The Notts bucket list: Everything you should do before you graduate

Nottingham is a city with a thousand year history, a thriving arts scene and green spaces galore.  But with the busy life of a university student, you might not venture beyond Wetherspoons, Rock City and your lecture hall.

Whether you’ve lived here for two years or two weeks, have you really seen everything Nottingham has to offer?

Here are the Nottingham sights and experiences you don’t want to miss before you leave the city.

Wollaton Hall and Deer Park

What?

An Elizabethan mansion with 500 acres of forestry, fields and botanical gardens to explore.

Inside the house, you can find Tudor interiors, a natural history museum and seasonal exhibitions.

There’s also the Nottingham Industrial Museum in the park, which you can visit on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Price?

Entry into the park is completely free.

The house now costs £18 for an annual pass. There are also hidden history guided tours that take you through the house for a further £18 or £9 for those with members’ passes.

The Industrial Museum costs £3 for students.

Where?

The grand estate sits on the back of University Park campus, a short walk for University of Nottingham students or a number 30 bus will take those coming from further away.

Nottingham Contemporary

What?

An award-winning art centre in the heart of Nottingham that features changing modern art exhibitions, with three large galleries and an auditorium.

Artists on exhibition have included the likes of David Hockney, Diane Arbus and Wolfgang Tillmans.

Price?

Admission is free to Nottingham Contemporary.

Where?

You can find Nottingham Contemporary at the edge of Lace Market, with a tram stop a short walk away from the gallery.

Nottingham Castle

What?

Built on the site of a Norman castle, the fortress and former royal residence towers above the city skyline.

The castle’s interior features galleries, interactive spaces and rotating exhibitions, while the surrounding outdoor grounds contain medieval ruins, sprawling gardens and panoramic views of Nottingham.

Price?

Entry into the castle and grounds is £18, with a pay once visit all year ticket.

There are also dungeon and cave tours, each priced at an additional £9.

Where?

The castle is hard to miss and sits on Castle Rock, about a 10 minute walk from Nottingham city centre.

Goose Fair

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What?

Every autumn, a fairground tradition dating back to the 13th century takes over Nottingham.

The Goose Fair features over 500 rides, attractions and food stalls.

Price?

Entry is free, although ride and stall prices vary.

Where?

Forest Recreation Ground, with a tram stop right at the side of it.

National Justice Museum

What?

The former Shire Hall and County Gaol is a historic site that spans five floors where criminals were once imprisoned, tried and executed.

With a dark history, this museum holds the UK’s largest collection of law, justice, crime and punishment artefacts, with live actors and re-enactments of executions and courtroom trials to take part in on your visit.

Price?

The museum is £15 for students.

Where?

Just behind Lace Market, a five minute walk from a nearby tram stop.

City of Caves

What?

Beneath Nottingham is a labyrinth of over 800 manmade caves, with a history dating back to the dark ages.   

The 45 minute tour takes you through the history of the caves, which have been used for everything from housing to WWII-era air raid shelters.

Price?

£11 for students.

Where?

Though the entrance can be easy to miss, if you go down the stairs next to Nottingham Contemporary, you will find the entrance on your right-hand side.

Lakeside Arts Museum

What?

A public arts centre on the University of Nottingham’s University Park campus.

The museum features rotating exhibitions of regional heritage, archaeology and contemporary art.

Price?

Entry is free.

Where?

The main entrance to University Park, a short walk from a tram or bus stop.

What’s on your bucket list?

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