7 lovely picnic spots in Nottingham from the city's oldest park to Batman's back garden

Nottingham boasts many beautiful outdoor spaces which would make the perfect backdrop for your next picnic.

There are countless picnic spots available at historical houses as well as some of the larger known country parks and recreational spaces.

As we edge closer to spring, it’s always good to have a few options ready for when you want to enjoy a picnic at a local beauty spot. Whether you’re a tourist to Nottingham or a local that wants to venture out of the busy town centre for some calm and beautiful views, there’s a green spot for you.

You may want to enjoy a romantic picnic date or take the children out for an active picnic, where they can play games and ride bikes after lunch. There are plenty of options to consider before choosing a location.

Here, we reveal seven of the best places to enjoy a scenic picnic in Nottingham.

1. The Arboretum

Where: Waverley St, Nottingham, NG7 4HF

The Arboretum is considered the oldest park in Nottingham, as it dates back to 1852. The green flag award-winning park can be found on the tram route north out of the city centre.

It is a calming escape from the hustle and bustle of the city centre and is lined with gorgeous floral displays, stunning trees and amazing architecture, which makes it an exceptional place to wind down and get some fresh air.

The Arboretum boasts beautiful green spaces and scenery that is ideal to host any picnic style. It also has its own lake with ducks and even an aviary with exotic birds.

2. Wollaton Hall, Gardens and Deer Park

Where: Wollaton Rd, Nottingham, NG8 2AE

Wollaton Hall, Gardens and Deer Park is the perfect place if you’re looking for a bigger green space to relax in, as it boasts an impressive five hundred acre ground.

With such a wide open space, the park gives visitors the opportunity to ride their bikes freely, see deer in real life and marvel at the stunning gardens.

Visitors with a keen eye will also recognise that the stunning Elizabethan country house in the park, Wollaton Hall, was used as Batman’s Wayne Manor in The Dark Knight films. The eye-catching site has become quite the tourist attraction since its appearance in Hollywood.

3. Highfields Park

Where: University Blvd, Lenton, Nottingham, NG7 2RD

Highfields Park is 121-acres of sprawling green space, close to the University of Nottingham campus. The park is known for its beautiful picturesque sights and is popular with students and locals alike, who are looking for a location where they can take insta-worthy snaps.

The park also boasts woodland areas, a mini-golf course, a boating lake, a rock garden and even its own waterfall.

Even if it’s last-minute, you can always grab some lunch, drinks or snacks from the park’s cafe and enjoy an impromptu picnic.

4. Rushcliffe Country Park

Where: Mere Way, Nottingham, NG11 6JS

Rushcliffe Country Park is an award-winning country park located just south of Ruddington, in Nottingham. This perfect picnic backdrop is not just a picturesque landscape, as there is so much to do during a visit to this park.

It has over eight kilometres of footpaths that weave through the park, making it very popular for its beautiful walking routes. The paths also host 5k and 10k park runs every Saturday morning at 9am.

The park takes pride in its wildlife and nature, focusing on its flora and fauna - such as the ladybird trail, conservation areas and the mini-forests for the kids.

It is also a firm favourite for dog walkers due to its open spaces and cruft-style dog activity trail.

5. Sherwood Pines

Where: Edwinstowe, Mansfield, Nottingham, NG21 9JL

Sherwood Pines is the largest forest open to the public in the East Midlands with over 3,300 acres to discover. It is known for being one of the best locations in Nottingham as it has great spaces for cycling as well as relaxing picnic spots.

Whether it’s on a blanket in the forest or one of the many picnic areas, Sherwood Pines is an ideal place to unwind and enjoy a bite to eat.

Take a partner or the whole family to work up an appetite with the walking and cycling trails or even the Go Ape activity course. Then devour your homemade picnic, head to the park’s cafe or even bring your own barbecue.

6. Woodthorpe Grange Park

Where: Woodthorpe Dr, Woodthorpe, Nottingham, NG5 4HA

Woodthorpe Grange Park is an impressive large green space that sits on the edge of Nottingham, and is home to a 19th century manor house, The Grange.

Surrounding The Grange is a mix of formal gardens, greenhouses, grassland and small woodland areas. The park serves as a beautiful spot for a picnic with its stunning scenery and calming atmosphere.

If you want to escape the everyday hustle and bustle of the city, then why not take a relaxing walk through the humid Tropical House, with its carp filled pond, banana trees and stunning birds of paradise.

7. Colwick Country Park

Where: End of, Racecourse Rd, Nottingham NG2 4BH

Colwick Country Park is known for effortlessly creating a fun family day out, with its vast open space serving as the best backdrop for bike rides, exploring on foot, and a big family picnic.

The park allows you to really explore, whether it’s through cycling, horse riding, fishing, or  wild water swimming. There is plenty to do and some fantastic opportunities to photograph the diverse variety of wildlife in the park, including butterflies, dragonflies and birds.

The children’s playground and activity adventure centre are an ideal way for the kids to work up an appetite before digging into a delicious family picnic or barbecue.