Nottingham Travel Essentials

• Nottingham has a temperate oceanic climate with mild summers and clement to chilly winters. Average temperatures range between 4°C in winter and 17°C in summer.
• Nottingham is a wet city with rainy days equally spread throughout the year. On average, it rains around 10 days per month.
• The warmest time of the year is from mid-June to mid-September. The peak tourist season is during the July-August school vacations. The warm weather is perfect for exploring outdoor attractions and attending the many festivals held during summer.
• The best times to visit Nottingham are in spring (May–mid-June) and autumn (late September–October). Hotels usually have lower rates, and the weather is mostly mild and pleasant. You’ll also avoid the summer crowds.

• Plug type: G
• Electricity: 220 - 240 V
• Currency: Pound Sterling (£)
• International dialing code: +44 (0)115
• Emergency telephone number: 999

The closest international airport to Nottingham is East Midlands Airport (EMA) in Leicestershire, between Loughborough, Derby, and Nottingham. The airport is 15 miles from the city centre, and it takes 25 minutes to get there.

If you’re already in England, you can also get to Nottingham by train. It takes about 2 and a half hours to get to Nottingham from St Pancras station in London, and the ride through the English countryside is pleasant.

If you’re on a budget, you can also get to Nottingham by motorcoach from anywhere on the UK mainland.

East Midlands Airport (EMA)

East Midlands Airport serves low-cost domestic and European flights. The airport has 1 runway and 1 terminal – home to convenient dining and shopping options.

Free Wi-Fi is available for up to 4 hours throughout the terminal, as well as currency exchange booths. Ground transportation options available are as follows:

• Arrow Automobile is the exclusive taxi cab company serving East Midlands Airport. From standard automobiles to limos to minibuses, they have the right vehicle for your needs. Your transfer can be pre-booked online and paid by credit card.
• Uber is also available at EMA.
• Skylink buses to Nottingham and many other destinations in the East Midlands leave every 20 minutes, 24/7, from EMA. The journey to Nottingham city centre takes around 45 minutes. It’s the cheapest transfer choice available.
• Major automobile rental agencies such as Avis, Hertz, and Sixt have a desk in the EMA terminal. It’s advisable to pre-book your vehicle online before getting there.

Nottingham Midland station

First built in 1848, then revamped in 1904, Nottingham Midland station is a beautiful Edwardian-Baroque-Revival-style building on Carrington Street, a short walk away from the city centre. Despite its age, the station features Wi-Fi and refreshment facilities.

As the main train station, Nottingham Midland is also a junction point on the city's streetcar network. From here, besides the streetcar, other ways for reaching your hotel include bus, taxi cab, and rideshare.

Nottingham motorcoach stations

National Express and Megabus are the 2 main motorcoach companies serving Nottingham. Traveling by intercity bus is the most affordable way to get to Nottingham from London. The journey takes 3 hours, depending on the traffic.

The primary motorcoach station is on the aptly named Station Street, a short distance from Nottingham Midlands railroad station. Streetcar, bus, taxi cab, and rideshare are the transportation options available to transfer you to your hotel.

Travel tips

Nottingham city centre covers an area of less than a square mile and is easily walkable. It's filled with landmarks and iconic buildings such as Nottingham Castle, Old Market Square, and the City of Caves, just to name a few. Downtown Nottingham is also home to a fantastic range of dining and shopping options, as well as cool bars for enjoying a nightcap.

Cycling is also a pleasant way to explore the city on brighter days. For longer distances, Nottingham Express Transit (NET) runs an extensive network of streetcars and Nottingham City Transportation (NCT) runs bus services that cover the entire county.

How does the streetcar work?

Nottingham Express Transit (NET) runs 2 streetcar lines featuring 50 stops across the city. There's one line that links Phoenix Park to Clifton via the City Center while the other links Hucknall to Chilwell via the City Center, QMC, and Beeston. Many stops connect with the NCT bus network. Streetcars usually run from 6 am to midnight.

Ticket machines are available at every streetcar stop. Single, day, and week tickets are available. If you plan to travel by streetcar a lot, you can also buy a Robin Hood Smartcard on the NET website. Note that the NET streetcars are wheelchair accessible.

Taking a taxi cab in Nottingham

DG Taxi cabs (+44 (0)115 960 7607), Trent Automobiles Nottingham (+44 (0)115 950 5050), and Arrow Automobiles Nottingham (+44 (0)115 956 5757) are just a few of the taxi cab companies you’ll find in Nottingham. You can hail a taxi cab on the street in Nottingham, and you can often find them lined in front of hotels, major attractions, and the train station.

Tipping isn’t expected in the UK, though you can give a tip of 10-15% of the fare if you’re happy with your driver’s service. DG, Arrow, and other major taxi cab companies have apps you can download on your phone with which you can pay for the fare.

Uber is available in Nottingham.

Traveling by bus

Run by the municipality, Nottingham City Transportation (NCT) runs an extensive bus system that covers the entire city and a few neighboring towns.

You can buy a ticket on the bus with cash or contactless card. Even so, it’s recommended to pay for your trips in advance with an Easyrider Smartcard or to install the NCTX Buses app to help you save money. Buying a Robin Hood Smartcard is also a desirable choice as it allows you to use both the streetcar and bus networks without needing separate payment methods.

Renting a automobile in Nottingham

Renting a automobile is preferable if you plan to go outside the city and explore Nottinghamshire. Automobile rental companies are available at the airport and throughout Nottingham. Foreigners can use their country driving license for up to 12 months in the UK.

As for parking spaces, there are plenty across Nottingham with various price bands.

Cycling around Nottingham with CityCard Cycles

Nottingham aims at becoming a bike-friendly city. It hosts over 600 miles of countryside and urban cycle routes. You have different options to hire a bike in Nottingham, as follows:

• CityCard Cycles is the bike-sharing scheme run by the municipality. You can join the system by registering on their website. Once done, you’ll receive login and PIN details. You’ll then have to get to one of the 7 stations throughout the city and get yourself a bicycle.
• Russell's Bicycle Shed (+44 (0)115 986 2917), U-cycle (+44 (0)754 641 2573), and Rutland Cycling Nottingham (+44 (0)115 978 3876) are just a few of the shops at which you can hire bicycles in Nottingham.

Robin Hood Festival

• August
• Held since 1984, the Robin Hood Festival is a week-long celebration of the memory of a world-famous outlaw. It features live reenactments in costume, archery contest, swordfighting, storytelling, and more.
• Where: Sherwood Forest Country Park

Splendor Festival

• July
• One of the biggest live music events held in Nottingham since 2008, with over 40 performances on 5 stages in a day. The Pogues, Bananarama, UB40, and many other world-famous bands have performed.
• Where: Wollaton Hall and Deer Park

Heritage Open Days

• September
• One of England’s largest festivals of architecture, history, and culture. Visit historical landmarks for free and join guided tours of hidden places, and attend cultural events organized by volunteers.
• Where: Throughout Nottingham

Nottingham Castle

The building still known as Nottingham Castle is a ducal manor house instead of a strategic fortification. Demolished and rebuilt several times throughout its long history, it is now a museum and art gallery.

Wayne Manor at Wollaton Hall

A natural history and industrial museum that stood in as Wayne Manor in The Dark Knight Rises (2012). The Elizabethan manor is west of Nottingham city centre.

Newstead Abbey

The late home of Lord Byron and a former Augustinian priory found 9 miles from Nottingham city centre. Explore the 12th-century monastic abbey and visit the poet’s apartment and the well-preserved rooms and cloisters.

Sherwood Forest

Famously the hideout of Robin Hood and home to dozens of walking and cycling routes between the ancient oak, silver birch, and rowan trees. The forest is about 25 miles north of Nottingham.