Things To Do This Spring Bank Holiday Weekend

Another Bank-holiday is on the horizon and there are some truly brilliant things happening across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to enjoy. Including fun for the whole family, staycation ideas and date night plans, keep reading to see our top picks of things to do to from Thursday 2^nd through to Sunday 5^th June, which include spa days, special Jubilee events and something to keep the little ones entertained.

If you’ll be using the long weekend to spend more time in the great outdoors we’ve got recommendations for perfect picnic spots below, or our website has loads of info on walking and cycling routes.

Browse our What’s On calendar for tons more events, check out our Things To Do section for Nottingham's top attractions, and remember we also have some suggested itineraries to help you see and do as much as possible.

Don’t forget - if you are out having a great time in the city or out in the county, you can use #LoveNotts to share the love, or tag us using @visitnotts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Spa Days

Unwind this Bank Holiday in the beautiful backdrop of Nottinghamshire. We boast some of the best Spas in the UK, including some based in the stunning scenery of Sherwood Forest. Spa Days are also the perfect treat to enjoy with a friend, relative or loved one, so why not spend a day in a calm, comfortable spa with that special someone and forget all the worries of the world!

Nottinghamshire offers a range of spas from the super modern and state of the art, to the more traditional and chic. Some of our top picks include Eden Hall Spa, set within the grounds of a beautiful listed mansion and the MGM Muthu New Leaf Spa nestled amongst the trees of Clumber Park.

The Urban Escape Spa (pictured) is based in a convenient City Centre location in the 4 star Crowne Plaza Hotel and the Spa at Ye Olde Bell is located just off the A1! It has a thermal area that offers a collection of experiences like no other.

These experiences will invigorate, restore and liven your senses or simply help you relax and find your sense of place.

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Explore the Outdoors

It’s a beautiful time to get outside and explore Nottinghamshire’s natural surroundings, and the area is full of outdoor spaces to exercise and relax in. From rural walks out in the countryside to pretty city centre parks, you’ll find lots of places to enjoy spending time outdoors. If you’ll be exploring on two wheels there are plenty of cycle paths to choose from, from gentle canalside routes to challenging mountain bike paths through ancient woodland.

Or maybe you want to try a walking tour and see Nottingham on foot. We have a range of unique and fun tours, including free self-led trails or guided tours. We recommend the Nutty Nottingham Comedy Tour and the award winning Ezekial Bone's Robin Hood Tours of Nottingham. This is a fantastic way to learn about the history of Nottingham while getting active and enjoying the outdoors.

For more ideas and inspiration to enjoy Nottinghamshire’s great outdoors, click here.

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Best of British

Enjoy the best of British this Bank Holiday weekend and explore the unique history and culture of Nottinghamshire and the UK.

Starting with everyone’s favourite outlaw, why not walk in the footsteps of Robin Hood and pay a visit to Nottingham Castle, Sherwood Forest (pictured) or wander around Edwinstowe? You can discover more about the legend here, or discover more rebels and pioneers of Nottinghamshire here.

We also have dedicated literary tours and trails for all of the bookworms out there. Explore the ancestral home of Lord Byron, the D.H. Lawrence birthplace museum and Nottingham Castle just to name a few. Did you know Nottingham Castle is mentioned in Ian Fleming’s James Bond novel Thunderball? And finally, no trip to Nottingham would be complete without a tour of Bromley House Library - one of the few remaining subscription libraries in the country which houses nearly 50,000 books.

Of course, Nottinghamshire has some stunning and famous market towns. Explore Southwell and learn about its history (which includes the English Civil War and the Bramley Apple), stop off at the Ruddington Village Market, visit the grave of Lord Byron and Ada Lovelace in Hucknall or take in the beautiful views of Eastwood, which has inspired countless visitors and residents such as D.H. Lawrence.

For more surprising UK destinations and attractions that you can visit around Nottinghamshire, see our hidden gems blog and see how many you already know about!

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Big Events

Nottinghamshire is hosting some big events this Spring Bank Holiday weekend, which are perfect for planning a UK Staycation or holiday around.

Detonate Festival returns for 2022 on Saturday 4^th June with an incredible line-up of more than 60 live artists and DJs. Set amongst the woodland, lakes and clearings of Colwick Country Park you can expect floating stages and woodland hideaways, global street food, cocktails, boat parties, fireworks, VIP Island, live street art and more!

 Meadowlands Festival is taking over Victoria Embankment on Friday 3^rd June! Nottingham will play host to some of the nation’s much loved and established live acts alongside some of the hottest bands to emerge over the last year. The line-up includes indie favourites The Kooks, Liverpool’s The Mysterines, Yorkshire’s breakout band The Reytons and festival favourites Black Honey. The incredible Gerry Cinnamon will be headlining the festival; one of only a handful of outdoor shows he is doing in the UK this Summer.Rothesay Open Nottingham also starts this Spring Bank Holiday, running from Saturday 4^th - Sunday 12^th June 2022. Big-time tennis returns to Nottingham with this Nottingham Open event - one of the key grass court events as top male and female stars warm up for Wimbledon, and tickets are on sale now. In 2021, the UK’s Johanna Konta won the Women’s Singles event with Frances Tiafoe from the USA winning the Men’s Singles. They even enjoyed a performance by Emma Raducanu before her amazing victory at the USA Open only a few weeks later.

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Family Fun

There are tons of fun and family-friendly events to keep your little ones entertained this Spring Bank Holiday, including the Tutus T-Rex is King exhibition at Wollaton Hall & Deer Park, which on display until 31st August 2022. This is perfect for any dinosaur lover because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to come face to face with a real T. rex up-close and personal in the UK. The Deer Park is also the perfect spot for a family picnic or walk!

The Gingerbread Man returns to Lakeside Arts from Thursday 2^nd to Sunday 5^th June. Stuff and Nonsense return with their brilliant mix of puppetry, live action, great music, humour and stunning staging in this fast-paced retelling of the much-loved classic tale, where Gingerbread Man must use his wits to escape anyone who finds him tasty.

Your little ones will love The Superworm Trail at Sherwood Pines, where they can discover the small but mighty creatures in a much-loved story and learn about the everyday heroic feats of minibeasts in the forest. The self-led trail features brightly illustrated panels and a trail pack full of fun activities, including your very own mask. This is the perfect excuse to get the whole family out and about and active in nature and you can even make a day of it. Bring a picnic or stop by the Sherwood Pines Café for a bite to eat.

For more family events and things to do, browse our What’s On calendar.

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Celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

There are tons of amazing events and celebrations taking place across Nottinghamshire to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Join the May Half Term and Jubilee Weekend at Clumber Park and enjoy a range of activities for the whole family, including lawn games, jive dancing and a sports day. Over at Bolsover Castle, you can see historic performers, enjoy hands-on activities and get some fresh-air while having fun with the whole family.

Stop by Southwell Minster for a free Big Julee Lunch, or try your hand at some adventure sports at Holme Pierrepont Country Park – the home of the National Watersports Centre. If you’re feeling like doing something unique, stop by Belvoir Castle and enjoy a variety of fun events including food stalls, live music and jousting (pictured)!

There are also a whole host of events taking place around the City, including an open air exhibition, a Garden Party at Nottingham Castle and a giant crown on front of the Council House.

For a full list of events including jousting events, a ball and more, click here.

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This blog was written by Katherine Taylor, Marketing Executive at Visit Nottinghamshire.