Nottingham Hotels - Smooth Hound Hotel Directory

Nottingham is often referred to as the Queen of the Midlands. This historic city is situated on the River Leen and has a population of more than a quarter of a million people. At the heart of Nottingham is the Old Market Square. There are also several streets known for shopping located in the immediate area of the square. The city receives a significant amount of tourism throughout the year, with many visitors coming to see Sherwood Forest, associated with the Legend of Robin Hood, and Nottingham Castle. There is also a lively night life in Nottingham with its many restaurants, cafes, pubs, bars, clubs theatre and annual festivals.

Nottingham is the county town of Nottinghamshire and is home to almost 300,000 people. The centre of Nottingham has the largest surviving open town square in England, covering an area of around 22,000 square metres. According to legend, Robin Hood won a silver arrow in an archery contest organised by the Sheriff of Nottingham that took place in the square. More recently, the square is home to a Christmas market each year and also holds the "Nottingham Eye", a giant ferris wheel that provides spectacular views of the city.

Shopping in Nottingham is high up on the list of many people and the city is the fifth largest in England's shopping league. Victoria Centre holds over one hundred shops as well as hosting an indoor market. It stands on the site of a former railway station, although little remains of the original building. Its rival is Westfield Broadmarsh, which was built towards the outskirts of the medieval city boundaries. There are also several smaller shopping centres throughout the city, so you will find plenty to keep you occupied.

If you visit Nottingham in early October, you can witness the annual Goose Fair which dates back at least seven hundred years and has taken place almost every year since. Originally the fair was the place where thousands of geese were sold each year, hence the name. Nowadays, it is better known for its funfair rides and games.

The city is associated with the legend of Robin Hood and near by is Sherwood Forest, a Royal Forest that covers around 165 square miles and has continually been a forest since the last Ice Age. There is an annual Robin Hood Festival here each summer as well as other events relating to this famous historical character.

Nottingham castle (now actually a mansion) overlooks the city and is located on a cliff top 130 feet above it. The present structure was completed in the late 1600's but it still includes some of the medieval pointed arches and other features.