Nottingham's top visitor attractions

The colourful history of Nottingham is proudly on display wherever you travel in this East Midlands city, from medieval ruins to sites celebrating Nottingham's industrial heritage. Whatever your age or interests, you're sure to find something that appeals in this multi-faceted city, which mixes historical intrigue with great shopping and a lively nightlife.

Nottingham Castle is the city's most visited tourist attraction; though in reality the site is mostly occupied by the 17th century Ducal Mansion, as the original medieval castle has long since been destroyed. This significant landmark is open to visitors every day of the week except Monday and features an impressive museum and art gallery. Other museums include the Brewhouse Yard Museum, which incorporates an urban cave, the scenic Canal Museum and the Durban House Heritage Centre, which can be considered a must for literature lovers.

Nearby Sherwood Forest is another enduringly popular visitor destination, thanks to the timeless appeal of the folk stories concerning Nottingham's most famous resident - the fictional Robin Hood. Around 400,000 people visit the forest every year, which also hosts the popular Robin Hood Festival for several days each August. The festival is free to attend, and the forest is free to roam at all times of the year, so you won't have to worry about breaking the bank on your Nottingham city break.

You can explore more of Nottingham's heritage by relaxing with a drink or a traditional pub lunch in Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, which claims to be the oldest public house in Britain and offers a wide range of real ales. Just walking around Nottingham city centre can be an experience in itself, with many fine examples of architecture from different periods - even your hotel Nottingham could be a significant historical building.

Nottingham isn't only about history though, and many people are drawn to this modern city for its shopping opportunities. There are two major retail centres - Broadmarsh and Victoria Shopping Centres - which feature all the established outlets you'd expect in a major city, while the Exchange Arcade and quirky Hockley Village are the places to go if you're looking for one-of-a-kind boutiques and independent shops.

Your trip to Nottingham doesn't have to be restricted to the city limits either, especially with the natural beauty and outdoor activities of the Creswell Crags being less than an hour's drive away, including limestone caves and prehistoric rock art.