Just off Nottingham’s famous Old Market Square is Kushi-ya (meaning skewer shop), an independent Japanese restaurant showcasing izakaya-inspired dishes. The popular eatery has been awarded the Bib Gourmand by Michelin for good quality and good value cooking. The open kitchen allows for guests to watch as the chefs prepare kushiyaki over a traditional Japanese grill, the delicious smells only heightening the anticipation about what is to come. Kushi-ya’s menu is in constant evolution, but always features small plates made for sharing. These include raw salmon with smoked tosazu and wasabi; and prawn katsu sando with gochujang marie rose and shredded lettuce.

The City of Caves is one of Nottingham’s most exciting activities. The underground world has been chipped out of the hillside for centuries and most notably used as a mediaeval tannery and a World War II air-raid shelter. Visitors are taken on guided tours through the passageways and arched rooms that reflect their former inhabitants and owners. Each cave (there are more than 800) has an extensive past with many having been used to store beer, make malt or tan leather. Some were fashioned into secret meeting rooms where the Luddites (a movement of 19th-century English textile workers) would plan their raids against new cost-saving machinery. The City of Caves is more than worth a visit during your trip to Nottingham.

The National Justice Museum makes a perfect accompaniment to the City of Caves, which runs underneath it. Visitors can discover fascinating tales of justice brought to life by costumed characters and exciting exhibitions. Spread over five floors of the Grade-II-listed Shire Hall, the museum includes a Victorian courtroom, Georgian gaol, and historic cells containing traditional tools and objects. Immerse yourself in the world of Victorian law during a trial re-enactment or discover the morbid excitement of a public execution, one of Georgian England’s favourite entertainments.

Located just outside the city centre, Wollaton Hall and Park offers an enjoyable and welcome green space, uninhibited by the sounds of the bustling city. The impressive Grade-I-listed Elizabethan mansion looks out over 500 acres of parkland, which features a lake and more than 100 roaming deer. The hall is now home to the Nottingham Natural History Museum as well as an evolving set of contemporary exhibitions. It was famously used as the set of Wayne Manor in the 2012 film The Dark Knight Rises. Whatever the weather, visitors can grab a drink from the courtyard café and explore the grounds at a leisurely pace, taking in the flora and fauna before refuelling back at the on-site deli. 

A day trip to Nottingham simply isn’t enough to explore all the city has to offer. Colwick Hall Hotel is the ideal stopover point for visitors seeking a little extra time. Although the land here was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, the hotel as you see it today was constructed in 1776 for the wealthy merchant Sir John Musters. The Georgian mansion has been restored to its former glory and now hosts guests in sumptuous rooms and elegant spaces that pay homage to the building’s history. The bedrooms are full of the charm of their heyday but present guests with all the amenities expected of a luxury stay. The hotel also offers fine-dining and afternoon tea.

Stapleford Park has an equally impressive facade and a similarly extensive history. The stately home consists of two buildings of different eras – 1633 and 1894 – and still exudes the historical charm of its prime. Stapleford Park was designed for entertaining on a grand scale; its luxurious rooms and ornate spaces were the perfect foundations for a hotel when it was remodelled in the late 1990s. Now, guests can expect opulent suites and rooms with bold designs but traditional trimmings. The hotel also features a fine-dining restaurant, afternoon tea facilities and a spa and wellness centre.

Continuing the theme of elegant country homes – Nottingham certainly has a lot of them – is Thoresby Hall, a Victorian mansion sitting on the edge of Sherwood Forest. The hall still boasts many of its original features and invites guests to experience the luxury of a Victorian countryside retreat. Rooms range from traditional four-poster hideaways to simpler, more modern suites, but all offer a comfortable night’s stay within one of Nottingham’s most beautiful historic buildings. Guests are also treated to fine dining, spa facilities and live entertainment.