101 Things to do in Nottingham
101 Things Nottingham to do in
There’s loads of fun to be had in Nottingham during your time at university both on and off campus. To help you make the most of everything the Students’ Union and the city have to offer we’ve gathered together over 100 ideas into one handy booklet. Watching the pennies? Don’t worry - most of the things on the list can be done for free or for only a few quid and we’ve marked out the best value tips with the Skint? logo.
See how many you can tick off before you leave…
1.
Learn a new skill. Whether it’s juggling or bell ringing, there’ll be a society or club you can try something different with. Visit www.su.nottingham.ac.uk or come to Freshers’ Fair from 20th-22nd September to find out more. www.su.nottingham.ac.uk
www.su.nottingham.ac.uk
Explore 2.
Visit Nottingham Castle. Whilst it’s not really a castle – more of a stately home – there’s a museum and art gallery in the grounds and it’s free for Nottingham city residents from Monday to Friday.
3.
Grab a map of University Park and make it your mission to visit every garden (not necessarily on the same day).
4.
Get your hands on a car and head out to Newstead Abbey - former home of the poet, Lord Byron - for the afternoon. It’s only a 20 minute drive from Nottingham and the pretty gardens are a great place to chill out for the day.
5.
Go on a day trip to one of Nottingham’s neighbouring cities or towns. Newark’s pretty, as is Lincoln if you’ve got the energy to venture that far.
www.su.nottingham.ac.uk
6.
Eat toffee apples and candy floss ‘til you feel sick at the Goose Fair which runs from 6th to 9th October 2010.
7. 8. 9.
Go on a random tram journey.
Find the secret garden on University Park.
Enjoy the great outdoors on a day out to the Peak District. It’s not that far from Nottingham and RamSoc runs trips there most Sundays.
10.
Run around like Robin Hood
and his merry men in Sherwood Forest. (Green tights are optional.)
11.
Head to City of Caves and
explore the underground network beneath the streets that’s been used by the people of Nottingham for centuries.
www.su.nottingham.ac.uk
12.
Have a picnic in Wollaton Park. It’s absolutely free and only a couple of minutes walk from University Park. Just don’t chase the deer - they get very cross!
13.
Go for a wholesome day out at Attenborough Nature Reserve. Don’t forget to take your wellies!
14.
Take a walk around the Arboretum park on a sunny day and say hello to
the birds.
15.
Team up with a friend who has a car and take a trip to the Vale of Belvoir. Then laugh at the fact that it’s actually pronounced ‘Beaver’.
16.
Take a wander around the lake on University Park and feed the ducks.
www.su.nottingham.ac.uk
Activities 17. 18.
Try your hand at archery. This is the home of Robin Hood after all!
Go for a round of Golf at Wollaton Park Golf Club. Stop for a cream tea at the club house afterwards.
19. 20.
Try a new sport with the Athletic
Union.
Go to Alton Towers. It only takes
an hour or so to get to from Nottingham.
21.
Hop on your bike or take a stroll along the canal. You can get a cycle map for Nottingham at www. nottingham.ac.uk/estate/environment/ cycleroutes.html.
www.su.nottingham.ac.uk
22. 23. 24.
Sign up for a project with the Student Volunteer Centre. Have a go at canoeing at the National Water Sports Centre. Go ice skating on the rink in the middle of Market Square at
Christmas.
25.
Take in the great outdoors. Hire a bike (or even a tandem) and cycle round Clumber Park.
26.
Pick up loads of freebies at Freshers’ Fair from 20th-22nd September including FREE PIZZA from Dominos.
27. 28.
And join at least one society…
…And an Athletic Union club.
www.su.nottingham.ac.uk
Entertainment 29.
Go and play Quasar on the multi-level playing area at Quasar Nottingham, 22 Cranbrook Street.
30.
Come over all cultural and go to see one of the outdoor plays at Nottingham Castle over the summer.
31.
Go and watch one of our sports teams give Trent a sound whooping at a Varsity match.
11
32.
Check out the Lakeside Arts Centre on University Park campus for theatre, dance, comedy, music and exhibitions.
33.
See a film at the Savoy Cinema in Lenton. It’s an independent cinema and at only £3.50 for students (£1.75 if you team up with a mate and go on Orange Wednesdays) it’s a lot cheaper than the big cinemas in town. There’s even a bar so you can take a beer into the film with you. www.su.nottingham.ac.uk
34.
Go and see a show at Nottingham Playhouse. You can get tickets from the Students’ Union Box Office in the Portland Building.
35.
Watch an ice hockey match at the National Ice Centre.
36. 12
See a New Theatre production (Nottingham’s totally student-run theatre). There’s something on virtually every week during term and tickets are only a few quid.
37.
Go to an outdoor gig in Market Square. Check out www. nottinghamcity.gov.uk for listings.
38.
See a film at fabulous independent cinema, Broadway. Get there in time to have a nibble at the café beforehand or look out for one of their themed nights.
www.su.nottingham.ac.uk
39. 40.
Go and see a concert at the massive Trent FM Arena.
See a gig at The Malt Cross, an old Victorian music hall that’s been reinvented as a pub, just off Market Square.
41.
Watch some cricket at Trent Bridge – it’s the world’s third oldest cricket
ground.
42.
Go to the dog racing. A bit random, but then that’s what uni’s all about. Phone ahead and for just a tenner you can get a beer, a pie and a couple of free bets.
13
43.
Break the ice with your new friends and make a treasure trail round your halls or on campus with funny clues and silly prizes.
44.
Tune into URN, the Students’ Union’s award-winning radio station.
www.su.nottingham.ac.uk
Eat 45. 46. 47.
Pop into Lee Rosey’s Tea for a cuppa and a slice of yummy cake. Try Edin’s Café for continental nibbles late into the evening.
Head to Alley Café for delicious (and cheap) vegetarian and vegan food. Even die-hard carnivores will be won over!
15
48.
Another treat for hungry vegetarians and vegans is Squeek in Hockley. It’s a popular place for flavoursome meat-free food so it’s worth booking ahead.
49.
See how many bowls of food you can manage at all you can eat buffet, the Flaming Dragon. Don’t forget to claim your 10% student discount.
www.su.nottingham.ac.uk
50.
Sample the fabulous Sunday roast at the Hand and Heart, a lovely pub set into a cave near Canning Circus. Then pop upstairs for a browse around their art gallery.
51.
Drop by the Crocus CafĂŠ, a not-for-profit, Fairtrade eatery in
Lenton.
16
52.
Go to Mooch - the Students’ Union bar in the Portland Building - between lectures for a cheap and tasty bite to eat or a cheeky pint.
53.
Visit Le Bistro Pierre on one of their taster menu nights for posh French nosh at reasonable prices.
54. 55.
Have breakfast at the legendary Warsaw Diner in Canning Circus.
Take someone out for an intimate meal at the top floor of the Falcon Inn. www.su.nottingham.ac.uk
56.
Nottingham is a haven for curry lovers with scores of great quality Indian restaurants. If you fancy branching out from your usual chicken tikka masala, give Kayal a try. This gem of a restaurant specialises in South Indian cuisine and was listed by the Times as one of the UK’s top 10 Indian restaurants. The focus is on seafood, but there’s a good range of meat and vegetarian/vegan dishes too.
57.
Have a meal at French Living. There’s a shop and café upstairs and a restaurant downstairs serving classic French dishes from a menu that changes with the season.
17
58.
If you can, persuade your parents or a rich friend to take you for a posh meal at the World Service. If you’re rich, take someone else.
59.
Try and eat a whole plate of Nachos to yourself at Mooch. Not as easy as
it sounds.
www.su.nottingham.ac.uk
Drink 60. 61.
Drink pink champagne on a bed in Tantra.
18
Visit Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem for a pint of their very own ‘Olde Trip’ ale. Set into a cave at the base of Nottingham Castle, it’s (allegedly) the oldest inn in Britain and has ghost stories and myths aplenty. Have a go on the funny hoop swinging game. Ladies should be careful not to inadvertently sit in the pregnancy chair!
62.
The Bell also claims to be the oldest pub in Britain. You’d better go for a pint there too, just in case!
63.
Take your pick from over 500 top-notch beers and ciders at the Robin Hood Beer Festival which runs from 14th-17th October at Nottingham Castle. www.su.nottingham.ac.uk
64.
Sample one of the ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ at the gothic looking Pit and Pendulum. Don’t forget to visit the toilets – you’ll understand why when you get there!
65.
Make friends with a Trenty at The Orange Tree.
19
66.
Have a cocktail looking out over the city at Saltwater.
67.
Go for a drink at the stunning Pitcher and Piano. It’s located in a converted church complete with stained glass windows behind the bar. www.su.nottingham.ac.uk
Party 68.
Go to Dogma on a Thursday. It’s free to get in and you’ll be treated to music by some great DJs.
69.
Go raving at Firefly - a firm favourite with Nottingham students. Visit www.ilovefirefly.net for more info. You can get tickets from the Students’ Union Box Office in the Portland Building.
20
70. 71. 72.
Boogie the night away to cheesy tunes at Ocean.
Go to at least one ball.
Head for the main dance floor in Oceana, but be prepared to lose everyone you came with - the place is like a maze!
73.
Go to Stealth vs Rescue on a Saturday.
www.su.nottingham.ac.uk
74.
The Bodega Social Club is only £2 for students on Wednesdays and there are cheap drinks all night too.
75. 76.
Play hide-and-seek in a club.
For a party with a difference head to Sounds on the Downs in June. It’s the Students’ Union’s FREE one day festival powered entirely by renewable energy.
77. 78.
Be the first person on the dance floor at least once.
21
Dance the night away with a squeaky-clean conscience at Demo, Nottingham’s one and only charity night club.
79. 80.
Check out one of the more quirky one-off events at The Venue.
Get your glad rags on and celebrate the end of exams at the Summer Party in June. www.su.nottingham.ac.uk
22
www.su.nottingham.ac.uk
Only in Nottingham 81.
Be a true local. Dress in full red gear, paint your face and go to see a Nottingham Forest football match.
82. 83. 84.
Join a Students’ Union committee or network.
23
Have an article published in Impact, the Union’s student-run magazine.
Run your own private film screening at the world’s smallest cinema, the Screen Room. With only 21 seats it’s available for private hire (for not too much money per head) and as long as you have the DVD they’ll show anything you want!
www.su.nottingham.ac.uk
85.
Vote in the Exec elections in March – the biggest student elections in the country.
86.
Have your picture taken riding one of the lions in Market
Square.
87.
Do something immature/ embarrassing under the guise of raising money for charity.
24
88. 89.
Go on a Rag Raid.
Vote in your JCR elections in October. If you’re feeling keen, run for a position on the Committee.
90.
Check out a Students’ Union market day in the Atrium in the Portland Building.
www.su.nottingham.ac.uk
91. 92.
Sing in the street with a busker.
Submit a motion to NUS (National Union of Students). Their Annual Conference is in the spring and it’s a unique opportunity to get your voice heard on a national scale.
93. 94. 95.
Start your own show on URN, the Union’s student-run radio station. Become a Karni rep.
25
Find out where the Nightline office is by training to be a Nightliner and keep it a secret.
96.
Buy a University of Nottingham hoodie from one of the Students’ Union shops.
www.su.nottingham.ac.uk
97.
Go on a Nottingham Ghost Walk. If you’re really brave, go at Halloween.
98.
Get in the festive spirit and visit the German Christmas Market held in Market Square in December.
99. 100.
Submit a motion to Union Council.
26
Borrow something you’d never normally listen to from the Students’ Union’s CD and Record Library.
101.
Get your picture taken doing a silly pose with the Robin Hood statue by Nottingham Castle.
www.su.nottingham.ac.uk
FSC
This booklet is available in large print, Braille, tape, electronic and disk versions. Please contact the Publicity Coordinator on 0115 846 8726. The University of Nottingham Students’ Union (company limited by guarantee) Company Registration No. 7229624 Charity Registration No. 1136986 Registered Office: The Portland Building, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD.
2010