Top Things to do in Nottinghamshire
Top Hotels in Nottinghamshire
- 1. Mercure Nottingham City Centre George Hotel
- 2. Premier Inn Nottingham City Centre (Chapel Bar) hotel
- 3. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Nottingham - Gateway
- 4. Premier Inn Nottingham Arena (London Road) hotel
- 5. Jurys Inn Nottingham
- 6. The Orchard Hotel & Restaurant
- 7. Park Plaza Nottingham
- 8. Mercure Nottingham Sherwood Hotel
- 9. Premier Inn Nottingham West hotel
- 10. Premier Inn Nottingham City Centre (Goldsmith Street) hotel
Top 10 Nature & Parks in Nottinghamshire, England
Discover the best top things to do in Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom including Erewash Nature Reserve, Carr Lane Park, Creswell Crags, Attenborough Nature Centre, Clumber Park, Highfields, Rufford Abbey Country Park, Sherwood Pines, Idle Valley Nature Reserve, Rushcliffe Country Park.
Restaurants in Nottinghamshire
1. Erewash Nature Reserve
2. Carr Lane Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11 reviews
3. Creswell Crags
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 758 reviews
Walk in the footsteps of the Ice Age hunter and enter a world of fire and flint. Discover a legacy etched in stone with cave art 10,000 years older than the pyramids, and medieval Witch Marks as a reminder of more superstitious times. Explore life on the edge of the Ice Age world. Creswell Crags features the only authenticated Ice Age cave art in Britain. Stone tools and remains of animals found in the caves by archaeologists provide evidence for a fascinating story of life during the last Ice Age between 50,000 and 10,000 years ago. Robin Hood Cave has more apotropaic Witch Marks than anywhere else in the UK. The unique archaeology, geology, wildlife and fauna have resulted in Creswell Crags being one of the most protected sites in the UK. The beautiful natural landscape is also popular with walkers and boasts a variety of rare species. Visit the museum or book a cave tour. See website for details.
Reviewed By ianwU9934XM - Brigg, United Kingdom
Highly recommended and a brilliant day out, visited as a family and we all thoroughly enjoyed the visit, all the staff were welcoming and helpful, stayed for the full day and enjoyed the walks, exploring and the scenery, we went on the Robin Hood/Ice Age cave tour and this was brilliant, the tour guide who took us was fantastic, really friendly, chatty, very knowledgeable and clearly enjoyed her work and told us all some really interesting facts about the caves and location. Lots of places to sit, great cafe, picnic benches available and the museum has a lot of interesting items/artefacts to look at. We all had a great day out here.
4. Attenborough Nature Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 469 reviews
Reviewed By PeterHarrison2013 - Derby, United Kingdom
Attenborough Nature Centre is great for a visit at anytime of the year, In good weather you can have many splendid walks around the Reserve from short walks up to 3 miles long, and then a refreshing coffee or tea at the Nature Centre, and a look around the shop.
5. Clumber Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,440 reviews
Clumber is a beautiful expanse of parkland, heath and woods covering more than 3,800 acres.Clumber Park was once the country estate of the Dukes of Newcastle. Although the house was demolished in 1938, there are glimpses of its grand past to explore - from the Gothic-style chapel, often referred to as a 'cathedral in miniature', you can follow in the footsteps of dukes through the peaceful pleasure ground to the Walled Kitchen Garden, where you can experience sights, scents and a taste of the past.Today Clumber offers freedom to discover a ducal park and provides a haven for wildlife within an idyllic setting.With 3,800 acres of picturesque parkland and gardens, peaceful woodlands and a magnificent lake to enjoy there is plenty of space to explore and relax with your family and friends.Not only is Clumber's mosaic of habitats home to an amazing array of wildlife, it is also a great place to spot it.And there's much more to explore.
Reviewed By jstan54 - Birkenshaw, United Kingdom
Stayed at the Motorhome & Caravan Club site on Clumber Park for 5 nights, fabulous staff and so friendly.The weather was kind to us and our friends for the visit and we were able to walk in this truly beautiful place with its Autumnal magnificence. We didn’t bring the bikes but if we had the trails are fabulous as are the walks. The visitor centre is excellent with a great cafe/restaurant at very reasonable prices. It’s our third visit and it certainly won’t be our last. Our National Trust is a wonderful institution preserving the very best of our wonderful islands...Clumber is England at its best. Thoroughly recommend it...please visit.
6. Highfields
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 222 reviews
Reviewed By Oyesola - West Bridgford, United Kingdom
Beautiful big park with lots to do. You have the lake, the adventure golf course and a kiddies play area. Very big and had a lot of groups but with enough space between everyone. Lots of dog walkers and cyclists. An ice cream van was parked there too. Next to the University of Nottingham. If you go on a busy day like we did, parking may be an issue. I definitely recommend this park.
7. Rufford Abbey Country Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 938 reviews
A beautiful country park set around the 12th-century ruins of Rufford Abbey. Gardens, lakeside walks & woodland, shops, cafe, restaurant, tea shop, and a small exhibition about the life of the medieval monks who once lived here. Play area for young children. Good access for prams, pushchairs, mobility scooters and wheelchairs. Accessible loos. We open every day except Xmas Day and it's free to enter. Car park charge. Dogs welcome on a lead. A relaxing and magical place to visit.
Reviewed By 786carolb - Birmingham, United Kingdom
Friday 29 November 19, my friend and I visited historic Rufford Abbey. It was a really cold wintery day with a lovely winter sun. In 1146 Gilbert de Gaunt, Earl of Lincoln, founded the Cistercian abbey of St Mary the Virgin. The monks of this order, also known as the ‘white monks’ because of their habits of undyed wool, believed in the value of an austere life based upon prayer and hard work. Rufford Abbey was moderately wealthy and able to sustain a community of monks between its completion in about 1170 and its suppression in 1536. Rufford was one of the first abbeys in England to be affected by the Suppression of the Monasteries, and the whole estate was quickly acquired by George Talbot, 4th Earl of Shrewsbury. The conversion of the west range of monastic buildings into a house (1560–90) was undertaken by the sixth earl, who was the fourth and final husband of the indomitable Bess of Hardwick, from whom he was then bitterly estranged. In 1610, a new projecting wing was added to the northern end of this range. The estate was inherited in 1626 by Mary Talbot, sister of the 7th and 8h Earls of Shrewsbury, and it passed to her husband, George Savile. William Savile, George’s successor, made Rufford Abbey the seat of the Savile family after he burnt down the Saviles’ original home in order to prevent its being occupied by a Parliamentarian garrison during the Civil War. In 1679, the Savile family constructed a new north wing on the site of the abbey church, containing reception rooms and a long gallery. They also built the large stable block to the right of the house. The surviving roofed southern service wing (currently used as offices) was also added by the Saviles in the 17th century. In 1938, the 3rd Baron Savile inherited the Rufford estate as a minor, but his trustees split it into lots and sold it off. In the 20th Century the abbey and park were bought by Nottinghamshire County Council in 1952, and the north and east wings were demolished in 1956. The remaining west range and south service wing were put into the care of the Ministry of Works at the same date. My friend and I walked round this lovely abbey and then we strolled through the lovely sculpture gardens and took some wonderful photographs. I even found inspiration here for I wrote a poem call 'The Rose In Winter'. My friend and I then looked round the lovely Xmas Craft Shops and I purchased some 'Foxy' Xmas tree decorations, some Xmas cards and a classic book 'Cider With Rosie'. Afterwards, My friend and I then visited 'The Coach House' Café, where we had hot fish finger butties and a latte for me and tea for my friend. We spent a nice hour here getting warm after our lovely walk round the abbey and grounds. If you want a lovely place to visit or walk at any time of the year, then Rufford Abbey is a must.
8. Sherwood Pines
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 818 reviews
Have an adventurous day out in the great outdoors, at any time of the year. Come and explore one of the Midland’s most well-known forests! With activity trails, play areas, bike hire, wild running and mountain biking trails, Sherwood Pines will set the scene for a great day out for all. Get back to basics on one of our bushcraft experiences or soar through the trees on Go Ape’s famous zip wires. If you are feeling a bit peckish after adventuring around the forest, drop in to the Sherwood Pines Café for a range of locally sourced snacks. Top off your trip with an overnight stay! Forest Holidays have a selection of stunning cabins located in the heart of the forest, perfect if you are looking to escape the everyday. Camping in the Forest also provide the perfect spot to pitch your tent and stay in the great outdoors, opening spring 2021.
Reviewed By christinajackson78 - Penrith, United Kingdom
We visited the sherwood pines outdoor activities center and it was fab we did go ape which my boys and my partner loved and really enjoyed it the staff was very helpful and brilliant with children as my youngest went on the go ape junior which he loved, brilliant for the younger ones who can't go on the big ones ???? Lovely walk round the area and safe for the kids they could run about and tire themselfs out, the cafe there surved nice food something for everyone which was great, and tasted nice x would recommend this to others x
9. Idle Valley Nature Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 314 reviews
Reviewed By heeza2106 - Carlton in Lindrick, United Kingdom
Situated along the western bank of the River Idle, Idle Valley Nature Reserve (also known as Lound/Sutton Gravel Pits) is both a Local Wildlife Site and a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is 450 hectares of land consisting of a network of lakes, wetland, grassland, woodland, and scrub. As you can imagine it's home to a diverse range of wildlife, but it's also recognised as a brilliant birding site in the region. In fact, the lakes within the nature reserve were gravel extraction pits 70 years ago, flooded when the land was given to Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and nature reclaimed the land. It's now one of the largest sites for nature conservation in the East Midlands and the multitude of walking routes really reflects that. Today I took my dog for a good four mile walk around the reserve, through all the different terrain. My dog even went for a swim in the River Idle to cool off! It really is a beautiful place to walk, so many different things to look at. Definitely recommend it to anyone who likes a good walk. Just to note - the centre and car park are closed until further notice due to the pandemic situation, but the reserve and it's footpaths remain open to the public. There is ample parking space just outside the car park though for non-locals. The centre (when open) boasts toilets, gift shop, and cafe.
10. Rushcliffe Country Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 412 reviews
Set in the beautiful countryside about half a mile south of Ruddington, Rushcliffe Country Park is an ideal place to get away from it all. With a network of over 8 kilometres of footpaths, grassland, conservation and landscaped areas, the park is excellent for walking, jogging, cycling, spotting wildlife and exercising your dog. Bring your family and a picnic and encourage your children to let off steam in the extensive play area, which has around 20 pieces of modern equipment for children up to the age of 12. The play area includes a swing suitable for less able children (safety equipment is available on request) and part of the equipment is accessible to wheelchair users. For older children there's a skateboard midi half pipe, and a 4X/ BMX cycle track situated nearby. Access to the park is free. The County Park has a visitor’s car park and for just £1, you can park for your whole visit (up to a full day).
Reviewed By Summerlok
Park your car - only £1 for the whole day, and have a wonderful walk around lakes, woodlands and fields witn loads of extra activities. Wildlife includes swans, ducks, grebes, coots, cormorants, doves, robins and plenty more. There's a visitor centre, toilets, play equipment, sensory activities and we found a mobile cafe and an ice cream van. Very good morning out and really can't fault the park. Lovely1
