Nottingham
Welcome to Nottingham, a vibrant friendly city – where the past and present harmonise perfectly to create a unique destination, offering something for everyone.
A Legendary Past
Nottingham has a colourful past of legend and lace and caves and castles. Beneath the bustling city streets is a unique labyrinth of man made caves, over 400 in total. The Caves of Nottingham is your chance to explore some of them including the tannery, air raid shelter and Victorian slum. Above the ground, Nottingham castle stands high on the city skyline. The original castle was burned down in the English civil War leaving only the medieval gatehouse. The fine ducal mansion that was built in its place has exhibitions which bring its turbulent history to life and is also an acclaimed museum and art gallery today for contemporary works. Below Castle Rock, the Brewhouse Yard Museum offers another chance to trace Nottingham life through the ages. A short walk across the city brings you to the splendid Shire Hall, home to the Galleries of Justice. This journey through time gives you a chance to discover everything about justice in England through the ages, from the Victorian courtroom and county gaol to today’s crime scene investigations.
Nottingham’s industrial heritage is founded on lace. Nottingham led the way pioneering the great lace making machines that took its production from the cottages to the factories. Its fascinating story is told at the Museum of Nottingham Lace. It is located in what was the hub of the world’s 19th century lace industry an area still known today as the Lace Market. One of Nottingham’s oldest buildings, the Severns building, is home to the Lace Centre, the perfect place to buy your lace souvenirs. The Museum of costume and textiles also pays testament to the changing face of fashion and the textile industry over the centuries which has and still does play a big part in city life.
As well as Robin Hood, Byron and Lawrence, other famous figures that have helped shape our heritage are William Booth, founder of the Salvation army who had his home in Sneinton on the city outskirts and George Green the eminent mathematician. He is remembered at Green’s Mill in Sneinton, which he once owned and which is still a working windmill and Science Centre.
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