10 Ways to Save Money in Nottingham

Despite being one of England’s major cities, around 25% of Nottingham is covered by public parklands and green spaces, making it one of the UK’s greenest cities. Wollaton Hall, an Elizabethan country house, is surrounded by 511 acres of parkland and forest. Other popular parks include the Forest Recreation Ground, The Arboretum (Nottingham’s oldest park), and the Attenborough Nature Center.

Opened in 1966 by Sir David Attenborough himself, the Attenborough Nature Center covers about 145 hectares of wetland, grassland, scrub and lakes. There’s plenty of wildlife to be seen at the reserve, including over 250 species of birds. The nearest train station is called Attenborough, located about 15 minutes from the reserve by foot. Visit in winter to see diving ducks that flock to the ponds.

Nottingham is brimming with free museums where you can learn about the history, culture and arts of the city. At the Museum of Nottingham Life, you can learn about the social history of Nottingham over the past 300 years. If traveling with the kids, you might want to check out Green’s Windmill and Science Center, which has an interactive discovery center. Other popular museums include the National Justice Museum, Nottingham Industrial Museum and Nottingham Castle.

Located inside the 16th-century Wollaton Hall, the Nottingham Natural History Museum is an ideal place to learn about the city’s heritage. And, with over 750,000 objects in its collection, a visit to the Natural History Museum promises a full day of education and entertainment. Take the kids to watch deer in the surrounding parklands during your visit.

You don’t need to be religious to appreciate the architectural beauty of Nottingham’s historic churches and religious monuments. The 19th-century Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Clumber Park is a Grade I-listed building, constructed in the Gothic style. Nearby, you’ll find St. Peter’s Church, another building of outstanding architectural or historical interest.

One of the largest religious monuments in the city is Nottingham Cathedral, notable for its lancet architectural features. Head there on Wednesday or Sunday evening at about 6 pm to listen to the choir. If you’re more interested in a historic church with a little more grandeur, visit Southwell Minster, which was built during the 12th century in Romanesque and Gothic styles. A bus leaves Nottingham for Southwell every hour and takes around 40 minutes to arrive.

If you want to eat like a local in Nottingham and save a few pounds in the process, try the fish and chips at the Cod’s Scallop. This chippy has won many awards, including the National Fish & Chip Awards, for its high-quality food, innovative menu, sustainability, and ability to cater to special dietary requirements.

The Cod’s Scallop serves over 30 different types of fresh seafood, including salmon, dressed Cromer crab, oysters, lobsters and cockles. However, the traditional cod and chips cooked in beef dripping are well worth a try. If you’re a vegetarian, head to Cod’s Scallop on the first Monday of the month when free veggie specials come with your serving of chips.

The City of Caves is a network of over 500 sandstone caves that date back over 1,000 years. Over the centuries, these inner-city caves have been used as tanneries, public house cellars and air-raid shelters. They were originally homes for the poor until they were banned from being rented out in 1845. Today, you can explore most of the manmade caves for less than £10.

You’ll find the City of Caves at the bottom of the stairs by Nottingham Contemporary, which is a short walk from the Lace Market Streetcar Stop and Nottingham Railroad Station. To make your budget stretch further, consider buying a family ticket for around £25. If traveling solo, you can purchase a discounted ticket for both the City of Caves and the National Justice Museum for around £16.

Green’s Windmill sits on top of a hill in Sneinton, offering sweeping views of the city of Nottingham. The windmill was originally constructed in 1807 by George Green, one of the city’s foremost mathematicians of his era. Today, the windmill’s giant sails remain operational. And, with plenty of exhibitions, experiments and interactive displays inside, it’s an excellent place to take the kids for a day out.

Admission to the Museum and Science Center is free. If you want to stretch your budget as far as possible, consider packing a picnic to the windmill. You can reach Green’s Windmill on foot in under 15 minutes from the city. Alternately, bus number 43 stops at Windmill Lane, which is a stone’s throw away from this popular tourist attraction.

Nottingham is home to structures in a variety of architectural styles. Some of the city’s most picturesque buildings were designed by Watson Fothergill, whose influences include Gothic Revival and Old English vernacular. During the Victorian era, Fothergill designed over 100 buildings in Nottingham, many of which you can visit on foot without spending a penny.

The easiest way to see Fothergill’s creations is to download the GPSmyCity app, which takes you on a 2-hour, self-guided walking tour past 9 of Nottingham’s architectural gems. During the tour, you’ll see Adams Building (the largest structure in the Lace Market District), Nottingham Council House (the centerpiece of the city skyline), and The Express Offices, which combine medieval and Old English styles.

If you want to find the best bargains in Nottingham, you might want to avoid the large shopping malls and instead visit the city’s markets and automobile boot sales. Markets run every day in and around the city. For beauty products, computers, fabrics, flowers and clothing, head to the Victoria Center Markets, which open daily except on Sundays.

Sneinton Market, held every Monday and Saturday, is an ideal place to buy cheap baby clothes and fashion accessories. There’s also a vegan food market on the first Saturday of every month. If you fancy browsing a bit of everything, head to Colwick Automobile Boot Sale on Sunday, where you can browse over 200 stalls selling everything from bric-a-brac to hidden treasures.

Nottingham has an extensive public transportation network that includes streetcars, buses and trains. Besides traversing the city on foot, the Robin Hood Network is the most affordable way to get around the city. A streetcar ticket for a single journey can cost as little as £2. But if you want to travel beyond the city limits for a full day, you’re better off buying a day pass for less than £5.

The Robin Hood public transportation network covers the entire city and extends to neighboring destinations including Derby, Ripley, Leicester and Grantham. If you’re staying in Nottingham for a couple of weeks, consider grabbing a pay-as-you-go card, which allows you to top up your balance either online or by using streetside machines dotted around Nottinghamshire.

In Nottingham, you can enjoy a tipple in a sophisticated venue for a bargain if you choose your drinking time wisely. Better still, many happy hours last the entire evening or half the day. At Be At One, a trendy chain of bars serving sour, sweet and spicy cocktails, you can enjoy 2-for-1 beverages every day until 7 or 8 pm. If you prefer a traditional pint in a modern, energetic environment, check out daily happy hour offers at Rescue Rooms.

At The Southbank Bar, you can get a 30% discount on your bill, including food and beverages, from 4 pm until 7 pm on weekdays. It’s an excellent place to dine and drink on a budget while watching sports, listening to live music and playing a game of pool.