r/nottingham • u/420Eski-Grim • 14h 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.
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/CVN58 • 9h ago
Fire near Bestwood Country Park
Happened at around 17:29, two fire engines responded with one police car also attending. The Vulcanair P.68R flew round Bestwood and Hucknall shorty after
r/nottingham • u/Routine_Spirit4680 • 4h ago
Flytipper [Reg: Y5 OJC]
Silver Vauxhall Y5OJC just caught flytipping. There's cameras all around the house...
I'd recommend taking your mates sofa before the Police fine...
r/nottingham • u/Naive_Usual_9629 • 12h ago
Animal Volunteering Nottingham
Anyone know of any places in Nottingham that are taking on volunteers or for work experience? Looking for somewhere based around animals specifically but not had much luck anywhere really.
r/nottingham • u/SeventhSkyDragon • 8h ago
Gym near hucknall?
Hi all
Currently at puregym (baseford). I don’t mind it and usually work out after 9am, so it’s not that busy.
Travelling in morning rush hour traffic takes the best part of 30mins.
Can anyone recommend a gym that’s closer to hucknall?
Is the leisure centre any good?
r/nottingham • u/Doonovon • 9h ago
Best charity shop that sells second hand DVD's?
I'm stingy af and looking to get Apocalypse Now and avoid paying £5 on Amazon so just wondering which charity shops have the largest range of DVD's.
r/nottingham • u/richtea141 • 9h ago
Pub Restaurants with Garden for Toddlers to run around
Hi all, so as the title suggests, looking for pubs with nice beer gardens suitable for little ones to just run around without worrying about them escaping or running onto a road etc.
Ideally with a little play park to keep them occupied. Thanks in advance.
r/nottingham • u/dina_moh • 14h ago
Driving instructor/ driving school
Hi all , any recommendation for female driving instructor near lenton/beeston ?
r/nottingham • u/Charming-Sandwich144 • 15h ago
Anywhere near Beeston with free tyres?
I'm making over my childrens garden play area and could really do with a few tyres! Anywhere in the beeston area where I could claim some?
r/nottingham • u/420Eski-Grim • 1d ago
Love this view from the Nottingham Playhouse 😍 Just been to see Animal Farm - highly recommended! Has anyone else been?
r/nottingham • u/luke2611 • 1d ago
What the heck just went over Nottinghamshire??
Did anyone else just hear a loud rumble going over Nottinghamshire in the night sky?
r/nottingham • u/Responsible-Cable972 • 18h ago
Moving to Nottingham
Hi all,
Myself and my partner are wanting to move to Nottingham.
We have found a few places we like but we have found a house we really like in Bakersfield, Nottingham does anyone know if it’s a nice area or rough?
Many thanks!
r/nottingham • u/sillyfudge1127 • 1d ago
I'm making an animated documentary about the cheese riot, but I was wondering if any locals can think of any other parts of Nottingham's history they think would be worth me taking a look at? Something more concretely documented than Robin Hood!
r/nottingham • u/Geggebeats • 1d ago
Anyone looking for parties in Nottingham?
Love music? Into Caribbean, African, Latin, or Brazilian vibes? This is the party you need to be at if you’re in Nottingham!
We’re bringing the heat with sounds from the Islands, Africa, Latin America, and Brazil good energy, good people, and serious tunes all night.
Spots are limited, so don’t sleep on this grab your ticket before it’s gone!
If you’re from Notts you know that Mimm studios is the spot for good music.
r/nottingham • u/Shadowtrapyt • 1d ago
Looking for a bass player (again)
Looking for a bass player! Again! Our bass player dropped out due to small issues. Sadly, so im back here looking for a new one.
Im the lead guitarist and vocalist for my band Nyctophobia and we really need a bassist!
Age range 15-17 (would take 18 if you just turned it)
Preferably male since its three dudes but females are fine. Hmu if you want details!
Genre: Grunge + metal
Inspirations: Nirvana, Bullet for my valentine, mayhem, iron maiden, system of a down, linkin park, re6ce, internet girl and a whole lot more!
Covers: Most of “Nevermind”, some “In Utero”, Ekkstacy, Re6ce, Foo fighters
Has to be in notts (duh, furthest Barnsley, closest derby)
r/nottingham • u/420Eski-Grim • 2d ago
Photos from around Highfields Park - Spring is well and truely out 🌸🌼
r/nottingham • u/CelebrationStriking2 • 1d ago
Sheesh kebabs ect
Does anyone know of a butchers that do fresh sheesh kebabs ect that just need cooking (not frozen ) I’ve tried the ones in business green today to no avail Thank you
r/nottingham • u/hm8g10 • 2d ago
Did you (or your partner) leave an expensive bag of cosmetics in the John Lewis toilets?
This morning I found a bag of cosmetics, purchased at around 11am, in the JL 3rd floor toilets. If if was you, or your partner, please message and I’ll tell you where to retrieve them!
r/nottingham • u/marc1lle • 1d ago
lost bracelet in hockley
hi guys! im a student heading home today and in the rush i believe i lost a bracelet made for me by a friend. its very special and id appreciate if you could look out for it if you’re anywhere on the route from sneiton to hockley to the train station via tram. its made up of blue beads and silver links, the biggest bead is a black ammonite fossil (it would be obvious if you saw it.) i won’t be back in town for a couple weeks but if you do find it pls send me a message :’) ignore the rash in the picture haha
r/nottingham • u/Ameliie2020iguess • 2d ago
Bobbo horses
Does anyone know the origin of the phrase bobbos for horses
r/nottingham • u/Blacksmoke1033 • 2d ago
Private Blood Tests
I’m requiring some blood tests and an MRSA screening before some surgery later this year, and I wondered if anyone had recommendations for a private clinic in Notts to get these done. I’m on the Pronto and 141 bus line so anywhere along here would be fantastic.
My surgery is private and London based, so my NHS GP seems unwilling to assist, and going to London for this is a bit of a trek.
I tried the search function and couldn’t find much! Thanks for any help in advance
r/nottingham • u/Apprehensive-Cress43 • 2d ago
Mangata Festival 2025 - Final Wave
Happening in Rescue Rooms, Red Rooms, Ghost, Liquid Library & Tap n Tumbler
r/nottingham • u/PythonRat_Chile • 2d ago
What can I do in Nottingham with a monthly allowance of 1,800 USD as a Ph.D. student during a 10-month internship?
Hello everyone,
I’m a Ph.D. student from South America, and I’ll be doing a 10-month internship at the University of Nottingham as part of my studies.
My total allowance for this period is 1,800 USD (around £1,400, depending on exchange rates). I’m worried this might not be enough to cover rent, utilities, transport, and food for the entire stay.
Does anyone have experience living in Nottingham on a tight budget?
- What are the average costs for student housing?
- Are there affordable grocery options or meal strategies you’d recommend?
- Any tips for saving on transportation or part-time work opportunities?
I’d really appreciate any advice or insights! Thank you in advance.
r/nottingham • u/Complex-Wave3514 • 2d ago
Coworking space near Beeston that has extra screens
Hello! Anybody know of a coworking space in or near Beeston that has extra monitors/screens that you can connect your laptop to and work Thank you!