24 Hours in Nottingham - what to do?

[LocalEditorNottingham]

Nottingham is going to be the subject of a ‘24 hours in…’ feature on Mumsnet’s homepage in mid-March.

We’d love you to help us identify some of the best places to go and things to do, with children and without. You may even be quoted

Topics we're considering:

Things to do outdoors / indoors

Hidden gems

Free entertainment

Places to shop

Eating out with children

Child-free night out

Attractions worth visiting further afield

We want to stay, where to live?

Here are a couple of examples of recent ‘24 hours in…’ features, if inspiration is needed, or the competitive spirit moves you!
24 Hours in Southampton
24 Hours in Birmingham

Thanks in advance for your thoughts

Via Twitter:

Sara ?@theblackcatsays

@MNetNottingham go to @LostCityNotts such a laugh!!

For a walk outdoors Attenborough Nature Reserve must be worth a mention - it was rated as being amongst the best places to see wildlife in the world a few years ago! The cafe's pretty good too, very family friendly.

On child-friendly cafes, we like the one at Nottingham Contemporary. Their family workshops are great too - really creative and welcoming to children of all ages.

Woodborough park is good for walks and picnics when the weather is nice

Newstead abbey is quite a nice day out. Lots of stuff to look at, information about lord byron and beautiful grounds to walk around.

The castle is great and if you're a Nottingham resident it's either free or about £2 entry (can't remember which) lots of activities for kids and they do battle re enactments and plays in the summer time.

Nottingham is a fantastic city, we're certainly not often stuck for something to do it has to be said.

Parks: small children: West Bridgford Park, fenced off, sandpit, it is not as good as it was before they updated it though.

Older children: Rushcliffe country park. it still has the look of being recently planted in the park.

Museums: the museum at Nottingham University (Highfields) is good for time line of prehistory to medieval. It has a few activities for children, adjacent to a play park and a walk around the lake.

It would be interesting to find out about other parks.

The events at Nottingham contemporary are great with small children for entertainment and making things. We have had pictures put on the walls. They often have events mirroring the main displays / style.

We love to visit Wollaton park and run down the hill to visit the ducks. The hall Museum is ok but somewhat dated and neglected now.

The woodland instruments at Rushcliffe Country Park are great fun and can be combined with a ride or walk.

The Broadway cinema is a great way to enjoy a child-free night out. The Braodway is an arts house cinema and offers a range of films from around the world. The building has been renovated in the last few years and is also a great place to eat and drink, with or without a film.

Splendour is an annual day music festival. It's very child friendly - kids under 12 are free and held in the beautiful Woolaton park. The Specials are headlining this year on July 18th, city residents get a discount with their citycards.

Rufford Abbey Park is further afield and has a lovely sculpture trail, ruined abbey, children's play village that resembles teletubby land, lake with ducks, lots of walks and a ford you can drive over which my kids love.

Holme Pierrepont National Watersports Centre is a nice free place to visit. There's always canoeing to watch on the white water sections, canal boats at the lock, sail boats on the river, walk around the big lake, try the new (you pay for this) highropes climbing attraction,visit the cafe or walk along the Trent to The Hook park at Ladybay with its 2 playgrounds and skatepark.

we like Just The Tonic comedy club for a child free night out, we've seen big names like Ed Byrne for very reasonable prices and a great atmosphere.

My hidden gem is Greens Mill in Sneinton. A working windmill that's a free museum near the city centre, you can buy the flour, climb the windmill stairs and visit the small hands on science museum. There's also a little playground in the surrounding park and guinea pigs in the garden. They do activity days that they charge for like craft or baking.

Hello All,

The article is now up on the Homepage www.mumsnet.com/

Thanks so much for your input. defineme is quoted (a bit paraphrased by HQ's editing elves), along with a few people from my parallel thread on the national board, here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2322156-Best-things-to-do-in-Nottingham

They got quite into cocktails. Must try to entice some of them over here. Cheers!