Culture of Nottingham. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

The main landmark and tourist attraction of the city is known far beyond its boundaries. This is the Nottingham Castle. This massive fortifying construction aged hundreds of years is reequipped now in a museum and keeps an inestimable collection of historical artifacts. In front of the gates of the castle tourists will discover a monument of the famous literary hero – Robin Hood. The fans of the Robin Hood ballads should necessarily visit a vast park zone in the suburbs of the city near the Edwinstowe village.

This park is considered to be a command center for Robin Hood. The territory of the park locates a significant natural landmark being an oak which age is about a thousand years. The same significant landmark is a house owned by Lord Byron named the Newstead Abbey. The house is free for tourist visiting. It presents a collection of unique items of life and creative work of the poet.

His tomb is set not far from the ancient church named Hucknall. The place is also visited by hundreds of people. The city of Nottingham has preserved several majestic palaces and mansions. A remarkable landmark of the Renaissance epoch is a castle named Wollaton Hall. Its building was finished as far back as in 1580. Nowadays the majestic castle is reequipped into the Nottingham Natural History Museum. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

After the exploration of the showpieces of the museum, visitors are offered to walk through a scenic parkland surrounding the castle. Nottingham features several remarkable medieval building, among which city guests will find interesting the Church of St. Barnabas. The church was established in the second half of the 19th century and its building is executed in best traditions of Gothic architectural style. A beautiful landmark of the Medieval epoch is the St Mary the Virgin Church.

The Nottingham Council House is considered to be a building of a later period. It was built in 1929. The height of the cupola of the council house is 61m. In close vicinity to the council house tourists will find the Old Market Square which is an established place of holding different public events and festivals. The square is as well an impressive landmark of the city stunning the tourists with its grandness and majesty and being the largest square of the country. Among other landmarks of the city which are worth visiting, tourists will find the Rufford Abbey established in 1147. In the course of long history the building changed its purpose for several times and witnessed the brightest and most significant historical events.

Another place in Nottingham bears the name of the famous archer - namely, The Robin Hood Experience, where you can learn all about the life of Robin of Loxley. Among the museum's exhibits are historic costumes, scenes of that time with characters from legends, weapons (including bows), and armors. The museum is especially liked by the youngest tourists, for whom various activities are often organized here. Other interesting cultural institutions include the National Justice Museum that introduces tourists to the British justice system. It is worth noting that this is one of the best museums of this kind in the world, and not least thanks to its huge collection of exhibits and a mock trial.

Tourists visiting the Nottingham Industrial Museum will find out a lot of new and interesting information about Nottingham's textile and mining industries, as well as engineering technologies and telecommunications. The cultural institution is based in a stable of the already mentioned Wollaton Hall. Nottingham was a major industrial framework knitting center for a long time, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that it has a museum to this craft and its role in the industry of the whole world - this is the Framework Knitters' Museum. The museum’s collection has many products created by craftswomen, including Queen Victoria’s stockings. For fans of mystical stories, it's worth mentioning The Haunted Museum.

To get acquainted with Nottingham's beer production (another craft the city is famous for) head to the Brewhouse Yard Museum, which is part of the Museum of Nottingham Life. Once there were about twenty residential buildings here. Today, they are all reconstructed and occupied by shops and galleries. The museum demonstrates the life of the local residents' ancestors and houses a great pub decorated in the style of a cave. By the way, Nottingham is also known for its network of caves known as the City of Caves. They connect different areas of the city, and at the top level of Broadmarsh Mall, you can find a way in. Most of them were formed in the Middle Ages. During the Second World War, bomb shelters were located here.

Nottingham also has a good place for connoisseurs of contemporary art - the Nottingham Contemporary Art Gallery. Of equal interest is Green's Windmill, a restored windmill of the early 19th century. It operated until the 1860s, and from 1919 it was for a long time owned by Oliver Hind who used it for boot manufacture. The mill fell into decay after a 1947 fire. Nobody cared about it for a long time, until it was restored at the expense of the city council in the 80s of the 20th century. Today, the mill houses a small research center and a museum telling the history of Nottingham's industry and life. Learn more about the city’s coal industry in the Bestwood Winding Engine House.

Built at the beginning of the 16th century, Holme Pierrepont Hall is another attraction worthy of being included in any sightseeing route. This is a family estate of the Pierreponts who became the Dukes of Kingston-upon-Hull in 1715. During the First and Second World Wars, the estate was used for military purposes, Sherwood archers were trained here. After the wars, the estate became residential again and underwent renovation in 1968 Today, the estate is open to the public for several days in February and March. For the rest of the time, it hosts events such as weddings, corporate parties, photoshoots.

Another tourist attraction is Motorpoint Arena built in 1993 and expanded in 2011. This is the largest concert venue that has seen big-name celebrities such as Elton John, Lady Gaga, Ed Sheeran, Iron Maiden. It also holds sports competitions and children's shows, so be sure to check out if any events of interest take place during your stay in Nottingham. It is also worth following the upcoming events at the Nottingham Playhouse and the Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall where excellent performances are staged.