Things To Do In Nottingham With The Kids

Categories
  • Family guides
Length
3 min read
Old Market Square in Nottingham during the summer.
Author
Roomzzz

Nottingham should definitely be on your family getaway list. The city is jam-packed with fun things to do with the kids, whether you’re outdoorsy types, animal lovers or a bunch of history geeks (which is totally cool by the way!).

Plant yourselves in the centre of the city at our Nottingham aparthotel and check out our top family days out in the area.


EXPLORE WOLLATON HALL AND PARK 

500 acres of parkland, museums galore, over 200 deer, an awesome adventure play area – Wollaton Hall has got it all. Don’t tell the rest but it’s our absolute favourite family day out in Nottingham! And it’s only a quick 13-minute car journey from Roomzzz Nottingham.

The grand, Grade I listed Elizabethan mansion houses a whopping natural history collection, in fact it’s the largest in the country. Also check out the fantastic programme of open-air theatre performances in the splendid grounds surrounding the house. 

Outdoors keep your eyes peeled for The Lake – the perfect place to walk around and look out for local wildlife. The birds spotted in this area include jay, nuthatch, sparrowhawk and even ring-necked parakeets. Or pick up a family trail from any of the shops around the site or have a bash at geocaching by downloading an app.

Where: Wollaton Park, Wollaton, Nottingham, NG8 2AE

Suitable for: all ages 

 

PET ANIMALS AT WHITE POST FARM 

White Post Farm is the king of all farm experiences – the place is huge! You’ll easily be able to spend a whole day here with your clan of mini animal lovers. See highland cows, pygmy goats, wallabies, pigs, reindeer, llamas and all sorts of other farm animals up close and personal. Don’t forget to take lots of pictures of your cute little fav animals waiting for you to say hello!

There’re loads of chances to get hands on: meet alpacas, take them for a stroll around the farm and give them a tasty treat or head to the farm to meet, hold and cuddle with some of the cutest animals including; rabbits, meerkats, goats & sheep. Make enrichment or prepare the animals some yummy veggies (they love it, trust us).  And if the kids are after an adventure with the ponies Holly and Charlie, we’d recommend booking in advance because they’re really popular.

But it’s not just about the animals at White Post Farm, the play barns and outdoor activities get 10/10 from us. No matter if you are 9 or 49, you can have a great day out at the farm by becoming an actual farmer for a day. Sounds fun, right? A member of staff will help you with all the activities including, collecting eggs from the hens, cleaning out the baby goats, bathing the tortoises and feeding the reptiles. Not to forget, you will also be given yummy snacks, drinks and a scrumptious lunch (because the farmer definitely needs to fuel up).

Where: White Post Farm, Mansfield Road, Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire, NG22 8HL

Suitable for: Under 12s 

 

TOUR THE CITY OF CAVES 

It would be downright wrong to visit Nottingham without having a nosey at the city’s famous caves. Get ready to don a hard hat and delve into the fascinating history of Nottingham’s hidden world with your little history buffs. Be warned: book in advance so you don’t miss out! 

There are 800 man-made caves and counting, dating back to the dark ages, all carved out of the sandstone beneath the streets of the city. Explore some of the caves and a world beyond imagination for yourselves on a 45 minutes Caves tour. It’s cold, it’s dark but it’s really cool down there.

Find out about people who have lived and worked in the caves over the past thousand years, see a mediaeval underground tannery and an air raid shelter from WWII. This is nothing like your usual guided tour – the guides are funny, informative and really bring the stories of the caves to life. Here’s news now: You can also rent a place inside the caves to spend the night in the darkness of the City of Caves? At night, the caves are not for the faint-hearted. So beware! 

Where: Garner’s Hill, Nottingham, NG1 1HF (bottom of the steps next to Nottingham Contemporary)

Suitable for: age 7 and over 

 

DISCOVER THE ATTENBOROUGH NATURE RESERVE 

Go wild with the whole family in 360 acres at this extraordinarily stunning nature reserve. The huge lakes, reed beds and grasslands are just teaming with wildlife. Bring your sense of adventure and a sharp pair of eyes (or you could just bring some binoculars).

This Nottinghamshire haven is best known for its birds but throughout the year you’ll also find butterflies, Kingfishers, sand martins, otters, moths, bats, and so much more. 

You might want to start twitching (that’s another word for bird watching – look we’ve even learnt the lingo!) in the bird hides and joins in with school holiday activities. The whole thing is free entry with a suggested donation for car parking.

Where: Barton Lane, Attenborough, Nottingham, NG9 6DY

Suitable for: all ages (bring a pushchair for little legs) 

 

STEP BACK IN TIME AT THE NATIONAL JUSTICE MUSEUM 

If your kids are into their Horrible Histories then the National Justice Museum is bound to be a hit. The museum is set in Nottingham’s historic courthouse and gaol, complete with original courtrooms, dungeons and prison cells which all add to the atmosphere. 

Who knew justice through time could make for such a fun day out with the family? Stand on the steps where public executions were held, get involved in a live trial, take a selfie with the costumed characters and get hands on with loads of interactive exhibits as you find out about crime and punishment through the ages.

Oh, and did we mention about their unique curriculum-linked learning programmes for children and young people? Well they offer true-to-life workshops in real courtroom settings in a way learners will never forget. This place is definitely not your standard museum!

Where: High Pavement, Nottingham, NG1 1HN

Suitable for: age 5 and over 

 

GO ON A GO APE SHERWOOD ADVENTURE

Have you ever been to Nottingham if you haven’t visited Sherwood Forest? There’s a whole load of trees and a forest full of folklore waiting for you. Lace up your walking boots and spend a day exploring Robin Hood’s legendary home.

If you love to go off-road, hop into one of their all-terrain Forest Segways and explore the varied terrain and beautiful woodlands of Sherwood Pines Forest.

Freestyle your way through the dramatic woodland (getting lost is guaranteed to entertain the kids) or simply set ahead for a ‘treetop’ challenge to experience the exhilarating fun in the trees with crossings, Tarzan swings, and epic zip wires across five different sites. The best bit about this place? Sherwood Pines has everything for all age groups. It’s safe, it’s adventurous and it’s definitely exciting. 

Where: NG21 9JH

Suitable for: age 5 and over 

 

Interested in trying out these exciting spots in Nottingham? Why not make a weekend of it and stay over at Roomzzz Aparthotels. Book your stay today and make Roomzzz Nottingham your home away from home.

Ready for an action-packed family break in Robin Hood’s home town?

Find out more about Roomzzz Nottingham

here

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