8 free fun days out around Nottingham
8 free fun days out around Nottingham
From beauty spots to heritage heroes, there's plenty to see and do here
Whether pennies are tight or you just want something new to do, knowing the free things to do in and around Nottingham is always handy.
The area has so many rich heritage and local beauty spots well worth exploring. We’ve rounded up a bunch of them, so you can still enjoy the best of the area without having to splash out.
8 fun free days out around Nottingham
1. Wollaton Hall and Park 📜🌳
Where: Wollaton Hall, Nottingham, NG8 2AE
Opening times: Hall 11am-4pm, park opens 8am weekdays and 9am weekends
Turns out you don’t need to be as rich as Bruce Wayne to head inside Wollaton Hall. The iconic home of Batman in The Dark Knight is actually home to Nottingham’s Natural History Museum, which has a collection of over 750,000 objects. With fossils, plants, minerals, and more, it makes for a fascinating day out. It also regularly hosts free artist exhibitions, too. Outside you can stroll around the grounds and potentially spot some deer. Parking is £5, but residents are encouraged to walk and cycle in.
Do if: You want to learn more about the natural world.
2. Nottingham Central Library 📚
Where: Carrington Street, Nottingham, NG1 7FH
Opening times: 9am-6pm most days except Wednesday (7pm), Saturday (4pm), then closed Sundays
Nottingham’s shiny new library is finally open and it’s a beautiful, breezy space to find your next favourite read. As well as having floors of books of all genres, it has a children’s library, immersive room, and exhibition space. The site regularly posts updates of clubs and events happening, so it’s worth keeping an eye on this for opportunities to get involved.
Do if: Walking around with the smell of books in the air is your idea of a good time.
3. Green’s Windmill 📜
Where: Windmill Lane, Nottingham, NG2 4QB
Opening times: 10am-4pm Wednesday-Sunday
It always amazes us that just a few minutes’ walk away from the city centre there’s a whole windmill. You can climb the inside of it and see how the flour is (still!) made, which you can purchase in the shop. There’s also a science centre on-site, filled with fun activities that celebrate the work of George Green — the mathematician whose work led to the invention of MRI machines.
Do if: You love Amsterdam… it’s as close as we can get here, alright?
4. New Art Exchange 🎨
Where: Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham, NG7 6BE
Opening times: 10am-4pm Tuesday-Saturday
Hyson Green has a treasure placed in the heart of it. The New Art Exchange aims to stimulate new perspectives on the importance of diversity in both art and society. It champions artists aiming to do this, from local creators right up to internationally acclaimed ones. You can also grab lunch at the plant-based food CaféBar, which hosts a Community Cafe on the third Thursday of every month where you pay what you can.
Do if: You’d like to broaden how you see art.
5. Nottingham Contemporary 🎨
Where: Weekday Cross, Nottingham, NG1 2GB
Opening times: 10am-6pm Tuesday-Saturday, Sunday 11am-5pm
One of the UK’s largest contemporary art galleries, this is all about collaborative art that aims to educate and inspire. Multiple different rooms house exhibitions, so you can move through different artists’ work and the accompanying atmospheres. On the lower ground floor is Blend at Contemporary, so if you do fancy a cosy coffee to fuel you up or to enjoy afterwards, you can get one.
Do if: You’re looking for a quiet, easy place to visit in the city.
6. The Harley Foundation 🎨📜
Where: Worksop, S80 3LW
Opening times: 10am-4pm Tuesday-Sunday
Having hosted jewel-like glass and monumental sculptures in the past, you can expect a host of marvellous works when visiting The Harley Gallery. It’s also perfect for little ones, with The Creative Space hosting free activities for children daily. As well as celebrating the new, you can also take a trip back in time with the Art Museum that features works from the likes of Van Dyck, Marcus Gheerhaets, and even Michelangelo (yes, really!).
Do if: You’re looking for a fascinating family day out.
7. Sherwood Forest 🌳
Where: Sherwood, NG21 9RN
Opening times: 10am-4.30pm winter, 5pm summer
Make like the Merry Men and wander through the vast grounds of Sherwood Forest. One of Nottingham’s most famous historic landmarks resides here, with the Major Oak still standing after over 1,000 years. This isn’t the only remarkable nature it has though — there is a myriad of funghi to find (but not touch) and hundreds of wildlife species to say hello to. It’s worth noting parking is £5, but the forest itself and the visitor centre are free to enter.
Do if: You’d like to stretch your legs in one of the country’s most well-known forests.
8. Stonebridge City Farm 🐮
Where: Stonebridge Road, Nottingham, NG3 2FR
Opening times: 10am-3:15pm
Every farm animal you can imagine resides at this fun attraction. In the paddocks you can meet cows, sheep, ponies, goats, and chickens, while inside the barn it takes care of rabbits, guinea pigs, and Kevin the 17-year-old tortoise. Meanwhile, the aviary hosts lots of little birds. It is free to visit to remain accessible, but it does encourage donations. There are over 150 volunteers who work there, with many having mental health challenges or learning disabilities.
Do if: You love meeting adorable animals (who doesn’t, right?).