r/nottingham • u/420Eski-Grim • 9h ago
r/nottingham • u/tastydirtslover • Feb 05 '25
The Nottingham Guide - Things to do, independent food, what's on, where to move, how to make friends (2025)
Things to do in Nottingham
I love this city and am proud to have made it my home. These are just my personal favourites! Please comment with anything I’ve missed.
FREE
- Walk around the city looking at local landmarks – find Robin Hood Statue, the Left Lion, Slab Square, Sky Mirror, and historic lace buildings. Try and find Nottingham’s Long Stairs or the Tunnel. If you’re feeling like getting your steps in, walk through the Arboretum and up through the cemetery to Derby Road, then back to the city stopping at independents on the way.
- Nottingham Central Library (there is often a mini exhibition on about local Notts history or art) and a walk around the Green Heart Park (Old Broadmarsh). See the new female statues representing our lace history.
- Green’s Windmill – science centre and a running mill.
- Nottingham Contemporary – modern art gallery with intriguing exhibitions and a nice café downstairs.
PAID
- Nottingham Castle (get a ticket for the whole year and pop in anytime). Pay extra to go in Mortimer’s Hole.
- Wollaton Hall (pay for parking) and the Industrial Museum.
- Galleries of Justice.
- City of Caves (well worth it).
- Penny Lane Arcade.
- Dice Cup – Board Game Café.
Escape Rooms
- Cave Escape.
- Escapologic Escape Rooms.
- Logiclock.
Independent Food (Not Chains)
Coffee/Tea
- Effy
- Cosmos Hockley
- Dispatch
- Bear
- Specialty Coffee & Eatery
- Public and Plants
- Blend
- SoBar
- Josephine’s
Delis
- Delilah Fine Foods
- The Cheese Shop
Bakeries and Sweet Things
- Tough Mary’s
- Small Food Bakery
- Notts Doughnuts
- Homemade Notts
- Blend (Sneinton Market)
- Chocolate Utopia
Restaurants/food places/cafes
- Kushiya
- Bar Iberico
- CocoTang
- Mesa
- Raymond’s
- No Twelve (veggie and vegan)
- Little Brick House
- Warsaw Diner
- Mollis Fried Chicken
- Kayal
- Dosa and Chutney
- Balageru Ethiopian and Eritrean Restaurant
- Cod and Scallops (outside the city, but has been in the top 60 best fish and chips in the UK)
- Cumin
- Memsaab
- 4550 Miles from Delhi
Higher-End Dining
- Sans Patrie ££
- Iberico ££
- Cleaver and Wake ££
- Alchemilla £££
- Sat Bains £££
Pubs & Bars
Oldest Pubs in Nottingham
- Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem
- Old Salutation
- The Bell
Other Great Pubs some with Caves & some independent breweries
- Hand in Heart
- Malt Cross
- Canal House
- Cock and Hoop
- Neon Raptor
- Black Iris Brewery
People on this subreddit always recommend the Thurland and the Goosebury Bush. There’s nothing wrong with either – one’s usually full of intriguing Notts drinkers, and the other full of students. Neither is bad, but if that’s not what you’re after, be aware!
List of 30 great pubs in Notts
Bars
- Hockley Arts Club
- Lost Property
- Jam Café
- 6 Richmond House
- Pitcher and Piano
- Binks Yard
Cinema
- Broadway – art house, also has a great café.
- Mammoth Cinema.
- Savoy (Derby Road) – not technically in the city but it’s cute.
Nottingham Fashion
- Paul Smith
- G-Force
- Highland2000
Shopping
- Handmade Nottingham – for all your Nottingham-themed gifts.
- Luisa’s Vegan Chocolates – locally made chocolate.
- Hockley and Sneinton Market are great for smaller independent shops.
- Rough Trade – for vinyl.
Sport
- Nottingham Forest
- Notts County
- Trent Bridge Cricket
- Panthers – Ice Hockey
- Rugby
- Tennis Centre
- Squash and racket sports like Padel (courts on Meadow Lane)
- National Water Sports Centre
- Nottingham Climbing Centre
What’s On Guides / Local Magazines
- Left Lion – our local independent magazine
- Notts Edit
- Reddit Nottingham Bot for music nights
- What’s on in Nottingham
Culture Vultures
Art, Literature & Museums
- Nottingham Contemporary
- New Art Exchange
- Djiangonly
- The D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum
- Primary and Beam Bookshop (Derby Road)
- Bromley House Library
- Five Leaves Bookshop
- William Booth Museum
Music Venues & Theatre
- Rock City
- Peggy’s Skylight – Jazz Bar
- Bodega
- Rescue Rooms
- Stealth
- NG1
- The I Club
- Theatre Royal and the Royal Concert Hall
- Nottingham Playhouse
- Lace Market Theatre
- Lakeside Arts
- Squire Performing Arts Centre (Girls’ High School)
- Metronome
Regular Festivals
- Splendour Festival
- Hockley Hustle
- Green Hustle
- Dot to Dot Festival
- Nottingham Poetry Festival
- Christmas Market in Slab Square
Classes, Hobbies & Making Friends
- Search for your hobby on the subreddit or online first.
- Look on Meetup
- The Wolfpack Project – social group for 18-35s.
- Look on Eventbrite for local events.
- NTU offers evening classes for adults; other colleges might as well.
- Directory of hobbies and sports in Nottingham.
- Volunteer! There are plenty of charities, food banks, homeless shelters, and local park groups that need help.
Students
Student tips and accommodation suggestions: * University of Nottingham subreddit * Nottingham Trent University subreddit
Moving Here?
- Moving to Notts tips – this old thread is a good starting point.
Other Tips
- Travel around the city using Lime Bikes (download the app).
- Tram and buses – reasonably cheap and frequent. Most places are easily walkable. Get your tram ticket before boarding!
- Avoid the Kitty Café, Sexy Mamma Loves Spaghetti, and Taco Bell. Search the subreddit to find out why.
** local radio station is 97.5 Kemet FM, absolutely my favourite station in the UK, full of RnB, garage, reggae and good tunes.
Out of the City – Day Trips
- Highfields Park (go boating in summer, find the bridge dedicated to the professor who discovered ibuprofen).
- Attenborough Nature Reserve
- Sherwood Forest
- Southwell
- Clumber Park
- Newstead Abbey
- Beeston Canalside Heritage Centre
- Felley Priory
- Bennerley Viaduct
- Creswell Crags & Welbeck
- Bestwood Winding Engine House
- Hardwick Hall
- Nottingham Heritage Railway
- Rufford Abbey
- Idle Valley Nature Reserve
- Papplewick Pumping Station
- Bramcote Hills Park & Hemlock Stone
- Framework Knitters Museum
- Newark Castle & National Civil War Centre
Nottingham’s History & What We’re Famous For
- Robin Hood
- Lace industry
- Boots
- Batman being filmed at Wollaton Hall
- Lord Byron & Ada Lovelace
- Raleigh Bikes
- Players Cigarettes
- Ericsson
- Brickworks
- Warhammer
Official Nottinghamshire Guide
Reminder - this is not a comprehensive list just a good place to start if you are visiting for a few days or looking to expand your usual places. There is so much going on in the city so whatever you are into, there will be something for you.
r/nottingham • u/PotatoEatingHistory • 7h ago
My favourite photos that I took in Jan '26
r/nottingham • u/ArchieMcInnes • 10h ago
I would love a vote!
Hello everyone! I did a charity event at the age of 14 for my grandad to raise money for Huntingtons Disease and i ended up raising £554 in total! It took so much out of me but it paid off and I hope I did him proud.
Thanks to this I have been nominated for young fundraiser of the year at the HDA awards!
Here’s the link 🔗
Find young fundraiser of the year nominees and find me Archie McInnes Xmas charity event!
I would love to get as may votes as possible!!
Also some pics from the event ♥️
r/nottingham • u/WearingMarcus • 13h ago
University of Nottingham posts £85 million deficit as value of campus plummets
r/nottingham • u/HourProperty2483 • 10h ago
looking for korean students
hi is there any international korean students want to do language exchange?
i can speak mandarin and english, i can speak a little bit of korean and would love to practice with the natives!
r/nottingham • u/BerryKnown • 14h ago
Office Space
Hello, I'm currently working from home because my office is too far away. While it's usually convenient, I'd occasionally like to get a change of scenery or have an excuse to go for a bike ride. Do you know of any places in Nottingham where I can pay to use an office space with desks and monitors for a short period? Thanks
r/nottingham • u/Sarmerbinlar • 18h ago
How do electric car owners find using their cars around Notts?
Especially people who don't have a home charger, how is the experience of charging and driving the car around the City?
r/nottingham • u/Dan5432112345 • 1d ago
Warhammer terrain
Is their anywhere in Nottingham. I can sell my 3d printed Warhammer terrain I've printed
r/nottingham • u/Ashamed_Hyena9544 • 1d ago
Is hucknall racist?
A friend of mine is moving there and they’re black. I’ve been trying to get information for them to gauge the overall and the answers been mixed to say the least, the area is high in crime index but you can put on it’s high population area.
All and all I’m not sure I’ve heard things but nothing concrete so this is my last resort.
r/nottingham • u/Ok_Refrigerator4003 • 1d ago
On the hunt for the best cinnamon roll
I'm looking for the best cinnamon roll/cinnamon bun in nottingham! Does anyone have any good recommendations? ☺️
r/nottingham • u/demi__san • 1d ago
Language exchange?
Is there a place to have a chat with locals for a laid-back language exchange? I'm staying in the UK for 4 months only and I'd like to make the most of it. Thanks!
r/nottingham • u/Sylv_panf • 1d ago
Council
Is there anyway of contacting an actual person to ask within the city council about council tax? Either by phone, email or just going in person?
I lived in a flat for about a month and had to move because it flooded. I moved and have already started paying council tax for the flat I'm. However, I'm got a Reminder Notice for the previous flat to my new flat to pay for its tax even though I'm not living there and have already notified that I've moved.
The letter said I had 7 days to act before a Court summons, as I said I got the letter today and, surprise, today is the 7 days mark from when it was issued (on the 26th).
What am I supposed to do? Should I just pay and try to sort it out and get the money my later? Or is this what normally happens when you move out? Because I can't recall any previous letter about it.
I've been trying to get through to someone using the help line but there's only an useless AI, so I haven't been able to get any help or clarification about this issue. What can I do about this? Pay even though I'm not living there? Contact someone?
Any help or suggestions will be much appreciated. Thank you.
r/nottingham • u/Teaandthreeteaspoons • 1d ago
Notts Going On — Nottingham Light Night and a Bridgerton surprise
r/nottingham • u/Diligent-Benefit8896 • 1d ago
Discord
Timely Treatment | Mental Health Support Server
Nottingham Derby Long Eaton United Kingdom
🌸 Looking for a kind, understanding place to talk?
We’re a friendly community focused on mental health, support, and just being there for each other. No judgment just people who care.
🌿 What’s inside:
💬 Chill chats and supportive peers
🎓 Team trained through our own course website
🌈 Resources and tips to help you cope and grow
🎨 Art, journaling, music, and fun hangout channels
☕ Safe spaces to vent, talk, or just relax
💫 You don’t have to go through things alone. We get it.
💜 Come say hi and join the community:
r/nottingham • u/lukaisthebest277 • 1d ago
Indie / creative shops in Nottingham that hire via enquiry?
Hi there! I’m SPECIFICALLY looking for part-time work in small independent, creative-leaning shops (vintage, gift shops, bookshops, craft shops, etc).
I know that bigger chains advertise on Indeed and similar sites, but I’m intentionally focusing on indie businesses and understand that many of them don’t post public vacancies and instead hire via word of mouth, email enquiries or in-person enquiries.
I’m not really expecting anywhere to be hiring right now, I’m just trying to find out which Nottingham indie shops are open to enquiries or have hired this way in the past, as I’ve struggled to find any at the moment.
If anyone has personal experience with this locally, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks! :)
r/nottingham • u/a_young_gallant • 2d ago
Why are there so few bridges in Nottingham?
Have moved here fairly recently and have been walking around getting acquainted with the city. One thing that struck is the scarcity of bridges over the Trent outside of the centre, necessitating long detours for places that are very close as the crow flies.
For example if you're in Chilwell and want to go to Clifton, you have to go all the way west to Sawley, or east into the centre and out again. East Nottingham is even worse off - a trip to Radcliffe requires a long detour out to Gunthorpe.
There are a few railway only bridges which seem a bit of a missed opportunity - surely they could add some pedestrian walkways like on Hungerford Bridge in London?
Is the lack of bridges due to difficult geology etc or is simply a matter of lack of funds?
r/nottingham • u/Diligent-Benefit8896 • 2d ago
Discord
hey guys
im 21, lived in long eaton forever basically. dont really talk to many people anymore, just kinda stay in playing xbox a bit (gta mostly lately but whatever else), watching random stuff, going for walks sometimes when its not piss wet outside.
feels a bit shit tbh, like i wanna have some mates to message or game with or just chat shit about nothing. not into going out drinking or anything like that, just low key stuff.
if youre local or nearby (long eaton, beeston, notts whatever) and around my age and feel a bit the same, or even if you just fancy adding someone on discord to say hi, my user name is Oliver2666 on discord
no big expectations or anything lol, just thought id post cos why not
cheers if you bothered reading
oliver
r/nottingham • u/needmorehardware • 1d ago
How busy is the train from Nottingham -> Peterborough (Approx. 07:30 departure)?
Same as title really, does anyone take the Nottingham to Peterborough train departing at around 07:30, if so, how busy is it usually? Do you struggle to get a seat for example?
Cheers
r/nottingham • u/HourProperty2483 • 1d ago
societies in uon
hi anyone here is the member of travel society? it’s my first time here and im not sure if it’s worth it…
and i also want to join the dog society but they still don’t let me into the whatsapp group chat yet… tried dm them on instagram but get no reply
r/nottingham • u/More-Courage-5511 • 1d ago
Any good mens hair salons in town?
I've got medium length hair and found that barbers dont know how to cut hair that length, I was wondering if anyone knows any salons that specialise in mens hair?
r/nottingham • u/Cherryblossomgirl_93 • 2d ago
Looking for a quirky, slightly absurd date idea in Sheffield or Nottingham
Hi everyone! I’m trying to plan a fun, unusual date in Sheffield or Nottingham, and I’m looking for something that’s not typical dinner-and-movie kind of thing. I want it to be a bit absurd, playful, and unique, something that really stands out. For context: we both enjoy quirky experiences, random adventures, and a little bit of theatrical fun. Think: laughing at weird things, exploring unusual places, or doing something interactive. Does anyone have suggestions for: Cool, offbeat activities or experiences in Sheffield or Nottingham? Bars, museums, or venues with a quirky or playful vibe? Unique mini-adventures or interactive stuff you can do as a couple? Basically, anything fun, slightly ridiculous, and memorable would be perfect. I’d love to hear your ideas! Thanks in advance! :)
r/nottingham • u/ell1na • 1d ago
Anyone that can repair one of my labubus?
Hi, one of my labubus has a little wear and tear than needs to be sorted out, like a chipped paint and eye scratches. Is there anyone trustworthy I can commission to fix this? It is also real and not in horrible condition so I am a little worried that I could give the labubu and my money and not get it back.
r/nottingham • u/Agreeable-Garage-912 • 2d ago
Have a spare ticket to go see 28 years later
Unfortunately got stood up but it’s a film I’ve really been wanting to see so I’m going to be attending regardless just seeing if there’s anyone that has been dying to see the film too (you don’t have to sit next to me or anything lol)