Best things to do in Nottingham

Walk through the majestic Wollaton Hall and Park to see Elizabethan bedrooms, kitchens, wine cellars, stables, gardens, and servants' quarters. The grand mansion was built in the 1580s for Sir Francis Willoughby, a wealthy industrialist. Legend has it that Queen Elizabeth I snubbed Willoughby’s previous house, prompting him to charge architect Robert Smythson to construct a mansion so grandiose it would leave all future visitors, royal and commoner alike, absolutely speechless. Since opening to the public in 1926, the site has been home to the city’s natural history museum, with a collection of nearly 750,000 specimens of birds, insects, and plants. The mansion’s calendar is full of special events, guided tours, and family activities. Skip the long lines by booking online.

England's largest theme park, Alton Towers Resort rarely disappoints visitors of any age. If you want your adrenaline to flow, hop on the Smiler, the world's first 14-loop roller coaster. Let go of gravity and fly under footpaths and past trees and rocks on Air. Get wet on Congo River rapids and ride the runaway mine train. Let the special effects of the 4-D cinema dazzle you, and view over 300 species of fish, including sharks and rays, at Sharkbait Reef. Bring your bathing suit if you plan to visit the waterpark here. There are cartoon-themed attractions for little ones, and you can book a room at one of the on-site hotels if you wish to spend the night.

The Nottingham Industrial Museum is a volunteer-run museum situated in part of the 17th-century stables block of Wollaton Hall, located in a suburb of the city of Nottingham.

The museum won the Nottinghamshire Heritage Site of the Year Award 2012, a local accolade issued by Experience Nottinghamshire. The Museum collection closed in 2009 after Nottingham City Council withdrew funding, but has since reopened at weekends and bank holidays, helped by a £91,000 government grant, and run by volunteers. The museum contains a display of local textiles machinery, transport, telecommunications, mining and engineering technology. There is a display of cycles, motorcycles, and motor cars. There are examples of significant lace-making machinery. It also houses an operational beam engine, from the Basford, Nottingham pumping station.

A Wine School for the Nottingham and Derby region as part of the Local Wine Schools network. Bringing informal and fun wine tastings and also WSET qualifications.

At National Railway Museum, learn about the history of trains and their effect on British society. This engaging museum, which won the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001, houses 100 locomotives and almost 200 items of rolling stock that either ran on British rails or that British manufacturers produced. Wander through the massive halls and board all types of trains, from the opulent Royal Train to a futuristic Japanese bullet train. Observe engineers working at their craft in the workshop and take a ride on the miniature railway outside. Guides are available to give children a fun education on Britain's rail history.

In a country full of outstanding medieval fortresses, Warwick Castle is one of the most magnificent. Originally built by William the Conqueror in 1068, the castle today features imposing ramparts and towers looming over manicured green lawns and the Avon River. It also hosts a lively scene of historical interpreters reenacting medieval life. Check out the trebuchet, a giant catapult that interpreters have shot some 6,500 times since its introduction in 2005. Head down to the castle dungeon to meet a torturer, a judge, and the castle cook. Try to catch a free tour to learn about the defensive purposes of some of the castle's most prominent features. Exhibits and performances change constantly, so check the schedule before you visit. If you visit on a Saturday, consider staying into the evening for the extravagant Kingmaker's Medieval Banquet in the great hall.

York Minster is one of northern Europe's oldest, largest, and most magnificent cathedrals. Join a free tour that points out the building's renowned stained-glass windows, architectural details, and artifacts of its millennium-long existence. Wander through interactive galleries telling the cathedral's story. If you're in shape, climb 275 steps to the top of the 70 m (230 ft) tower. You'll pass medieval pinnacles and gothic gargoyles on your way, and earn sweeping panoramic views of the city and Yorkshire countryside as a reward for your effort. The cathedral also welcomes you to attend one of its regular services.