2-day trip: Nottingham

Robin Hood's city, also known as Nottingham, is located 140 miles away from Bristol. Nottingham has obtained worldwide recognition during the industrial revolution for its lace-making, bicycle and tobacco industries. After Leicester, Nottingham is the second largest city in East Midlands with 305,700 inhabitants.

Some friends and I visited the city for the weekend. There are several ways to get there: on the one hand, National Railway offers two single tickets starting from £45.90 or a return ticket for £48.30, which take 3 hours to get to Nottingham. On the other side, National Express offers cheaper transportation (less than £30) but the timetable is quite limited: last coach on Fridays leaves at 4pm and last return coach leaves Nottingham on Sunday at 3.45pm. Besides, it takes between 5-6 hours. We were two of us leaving from Bristol so we decided to drive there, which was even cheaper.

If you drive, you must leave Bristol on the M32, take the M4 towards South Wales and then M5 to the North on J20. Follow M5 until you get to Birmingham. Then, keep left to continue on M42 and A42 until you merge onto M1 and continue towards Nottingham. It takes around 2h30min.

We spent one sunny day on Sherwood Forest and we visited Nottingham very fast on Sunday.

DAY 1: Sherwood Forest

Sherwood Forest is located around 25 miles North from Nottingham (NG27 9HN). It took us around 45 minutes to get there by car.

There is a big parking area open 7 days a week except Christmas Day, and it is free of charge between 1st January and 4th April. However, the normal charge is 3 pounds for each car and motorbike, except during Robin Hood Festival (4-10th August 2014) which is 5 pounds. There is a visitor's centre which opens between 10am and 4pm, although they do a little break for lunch from 1-1.30pm (approximately). There is also a gift shop, some toilets and coffee-shops creating a small village.

In the forest, there are three self-guided waymarked trails: blue (45 minutes), green (1h) and red (2h). The blue trail is a circular path which takes you round the Major Oak. It is a Quercus Robur, the English oak and it is thought to be 800 years old. Its hollow trunk was used to as a hideout by Robin Hood's men, who are thought to be active in the 12th or 13th century. Today, the Major Oak weighs around 23 tonnes and its branches spread to over 28 metres. In 2002, it was voted "Britain's favourite tree". The green trail skirts along the Longhorn Cattle enclosure and the red trail leads around the forest. We did the blue and green trails and the path is very flat and suitable for all ages.

However, we all were quite disappointed with the forest. We couldn't picture Robin Hood hiding in that forest, at least in Winter, because there was nowhere to hide. Maybe Robin Hood used to take holidays during Winter... who knows!

Dogs are very welcome, I can tell. We came across with loads of people walking their dogs. There were also families with little children. The weather was very nice, so everybody took advantage of it and enjoyed a little walk on the sun.

On the way back to Nottingham, we made a quick detour to the Amen Corner Karting. Some of my friends enjoyed 15 minutes behind the wheel of those fast karts. There is a 300-metre children's circuit and a 550m one for adults. My friends paid 20 pounds for 15 minutes drive (no credit/debit cards accepted). More information on their website.

DAY 2: Nottingham

Nottingham is home to a many different architectural styles. The centre of the city is usually defined as the Old Market Square, the largest city square in the UK. The square is dominated by the City Council, a is a very beautiful building in the Old Market Square, which has baroque columns and two stone lions at the front, watching over the square. 

We had a late-lunch/early-dinner at Chiquito Restaurant and Grill Bar close to the Council House. Meals are not cheap, I paid £13.45 for my Steak Chilli Con Carne and we shared a Tex-Mex sharing plate (ideal for 4 people) which cost £16.95. But I must admit, it was a tasty meal and I was not hungry at all when I finished.

10-15 minute walk from Nottingham city centre there is a castle. Nottingham Castle it is called, and more than a castle, my friends and I think it looks like a palace. It is a 17th century ducal mansion built on the site of the original Medieval Castle from the 11th century. Now, it is a museum and art gallery. It is open Monday to Sunday between 10am and 5pm (check website just in case) and an adult ticket costs 5.50 pounds (4 pounds students). We haven't been inside so I cannot tell you if it is worth the money or not, sorry! 

Close to the castle, you can find the pub which claims to be the oldest drinking establishment in England: Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem. Its painted sign states it was established in 1189AD, however, there is no documentation to verify this date. The main building, built on the foundations of an earlier construction, is about 300 years old. The cave-style pub was pretty busy and we find it challenging to get table for 8 people. Pity!