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).

Trains are reliable between Nottingham and Lincoln. Cathedral is a ten/fifteen min walk from the train station at lincoln, up a very steep hill! Castle is opposite the cathedral as well but I think the cathedral is far better for a mooch round.

Take a walk up to the castle anyway, you may be able to walk around the grounds and if not take a walk down into The Park.

It’s not an actual park, it’s a private residential estate that’s built in a hidden little valley. It’s like another world hidden away from Nottingham city centre, the streets are still lit by gas lamp light which is lovely at dusk and the houses are generally all individual (built by the wealthy industrialists in the 1800s) abd really interesting to look at.

End of the outskirts we live in are hardly salubrious!!

Another away day to suggest is Newark. Look for the musket balls on the church from the Civil War I know, I know I am officially sad 😃

Damn. Musket ball holes

Adaline, you missed the bit about Warhammer World, the 14 year old is fully catered for, it's me that's having to amuse myself, in fact this is good training, after years of entertaining three boys I'm having to get back into entertaining myself!

DH has an old schoolfriend who lives in West Bridgeford, well be going round to see their new house one evening but as they have much younger kids and it's a school night I don't think we'll be going out in the area.

Wollaton Hall definitely worth a wander, nice grounds and loads of crazy taxidermy inside! Not far at all from town either and the deer will probably be roaming about. Agree with all other suggestions about Notts Contemporary, Broadway Cinema and general Hockley/Lace Market mooch. Cute independent shops in Cobden Chambers. Bar Iberico does amazing tapas (also Hockley main bit). Can also walk 5 mins down through Hockley, away from town to Sneinton Market (permant fixed shops etc rather than outside market). Really been regenerated and interesting stuff, a micro brewery, crafts etc and nice cafe called Blend which does the best toasties ever.

Not quite as beautiful/uber cool and stylish as Copenhagen but I guess I live there and it's definitely had a bit of a renaissance.

Loads of great bars that do live music if you want stuff in eve too?

Yes, well Copenhagen was lovely but everything was really expensive and everyone seemed to buy their clothes from the same shop!

Eek Puppy and Pillows - thank you, yes, Lawrence is Eastwood not Bestwood....(and we had to study him for A level - oh no, my memory is going already!!)

University of Nottingham grounds are beautiful to walk around. (I’ve jist started there as Undergrad ) There’s also a boating lake there, and the Lakeside Arts Centre.

In the city - The Arboretum is a beautiful park. A little further down Goose Fair will be on the Forest Rec.

Donotts, 200 Degrees, Annie’s Burger Shack, Oliver and Rosie’s (pizza) Pitcher and Piano, Malt Cross.

Goose Fair won't be there on the 8th. It runs this coming Wednesday till the weekend.

Agree Uni of Nottingham park is beautiful and peaceful.

I'm not bothered about scenery and nice walks, I live in a bit of Scotland where tourists come to see the scenery, what we don't have a lot of out in the sticks is nice pubs and quirky shops. I'm a very patriotic Scot but I will admit that it's much harder to find a really nice village pub in Scotland than England.

The trip to Jerusalem is built into caves and had a cursed model boat in it.

I love The Tokenhouse and Hockey and a trip to Southwell would be worth doing - huge Minster there and the houses are like something out of a Jane Austen novel, beautiful place. I was a student in Nottingham years ago and absolutely loved it.

Hockley not Hockey.