Things to do in Nottingham?

[wigglybeezer]

For me, a middle aged woman who likes cultural things more than shopping.
DH and DS3 are going to Warhammer World, its like Mecca to them and they will happily spend two whole days in there. I decided to come with them and amuse myself going to museums etc but I have just discovered Nottingham castle is closed for restoration.
If there's a John Lewis I could probably spend a morning or afternoon in there browsing and choosing a new potato peeler very carefully but I need other suggestions including somewhere nice to go for lunch.
I am not a big shopper but do like a good craft shop or secondhand bookshop.
I would particularly welcome quirky or hidden gem type suggestions and would venture out of town as long as its on public transport (I'm from a very rural area and not confident about driving on unfamiliar busy road systems).

Love the Broadway cinema and surrounding area.

It's a short 10 min bus or car ride out of the centre but I really enjoy visiting Wollaton hall.

I would agree with most of the suggestions here. Debbie Bryan in the lace Market does some great crafty workshops. There is also the Cultural Quarter down in Sneinton Market that has a few independent artists studios & shops. Five Leaves is the independent bookshop of the year.
A day trip to Lincoln is easily done but be prepared to walk up a massive hill from the train station to the cathedral! It's also expensive to get in but you can do a double ticket with the castle & see the Magna Carta.
Southwell is just a bus ride away on the 100 that leaves up the hill from Brian Clough.
Malt Cross has recently reopened & is always lovely for a drink. There is a big cinema, crazy golf,bars & restaurant thing at the corner house as something to do in the evening, though the Savoy in Lenton is a bit old-fashioned & still has an interval & someone selling ice creams.
Hope you enjoy it

Ooh and I've also been to the caves under broadmarsh centre and galleries of justice, really enjoyed them

@sunshineandhappy love Bistro Pierre's for cheap but delicious food!

If you have a 14yo I'd definitely make a day-trip to Alton Towers if they're into that kind of thing. It's not too far away.

Is your 14yo a girl or a boy? What kind of things are they into?

Yes come to Lincoln and see our beautiful cathedral and castle 😊

If it's bakery you're after, Tough Mary's Bakehouse on Derby Road has the most amazing selection of baked goods you'll ever eat in Nottingham or anywhere else. I would even go as far as to say that their doughnuts are far superior to Doughnotts (which I also love!)

Mmm, Birds. I really miss their little fruit tarts. They make lovely pastry.

Is the polish American diner still going on derby road? They used to do the best breakfasts there.

I second (or third, not rtft) Wollaton Hall /Park.

Waves to all the Nottingham people on here

no hlep really as I am sure the last time I went into Nottingham, sneinton market was still a market. Roads have been built over, hockley was all deralict factories that one did not wander around, especially on your own and slab square had the fountains that were often spiked with washing up liquid to make foam parties!

Oh I do love my city.

I've recently moved back to Nottingham after over 20 years, enjoying getting to know it again. I'm still on a kind of honeymoon,, I think it is the perfect city. I was briefly excited about the junk shop! DH was glad to see Anchor Surplus still going, but I don't suppose that would be the OP's style. Good to hear about the Malt Cross re-opening too.

I know Lincoln well too, you can certainly spend a lovely day there once you have made your way up the hill.

Come over to MN local people, it all seems to be about schools in West Bridgford.

Second the recommendation for Sexy mama loves spaghetti' or Edins which is now sexy mama loves chichetti or something!

Hopkinsons is the Fabulous junk shop near the train station and the galleries of justice are worth a look.

If you can be arsed, visit Cropwell Bishop or Colston Basset to sample the stiltons, they are near a town called Bingham which is on the Lincoln train line and... If you get to Lincoln and you really should, visit the Cheese Society. Cheese heaven! Cheese pic and mix, cheese meals. Drool.

If you want nice chocolates then Chocolate Utopia is worth a look - Friar Lane, local family business. I think they have a small coffee shop attached.

The university campus is also very pretty, with a nice boating lake you can take a meander round. Wollaton Hall is also very nice, as has been mentioned already. And if you've got a bit of time there is always Sherwood Forest - though if memory serves it's not the easiest place to get to out of season without a car. When I lived there it was long before the trams - might be fun to take a ride on one of them or there are various tours that I'm sure the tourist office could help you with. One of our favourite pastimes as students was just to park ourselves in Old Market Square by the lions and watch the world go by.

Nottingham was better known for D.H. Lawrence (Bestwood was where he grew up), lace, textiles and engineering than food, in general - if you're into historic buildings though there's always Nottingham Castle and the statue of Robin Hood (don't expect medieval though!), Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem and the Salutation Inn, both of which claim to be very old indeed...have a good time, whatever you decide.

Oh almost forgot! If you like Korean, Saranchai on the outside of the city centre is a fab authentic experience.

My son is at Nottingham Uni so I'm liking the food suggestions on here for when we go and visit.

Have heard v good things about Sexy Mama from dd1.

(DH Lawrence was Eastwood not Bestwood - I should know as I grow up in Bestwood and it’s a massive 1950s council estate ).

😂😂
I grew up in Eastwood and you're right - definitely DH Lawrence country.
Although the birthplace museum is a tiny terraced house, it's quite interesting if you like that sort of thing and the whole area has some magnificent walks. And is a five minute drive from IKEA

Lived in Southwell a couple of years back and is a really nice place to visit but is a hour bus journey away from the city centre, you used to be able to get a day rider for two for like £6 which could be used around Nottingham up till the last bus at night.

Also waving to fellow Nottingham dwellers Perhaps we should arrange a meet up?!

No way am I going on MN local - can't cope with the horror about the bit of town I live in (and no it's not the usual suspects like the Meadows or St Ann's either)!

Framework knitters museum in Ruddington is lovely, cup of tea and cake at Filos afterward.
Also completely recommend the tram Park and Rides, really cheap, the trams are lovely and parking in Nottingham city centre is a nightmare since they knocked the Broadmarsh carpark down