Nottingham Castle

Originally a Norman fortress and later a 17th-century ducal palace, Nottingham Castle reopened in 2021 after a major restoration. The Castle Museum & Art Gallery, set in the Ducal Palace on the castle rock, combines fine art with the Robin Hood Adventures, the Mercian Regiment Museum, a lace gallery and an adventure playground. The landscaped Castle Grounds offer terraces with sweeping views over the city, timber play structures and the famous Robin Hood statue just outside the gates. For the castle's deeper story, the optional cave tour descends through the medieval tunnels beneath the rock, including the legendary Mortimer's Hole — the passage said to have been used in 1330 when Edward III's men crept up to seize Roger Mortimer. Set five minutes from Old Market Square, it suits history buffs, families and first-time visitors who want the city's flagship landmark in one go. Admission is ticketed (it works as an annual pass) and there is no on-site parking.

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