads theatrical tours around the city, and I’d recommend starting your first day in Nottingham with his excellent Robin Hood Town Tour.
Robin Hood Town Tour
Dressed in period costume and very much in character, Bone’s tour starts at the Cross Keys Pub by Fletcher Gate and takes you on the trail of Robin Hood’s story as you’re guided through the city. Separating facts from the myth, this is a great introduction to the city’s most famous tale.
If Robin Hood isn’t your thing, there are also free walking tours on Saturdays and Sundays (just switch days one and two of our Nottingham itinerary around) that focus on the city’s wider history and culture.
During your walking tour, you’ll explore historic areas, including Market Square and the Lace Market, which have been the focus of city life since the medieval era. You’ll see the statue of Brian Clough, Nottingham’s iconic football hero, and the statue of Robin Hood, which sits outside the castle walls.
Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem
Carved from the very rocks below the castle’s keep, you’ll have lunch in what claims to be the oldest pub in England. With a history purported to date back to 1189 AD, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem is a highlight of any 3-day Nottingham itinerary. Of course, it’s always hard to verify such claims, and Ye Olde Salutation Inn (which is on the same street!) also claims the title, with its founding date set at 1240 AD.
Nottingham Castle
Either way, you can enjoy a pint and a hearty lunch of pub grub classics like fish and chips or steak and ale pie before spending the rest of the afternoon exploring Nottingham Castle. Dating back to the legendary era of Robin Hood, the castle has long been the domain of the Sheriffs of Nottingham.
But step through the imposing gateway and you can dig into the solid truth of the castle’s foundations in the museum, which tells the story of Nottingham through the ages.
The Normans built a wooden motte-and-bailey castle on the craggy rocks of Castle Hill in the 11th century, and over the next few centuries, the castle was expanded into the massive stone fortress you’ll see today. It was recently renovated in 2021, creating a state-of-the-art visitor experience.
After a heavy pub lunch, I’d suggest a more refined meal at Iberico World Tapas for dinner. This Michelin-guide restaurant is one of the best places to eat in Nottingham, and you can order as many or as few tapas as you like.
Nottingham Weekend Itinerary – Day 2
Day 2 of your 3 days in Nottingham begins underground, as you venture deep into the City of Caves. As you’ll have seen the day before in the drinking caves of Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, historically, this is a city as comfortable below ground as it is above.
City of Caves Exhibition
There are some 800 caves beneath Nottingham (and that’s only the recorded ones), both natural and manmade, and at the City of Caves exhibition, you can learn how they’ve been used through the ages.
From medieval tanneries and smuggling tunnels to World War II air raid shelters, you’ll don a hard hat and headtorch and be led through a preserved section of the UK’s largest cave network.
Above ground, the National Justice Museum awaits you around the corner from the City of Caves. Located within the historic Grade-II-listed Shire Hall, this fascinating museum is home to a preserved Georgian Gaol and a restored Victorian Court House.
The stories of locals who were dealt justice here (or, more commonly, injustice in centuries past) are remarkable, and you’ll leave with a more rounded overview of the often rebellious, riot-inducing populace that has called Nottingham home.
White Rabbit Teahouse
Make your way through the Lace Market, a trendy area that was once the center of Nottingham’s lace industry, and back down through Market Square to the White Rabbit Teahouse, where you can enjoy a quintessentially English luncheon.
This vintage tea house wouldn’t be out of place in Victorian Nottingham, and I’d recommend a leisurely afternoon tea, complete with cucumber sandwiches and a pot of Earl Grey, before walking over to Nottingham Contemporary, the city’s exciting modern art gallery.
It’s Saturday night, and I recommend making the most of Nottingham’s nightlife in whichever guise you enjoy best. After dinner at Annie’s Burger Shack (known for its stacked burgers and craft beers), I’d suggest either a concert at Rock City or a performance at Nottingham Playhouse.
Nottingham Weekend Itinerary – Day 3
Hockley’s Kitchen
Enjoy a lazy start to the day as you round off your 3 days in Nottingham with a morning breakfast or brunch at Hockley’s Kitchen, one of my favorite cafes in the city. Once you’re set up for the day, hop on the bus or enjoy a leisurely walk through the city to Wollaton Hall & Deer Park, a must on any Nottingham itinerary.
Wollaton Hall & Deer Park
This magnificent stately home dates back to the Elizabethan era, but film fans might better know it from the “Dark Knight Rises,” where it played the role of Batman’s Manor. Uncover centuries of history as you explore the Tudor Kitchens and stately rooms before visiting the Natural History Museum and Nottingham Industrial Museum, which are both on the same site.
Wollaton Hall is surrounded by acres of parkland, where you can spend hours on the trail of the resident deer population. If you need to, you can stop for a coffee and a light bite to eat at Wollaton Hall’s Courtyard Cafe before strolling through the adjacent University of Nottingham campus (which thousands of former students like myself remember fondly!) and down to Highfields Park Boating Lake.
Highfields Park Boating Lake
You can rent a rowing boat to explore the small lake, walk through the surrounding gardens, or pop into the Lakeside Arts Centre, which hosts ever-changing exhibitions with local and international influences.
I expect that by now, you’ll be exhausted as your 3-day trip to Nottingham comes to an end. However, if you’ve still got the energy, then I’d suggest hopping on a bus to the Meadows Recreation Ground, one of Nottingham’s best public parks. From here, you can walk along the River Trent towards the football and cricket grounds, and then follow the Nottingham Canal back into the city center.
Canal House
Alternatively, jump on a tram back to the city center and head straight down to the banks of the canal, where you can enjoy one of the best roast dinners in Nottingham at Canal House, followed by a few pints from their impressively large selection of local beers and ales. It’s the perfect way to end your 3-day trip to Nottingham!
Getting Around Nottingham
Located in the East Midlands, as one of the region’s largest and most historic cities, Nottingham is well-connected to the rest of the country. The city center is focused around Market Square, and Nottingham Train Station and Broadmarsh Bus Station are both just a five to 10-minute walk away.
There are regular connections to London, which is around two hours by train and three hours by bus. With connections to most major cities in the Midlands and North of England, including Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds, it’s easy to include a 3-day trip to Nottingham into a wider tour of the UK.
If you’re traveling from Europe, then East Midlands Airport has flight connections to major cities in France, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Greece, Ireland, and many more countries. East Midlands Airport is one hour by bus from Nottingham city center. Once you’ve made it, much of Nottingham is walkable, and the tram or bus can be used to get further afield.
