Nottingham - The Perfect Tourist City

This World Tourism Day, Christopher Harrison, general manager at St James Hotel tells us why Nottingham makes the perfect tourist city.

Take a walk around Nottingham and you’ll soon come to realise that this is a city with a perfect mix of old and new, which is why I always suggest to guests that they get out and about and enjoy everything that Nottingham has to offer. When I ask if they enjoyed their stay at the end, I often hear stories of the things that they’ve seen, the restaurants they’ve enjoyed and the theatre they’ve been to watch, and 9 times out of 10 they tell me that they’d love to come back.

Envelop in the rich history of the city

I always point any guests to Nottingham Castle, which is just a minutes’ walk away from the hotel. It has such a fascinating history, and if you visit before October 9, you’ll be able to see ten of the finest drawings by Leonardo da Vinci! It’s also worth exploring the caves underneath, and Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem at the foot of the castle. Make your way around the city (on foot or by tram) and you’ll see plenty more examples of impressive architecture, including the many listed buildings in the Lace Market - once the centre of the world’s lace industry during the days of the British Empire.

Enjoy the sight of free-roaming deer at Wollaton Hall

You wouldn’t be a true ‘Nottinghamian’ if you didn’t recommend a trip to Wollaton Hall - which was used as Wayne Manor in the Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises a couple of years ago. You could easily spend a full day here, exploring the Hall itself, Nottingham Industrial Museum, and wandering around the grounds where you may spot a free-roaming deer or two! If you’re an outdoorsy type, I’d also recommend paying a visit to Newstead Abbey, once the ancestral home of the infamous poet Lord Byron, and Rufford Abbey Country Park.

Find Nottingham's independent shopping

Head to Hockley (part of Nottingham’s Creative Quarter), where you’ll find dozens of independent shops, cafes, restaurants and bars. If you’re looking for the full tourist experience, then you have to take a trip to Dukki Gifts, on St James' Street, where you’ll Nottingham-related gifts and souvenirs (many of which are emblazoned with our famous local sayings).

Experience the mix of world cuisine restaurants One thing that has always impressed me about Nottingham is how many different places you can go for food. If you’re shopping in intu Victoria Centre, I’d recommend fuelling up at the new Clockhouse dining quarter, where you’ll find a range of cuisines. You can’t go wrong with the steak fajitas at Coast to Coast!

Make the most of Nottingham - official Home of English Sport

It’s not hard to see why Nottingham was voted England’s official Home of Sport in 2015! The Motorpoint Arena is home to Nottingham Panthers ice hockey club, and just outside the city centre you’ll find two football stadiums (Nottingham Forest and Notts County), Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, Nottingham Rugby and the National Watersports Centre at Holme Pierrepont.

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Located adjacent to Nottingham Castle, the St James Hotel is the perfect base for exploring the city. For more informaation on booking a stay in one of their boutique rooms, visit www.stjames-hotel.com