Destination guides > Europe > England > Heart of England > Nottinghamshire > Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a vibrant city with loads of history and a thriving nightlife scene. Most of the city's main attractions revolve around glorifying a medieval criminal, Robin Hood.
Practical information
Nottingham Tourist Information Centre
1-4 Smithy Row, Nottingham
Tel (0115) 915 5330
Website www.visitnottingham.com
Open Jan-Jul Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm, Sat 9am-5pm; Aug-Sep Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-3pm; Oct-Dec Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm, Sat 9am-5pm
Coming & going
AIR
Nottingham's East Midlands Airport is near Loughborough, south of the Nottingham. The Skylink bus runs between the airport and Friar Lane, Market Square in Nottingham's city centre every half hour. The Skylink bus costs £5 for a single or day return ticket.
BUS & COACH
National Express coaches terminate at the Broad Marsh Bus Station, which is located at the southern edge of the city centre between the train station and Broad Marsh Shopping Centre.
TRAIN
Both East Midlands Trains and CrossCountry Trains use Nottingham Midland Station, south of the city centre. East Midlands Trains run north-south connecting Nottingham with London and Sheffield and CrossCountry Trains go to Birmingham, Cambridge and Stansted Airport.
Some East Midlands Trains services to London, Norwich and Sheffield are available through Megabus with fares starting at £1 (plus a 50p booking fee).
Local transport
Nottingham has a good public transport system that is comprised of tram and bus services.
BUS
Nottingham City Transport (NCT; tel (0115) 950 6070) operates over 300 bus lines in the Nottingham area. Single tickets cost £1.50 and several good value travel passes are available that include the City Rider (£3), which is good for one day unlimted bus and tram travel and the Kangaroo pass (£3.40), which is good for one day unlimited bus, tram and train travel in the Nottingham area.
Travel Centre
NCT's Travel Centre sells tickets and travel passes and can help with transport information.
5 South Parade, Nottingham
Tel (0115) 950 6070
Website www.nctx.co.uk
Open Mon 9am-6pm, Tue-Fri 9am-5.30pm, Sat 9am-5pm
TRAM
Nottingham Express Transit (NET; tel (0115) 942 7777) runs Nottingham's trams. Trams depart from Station Street, near the train and bus stations, and stop at Lace Market, Old Market Square, Royal Centre and Nottingham Trent University in the city centre and run to park and ride car-parking areas in the suburbs.
One-way tram fares range from £1.50 to £2.50. Other options include an all-day tram pass that costs £2.70.
FARES
In addition to the bus-only and tram-only travel passes outlined above there are several other travel passes available.
City Rider
The CityRider ticket that gives you one day unlimited travel on NET trams and NCT buses and costs £3.
Kangaroo Pass
The Kangaroo Pass lets you hop on and off buses and trams and costs £3.40 for a one-day pass.
Hostel accommodation
Castle Hotel
82 Radcliffe Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham
Earl Howe Backpackers
21 Carlton Road, Nottingham
Tel (0115) 845 1046
Igloo Hostel
110 Mansfield Road, Nottingham
Bus 56, 57, 58, 59, 141, 200
Tel (0115) 947 5250
Mid Town Hostel
5a Thurland Street, Nottingham
Tel (0115) 941 0150
Riverside Hostel
32 Helvellyn Close, Nottingham
Eating & drinking
Nottingham has the usual array of restaurants, sandwich shops and fast food places, particularly around Goosgate, Mansfield Road and Milton Street. The city is home to England's oldest pub, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem Inn, which dates from 1189 and boasts rooms carved into the Castle Rock.
If you're preparing your own food, head to the Tesco supermarket in the Victoria Shopping Centre between the city centre and the Igloo Hostel.
Sightseeing, museums & tourist attractions
City of Caves
Nottingham was built upon a labyrinth of sandstone caves that people have lived in for over a thousand years. A section of the caves beneath the Broadmarsh Shopping Centre is open to visitors with exhibits depicting how people lived in the caves during medieval times and how the caves were used as an air raid shelter during World War II.
Broadmarsh Centre, Nottingham
Tel (0115) 952 0555
Website www.cityofcaves.com
Admission £5.40
Open 10.30am-4pm daily
Galleries of Justice
This museum depicts 300 years of crime and punishment through interactive displays and activities.
High Pavement, The Lace Market, Nottingham
Tel (0115) 952 0555
Website www.galleriesofjustice.org.uk
Admission free; tours £4.85-8.75
Open summer 10am-5pm daily; winter 10am-4pm daily
Nottingham Castle
This 17th century mansion was built on the grounds of the original castle that features in the Robin Hood stories. It houses a museum and boasts a spectacular setting high on Castle Rock offering sweeping views of the surrounding countryside.
Castle Road, Nottingham
Tel (0115) 915 3700
Website www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/whatson/museums/castle.asp
Admission £3.50
Open 10am-5pm daily
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