Goose Fair

About

Nottingham Goose Fair
Friday 25 September - Sunday 4 October 2026
Forest Recreation Ground
FREE entry

Enjoy all the fun of the fair at the Forest Recreation Ground this autumn, as Goose Fair is back from Friday 25 September to Sunday 4 October.

Goosey the Goose Fair goose has taken up its perch on the Mansfield Road roundabout once again, announcing the return of one of the largest travelling funfairs in Europe. With more than 400 rides and attractions and thrills aplenty for all ages, Goose Fair has been staged annually in Nottingham since at least 1284.

Attending for the very first time is Elevate 85, standing at 85m in height and the tallest ride ever to attend Goose Fair, which will offer incredible panoramic views of the fair and the city beyond. The 80m high Skyfall, the world’s tallest portable drop tower, will also be making a welcome return after its popular debut in 2025. Psycho is another new addition this year, a looping thrill ride that spins and swings its riders through the air.

Other popular rides will be back such as Atmosfear, Matterhorn, Starflyer, Magic Mouse, Aerospace, and the big wheel, giving panoramic views of the fair and city beyond. All the Goose Fair classics will be in attendance too, such as Waltzers, Dodgems, Gallopers, and the Cake Walk – the only ride still operating that featured when the fair was held at Old Market Square – plus lots of side-show games such as hook-a-duck, hoopla, darts, and basketball.

SEND sessions will once again place on Sundays from 12pm-1pm. These sessions allow children and people with special educational needs and disabilities to enjoy the fair without the loud noises and bright lights.

Food is always a highlight at the fair and along with the traditional fairground favourites of mushy peas and Cocks-on-Sticks, visitors will be able to eat their way around the world with a diverse range of food from Greek and Caribbean to Chinese cuisines.

Businesses at the Forest – including Homemade Café and Forest Sports Zone – will remain open as usual during Goose Fair.

Opening Times
Friday 25 September 12:00 – 23:00
Saturday 26 September 12:00 – 23:00
Sunday 27 September 12:00 – 21:00 (SEND session 12:00 – 13:00)
Monday 28 September 16:00 – 22:30
Tuesday 29 September 16:00 – 22:30
Wednesday 30 September 16:00 – 22:30
Thursday 1 October 16:00 – 22:30
Friday 2 October 16:00 – 23:00
Saturday 3 October 12:00 – 23:00
Sunday 4 October 12:00 – 21:00 (SEND session 12:00 – 13:00)

Travelling to Goose Fair
Tram
Due to industrial action, there will be no tram service to Goose Fair at The Forest tram stop on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September, and Friday 2 and Saturday 3 October. There is the potential for further impacts on tram services during the week.

Services affected
Friday 25 September – Normal tram service
Saturday 26 September – No tram service
Sunday 27 September – No tram service
Monday 28 September – Trams running to all stops (possible delays)
Tuesday 29 September – Trams running to all stops (possible delays)
Wednesday 30 September – Trams running to all stops (possible delays)
Thursday 1 October – Trams running to all stops (possible delays)
Friday 2 October – No tram service
Saturday 3 October – No tram service
Sunday 4 October – Normal tram service

Goose Fair tram frequency
During the week (Monday 28th September to Thursday 1st October), trams will operate from every 8-10 minutes, with more frequent trams operating later in the evening to support visitors getting to and from Goose Fair.

Time and frequency
06:00 – 07:00 – Trams from every 15 minutes
07:00 – 10:00 – Trams from every 8 minutes
10:00 – 15:00 – Trams from every 10 minutes
15:00 – 23:00 – Trams from every 8 minutes
23:00 – 00:00 – Trams from every 15 minutes   

NET’s £12 Family ticket allows unlimited travel for one day on weekends, and after 4pm on weekdays, for 5 people (1 or 2 adults and at least 1 child, maximum 3). The Family ticket is £15 on weekdays from 6am-4pm. You will be able to use all the Park & Ride car parks to get a tram to the fair (the Forest Park & Ride will be closed).

Bus
Plan your journey via NCT or trentbarton buses. Single adult fares are £3 or, if you’re travelling in the evening, just £2 after 7pm on NCT buses. 

For £10 the NCT Grouprider ticket allows unlimited day travel on all NCT buses in the City Zone for up to 5 people (min 1 adult, max 2 adults), or for £15 you can travel across all NCT services in the City Zone and Outer Zone.    

NCT will run frequent services on the Yellow, Brown, Purple, and Lime routes, stopping on Mansfield Road at Forest Gate. In the city centre, board these buses on Parliament Street or Milton Street.

The trentbarton zigzag group ticket allows unlimited all-day travel on trentbarton buses for £18.90 (up to 5 people).

Car
Blue Badge event parking is available for £10 per car at the Forest Recreation Ground. There is no other public vehicle parking permitted on site. Visitors are not permitted to park on residential streets in the area – this will be strictly enforced.

Visitors can use city centre car parks including Trinity Square, Victoria Centre, Q Park Talbot Street, Crowne Plaza Wollaton Street, Lace Market, and Broad Marsh. It takes approximately 30 minutes to walk to the Forest Recreation Ground from the city centre.

On tram strike days, fairgoers can use Wilkinson Street and Park & Rides to park and walk to the fair. Wilkinson Street is a 20 minute walk from the Forest Recreation Ground. Please note that you will still need to be parked correctly in a bay. Disabled bays are still reserved for blue badge holders, and parent & child bays are for users travelling with a baby or a child who still requires a car seat. On all other days, if you are parking in Park & Ride sites, you’ll need to use the tram. Those parking without using the tram services on non-strike days may be subject to having their vehicle clamped.

Taxi
Private hire taxis will be able to pick up/drop off on Bentinck Road.

Cycling
Visitors can travel to Goose Fair via bicycle or on a Lime e-bike. E-bikes can be parked at one of the bays near the Forest Recreation Ground, or there is event cycle parking for both bicycles and e-bikes, which can be accessed from gate 11 at the junction of Forest Road East and Waverley Street.

• Lime e-bikes can be hired through the Lime app, available on the App Store or Google Play.
• Dott e-bikes can be hired through the Lime app, available on the App Store or Google Play.

E-scooters
Dott e-scooters are also available to hire in Nottingham and can be parked in the e-bike and e-scooter bays around the city.