6 unusual and fun things to do in Nottingham

It’s been a long week for everyone and now more than ever, we need fun ideas to keep ourselves, our families and our kids entertained. The weather looks set to be a scorching 22 to 24 degrees for the next few weeks so we thought we would list some ideas for inside, outside and in the shade.

Some of the ideas on the list need to be booked in advance but you can also turn up to many of the others.

1 - Spend time with meerkats

The middle of the city centre is not the place you would expect to find cows, horses or sheep but if you venture into Sneinton, there they are. Stonebridge Farm is just the dopamine hit the doctor ordered as you can spend time petting some of the animals and feeding others.

It’s a lovely way to spend an afternoon and perfect for small children who enjoy the animals and exploring the gardens. It’s a short walk to the windmill too if you fancy making a day of it.

2 - Have food on a river

Colwick Park is a great spot in the sun where you can bring a picnic or go wild swimming. However, there are also boats which run cruises up and down the river. It’s not just about Colwick Park though as there are different options from rowing to canal boats. Trent River Cruises Ltd are the owners of The Trent Lady and The Nottingham Crusader Riverboats, which operate on the River Trent.

You can book sightseeing cruises, afternoon tea cruises, murder mystery cruises, disco cruises, hen packages and educational cruises. Pre-booking is essential but there are non-profit options for registered charities, nursing and residential homes, disabled groups and youth groups.

3 - Have a cocktail in a cave

Many pubs in the city centre have their caves underneath however some are not open to the public. The most recent one to open is underneath the Whistle and Flute on Derby Road. The pub opened in 2022 and has become a popular spot to stop in if you are walking up that hill.

The pub also runs events down in the caves so its worth a Google to see what might be on when you plan on visiting.

4 - Find the best street art in the city

Nottingham has some fantastic streets which you can view for free but you need to know where to go. There are murals from Nottingham train station canal end to Beeston which are lovely and colourful. Street art can also be found in Sneinton Market near the Aberdeen Car Park near the flats.

There are boards on Lower Parliament Street which are also covered with murals and designs from some of the best artists in the city. You can also find cartoons from Kid 30 on different streets including a giant character in the Lace Market. Sneinton Market also has a selection of pieces on the walls.

5 - Go on a guided history tour

There are many different guided tours across the city depending on what your interests are but the historical ones are a great way to learn about the city. The Nottingham Women’s History Group are running different talks over July and August including one on women’s suffrage in Nottingham and another led by historian Mo Cooper on Nuns, Nurses and notables.

You can also find walks on the architecture of Watson Fothergill, the city’s most famous architect and others on activism in Nottingham. Each walk is either individually priced or pay as you like and some may also be cash only.

6 - Line Dancing

If you are of an age then you might remember when line dancing became really popular in the 90s. There was weirdly a time when it was the ‘in thing’ to attend and classes were everywhere. Active Nottingham has kept this spirit alive by offering line dancing classes at some of the venues across the city.

It’s worth a google to find out what the nearest location to you might be but if you like to dance, it could be a fun new style to try. At the very least, its a story to share over a pint.