Surroundings, Nottingham
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Sights in the surrounding area of Nottingham include Newstead Abbey, Hardwick Hall, Bolsover Castle and the market town of Southwell.
Related Attractions
Newstead Abbey and Park
Nine mi/14km north of Nottingham is Newstead Abbey, the family home of Lord Byron, whose tomb is in Newstead parish church. When he inherited the estate he and his mother were too poor to live there. In spite of his debts, however, he came to live in the house after leaving Cambridge, but was obliged to sell the property six years later (1817). The house was originally an Augustinian abbey founded in 1170 by Henry II. Of the original buildings there remain the west front of the church, the refectory, the chapterhouse (now a chapel) and the cloisters. Newstead now belongs to the city of Nottingham, and Byron's rooms have been preserved as they were in his lifetime, with many mementos of the poet. The garden contains very old and rare trees.The abbey grounds also contain a Japanese garden, formal and tropical gardens and lakes and streams.
Trowell, England
Trowell is a pretty small town located a few miles west of Nottingham between the River Erewash and Nottingham Canal.
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Loughborough, England
Loughborough (pop. 46,122) is located 13mi/22km southwest of Nottingham. There is a university and a number industries in the town. It was a lacemaking center at one time and was the destination for the first package tour organized by Thomas Cook in 1841.The center of Loughborough is a shopping area with many original Art Deco buildings. The annual street fair takes place every November featuring rides, food stands and games.
Ulverscroft Nature Reserve
Ulverscroft Nature Reserve is located near Loughborough in the ancient forest of Charnwood. The area is particularly beautiful in the spring when the bluebells are in bloom.The reserve is protected and maintained by the National Trust.
War Memorial Museum
Throughout the three floors of this museum are various displays presenting the history of soldiers from all services and in a wide number of periods.
Coalville, England
Coalville (pop. 30,832) is located 14mi/22km northwest of Leicester. It is a mining and brickmaking center. The Clock Tower located at the center of Coalville is a landmark war memorial dedicated to residents who lost their lives in WW I and II.The railway at nearby Shackerstone, south of Coalville, has been re-opened as a heritage railway.
Southwell, England
Situated 15mi/24km northeast of Nottingham is Southwell (pop. 6,500), a small market town which makes a good base for the exploration of the Robin Hood country. Charles I stayed in the Saracen's Head before giving himself up to the Scots in 1646, thus beginning the long period of imprisonment which ended with his execution.Southwell has a number of historic buildings of note including the prebendal houses along Church Street and Westgate, the Methodist Church and Lord Byron's house.
Minster
Southwell Minster was begun in the 12th century and the nave and transepts of this period have been preserved. There are three Norman towers, one over the crossing and two on the west front; the west towers still have their original roofs, in spite of rebuilding after a fire in 1711 and further alterations in 1880. The minster, originally served by a college of secular canons, became a cathedral in 1884. The fine brass lectern was found in a lake in the grounds of Newstead Abbey, where it had probably been thrown for concealment by the monks at the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The most exquisite part of the minster is the Decorated chapterhouse (13th century) with its wonderful doorway. A profusion of beautiful naturalistic leaves and flowers, vines and grapes, animals and human figures, have been carved here by an unknown sculptor.
West Bridgford, England
West Bridgford (pop. 28,073) is a suburb of Nottingham located on the north side of the River Trent and spanned by two bridges, the Lady Bay Bridge and Trent Bridge. Two spans of the original medieval bridge still remain adjacent to the Trent Bridge. West Bridgford is also noted for its sporting facilities such as the football club founded in 1865, the cricket ground that was first used in 1838 and the National Watersports centre.
Ravenshead - Papplewick Pumping Station
Papplewick Pumping Station is was built in the 1880's by the Nottingham Corporation Water Department. It supplied citizens of Nottingham for over 80 years with pure water from the underlying sandstone. A visit to the station will leave visitors amazed at the Victorian ability to combine art and engineering to supply pure water at the turn of a tap.
Ruddington Framework Knitters Museum
Ruddington Framework Knitters Museum shows the life and labour of Ruddington - a Victorian knitting community. It is a working museum with a collection of circular sock machines where you will experience the sight, sound and smell of a working wool factory.
Blyth - Hodsock Priory Gardens
Hodsock Priory and its garden are in the centre of the 800 ac Hodsock Estate, which has been owned by the Buchanan family since 1765. The 700ac farm is run by Sir Andrew Buchanan and grows carrots, sugar beet, wheat and barley. The irrigation reservoir attracts waterfowl, Great Crested Grebe and Oyster Catchers aas well as Shelduck.
Farnsfield - White Post Modern Farm Centre
The White Post Modern Farm Centre is a working facility with over 4,000 animals.Best of Tourism award-winner 1989, 1991, 1993.
Ollerton - Rufford Abbey
Built on the foundations of a 12th century Cistercian abbey, these are also the ruins of a 17th century country house.
