Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Nottingham?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Nottingham?
Most visitors spend one to two days in Nottingham when visiting. The dynamic city offers so many things to see and explore, so you'll want to take full advantage of the limited time you have. Highlights include shopping, the museums and landmarks, the big city activities, and the food.
Nottingham is often overlooked by visitors to England, but those who venture here will be treated to an authentic and livable city that has a great food and shopping scene as well as plenty of culture and history. You can also check out England's oldest pub, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, while you're in town. Also make sure you check out a sporting event while you're in town.
Do you have one or two days to visit Nottingham? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Nottingham?
One day is generally not enough time to find the best deals at the shops, browse through museums, discover the big city activities, and taste delicious cuisine in Nottingham. A shorter schedule may leave you with a sense of urgency to enjoy popular activities such as shopping, the museums and landmarks, the big city activities, and the food. To genuinely appreciate the highlights of the dynamic city, a more lengthy visit is typically recommended. Many tourists opt for one to two days here. After all, Nottingham is popular with tourists and offers some fun sights and attractions. However, if you're working with limited time, we have some great ideas for making the most of your stay below.
How to spend a day in Nottingham
Shopping in Nottingham is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. Head to the Lace Market, which is a popular shopping area. You can also wander around the center of town on foot and head to the pedestrian streets that are often lined with independent shops or international chains.
You can't miss out on tasting the fantastic cuisine at one of the best restaurants in town, so make sure you find somewhere special for lunch or dinner. You'll find a diversity of restaurants around town that range from local fish and chips shops to international options. Pubs, cafes, and fine dining are all available in town.
Nottingham is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. It is trying to transform itself into a pedestrian-friendly city, and you'll find some areas that are particularly walkable. The city center is very compact and generally walkable.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Nottingham?
Nottingham, a medium-sized city offering numerous sights and attractions, is fairy popular with visitors. A weekend is just the right amount of time to see pretty much everything in Nottingham. Most visitors prefer to spend one to two days here, and we have a few suggestions of things to do while you're visiting. Also, Nottingham is popular with which enjoy visiting because the city offers activities specifically for them.
Nottingham, England
How to spend 2 days in Nottingham
If you have more than a weekend (two to three days) in Nottingham, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the city has to offer.
You'll find a few good museums and historic landmarks here, so it's worth your time to spend a day exploring a few of them. You'll find history and culture around town. Some of the notable landmarks include Wollaton Hall, the National Justice Museum, Nottingham Castle, and Old Market Square.
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. Head to the oldest pub in England, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, for a pint or check out one of the trendy clubs around town. The city is also a big sports town, so see if there are any sporting events going on while you're visiting.
The public transit in Nottingham is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. There are buses and trams around town that connect into the rail network. The multi-operator system is organized by the Robin Hood Network.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Nottingham, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.