Summer in Nottinghamshire

Enjoy Nottingham and Nottinghamshire this summer and discover one of the coolest cities in England and a vibrant county full of legend and beauty!

Take some time to relax in the serene setting of Sherwood Forest, The Dukeries or the Vale of Belvoir. Enjoy a truly spectacular range of exciting cultural summer events across the region and don't forget to browse our special offers to make the most of your visit to Nottinghamshire.

Unique things to do

The beloved Nottingham Beach will be back, offering a summer filled with sun, sand, rides, and games right in the heart of the city centre at Old Market Square. Whether you’re looking to dig out your flip flops, pop on your shades, or simply enjoy some family fun, this urban beach promises a memorable experience. The Nottingham Beach date is yet to be confirmed but keep your eyes on our 'What's On' Calander for the announcement 

Last year was an absolute scorcher of  success —packed with thrills, laughs, and sunshine galore! Whether you're a daredevil craving an adrenaline rush on the rides, ready to sip a cheeky drink in the sun, or just looking to soak up those summer vibes, we've got you covered. Stay tuned for updates—you won’t want to miss this!

Newark on Sea is also set to return for the 2025 summer season. The giant urban beach will be back this summer with a daily programme of beach themed activities to keep everyone entertained. Grab a bucket and spade or lie back in a deck chair to the sound of waves. Bring the family along to enjoy ice creams, dinky donuts and seaside shows by the sand!

Discover Robin Hood This Summer! 
 

Hear ye, hear ye! The legendary Robin Hood Summer Festival is set to return to Sherwood Forest in 2025, upon the 18th and 19th days of July, to honour Nottinghamshire’s most famed outlaw!

For two glorious days, revel in a grand spectacle of merriment and fun, where the finest local performers shall take the stage, feasting fit for a king awaits, and—by the longbow of Robin himself!—an archery tournamnet most noble shall take place.

Every year 'The Knighting Ceremony' launches the Summer Festival with grandeur and pageantry! Join Maid Marian, Robin Hood, and his Merry Men, along with costumed villagers and the Sherwood Renaissance Singers, for a joyous celebration. The event also features the Medallion Hunt winner announcement and an official festival proclamation by the Mayor of Sherwood. A Time-Honored Tradition: For over 35 years, more than 450 individuals have been honored and the festival is now accepting nominations for the 2025 cermamony. So for all those outstanding citizens, dedicated volunteers, and those who make our community—and the world—a better place be sire to honour them this summer.

Gather thy kin, and prepare for a festival unlike any other!

Family Favourites 

Nottingham and Nottinghamshire have some fantastic attractions and activities to keep all the family entertained this Summer holiday. Check out our family friendly attraction pages and also our Day's Out pages, where you will discover things to do on a budget and also what to do if the weather turns, it is Britain after all! Don't forget to keep an eye on our special offers pages too. 

For the little ones...No school holiday is complete without a trip to Conkers or Sundown Adventureland. Enter a world of adventure and discovery at Conkers, offering a super range of family-friendly craft and ranger-led activities, all planned with an immersive experience theme! Included in your admission expect ranger led activities, daily crafts, 4D cinema and even the new Conkers Cove splashpark!

Sundown is a theme park that will enchant all who visit and designed for the littlest members of the family, focusing on the under 10's. From rides and attractions to indoor softplay, this is a magical park that will capture hearts and imaginations!

Kids driving you mad...let them drive themselves around the best Mini Land Rover Course in the East Midlands! Conquer the twists and turns, ups and downs and overcome obstacles on this brand-new track at Holme Pierrepont Country Park. Suitable for 3-8 year olds. 

For all the family...Take on the climbing challenge at Clip n Climb this Summer. Suitable from 4 years old right through to adults there is no better way of getting competitive, fit and having fun with each other! Or if you and your family like a challenge why not take a trip to Go Ape at Sherwood Pines, where you can take on Nets Kingdom and its jumbo netted trampolines, bridges and walkways, or the Tree Top Adventure with Trazan swings and epic zip wires!

If your kids like to get active - or you just want to ensure they fall asleep that night - get down to the National Water Sports Centre, at Holme Pierrepont Country Park for their daring Skytrail, climbing, kayaking, raft building and many more great outdoor activities. Their Adventure Holiday Club for 8-14 year olds, running throughout the Summer, will be sure to keep them entertained!

Or for the budding Lewis Hamilton's amongst you buckle up for an exciting ride at Teamworks Karting. Take on family and friends on their epic Go Kart tracks or run riot in the Laser Tag arena! With five incredible karting tracks, amazing race options for adults and children. 

Adventure Playgrounds

The city and county have some fantastic Adventure Playgrounds to explore too. Nottingham Castle's fort is the place for a fun filled adventure in the shadow of the castle itself, whilst Belvoir Castle's woodland adventure park, featuring a giant timber castle, along with a ship and towers, is the perfect place for imaginations to run wild! 

Summer of festivals in Nottingham

Festivals are a chance to really see a city shine, and luckily for us Nottinghamshire has them by the bucketful. Whether its feasting on fine food, fun days out with the family, tasting a plethora of ales, or dancing in the sunshine, there’s sure to be something to tickle your fancy in this rundown of festivals happening in 2025. This is the time to chill out, tune in and make some amazing memories.

The Riverside Festival aims to return for 2025 across the first weekend of August - Firday 1st to Sunday 3rd. Expect a mile-long stretch of fairground rides, games and attractions all situated along the banks of the Trent, plus numerous street food vendors, bars and market stalls. River-based activities including Dragon Boat Racing are set to return, plus get your groove on with live music a plenty, from solo artists, bands and musicians performing across three stages. 

For the kids, head down to Gloworm Festival 2025, held at Holme Pierrpont Country Park between Friday 8th- Sunday 10th August 2025. This brilliant 2 day Festival is returning for its 9th year and has been especially created for grown-ups and their little people. Festival goers to come and play in a warm, welcoming and creative environment, loose their inhibitions, let their hair down and have some fun!

Foodies don't worry we havn't forgetton about you guys! For the first time ever, the UK's biggest touring celebrity food and music festival is coming to Nottingham for the first time in 2025. The event at Wollaton Park, from Friday, June 27 to Sunday, June 29, will serve up a host of award-winning and celebrity chefs, with performances from chart-topping music stars.

Wollaton Hall is truly the place to be this summer, not only are they hosting the food and music festival but for the 17th year Nottingham's biggest music festival Splendour is returning. Attendees can enjoy 5 stages of music that spans all genres; from fast-rising stars to world-class performers, and musical icons, Splendour line-ups are always a wonderful mix of acts that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Alongside the music, you can expect comedy, a funfair, a silent disco, independent market stalls, an array of gourmet food and drink, a dedicated kids’ area, and fringe activities.

For a full list of Nottinghamshire festivals including food & drink, film and cultural festivals, please click here.

The Great Outdoors

Get out and about this half term and visit some of Nottinghamshire's beautiful country haunts. 

Rufford Abbey Country Park will be geared up for family visitors. Take a stroll around the beautiful grounds with an ice cream, row the family around the boating lake or let the kids run wild in the adventure playground. Their popular outdoor activities will all be available throughout the Summer also. 

Take on some aMAZEing outdoor activities at Notts Maze! The Maze will be open to explore and get lost in plus their combo package is designed for the adventurer out there. Whether that be laser tag, archery or axe throwing, they have something for everyone! - click here for more info. 

Sherwood Pines is one of the largest forests in the midlands to explore providing a stunning setting for your next adventure. It's a firm favourite with it's beautiful woodland walks, many cycle paths, perfect for mountain biking and activities for all the family.

There’s a host of family events happening throughout the summer months, click here to explore the full list.

Summer of sport in Nottinghamshire

Experience all the glitz and glammer of Ladies Day at Southwell Racecourse on Sunday 17th August 2025. Enjoy a day to remember with thrilling racing, sensational style and delicious food. Plus LIVE entertainment after racing guaranteed to keep the party mood going long after the last race. And of course, it wouldn't be ladies day without 'The Style Awards'. There's never any obligation to dress up but if you do wanna donn your glam rags on then you could be in the chance of winning £500. 

If you're looking for sporting activities to get involved in, don't forget the ice skating lessons at the National Ice Centre (which are also available at various dates throughout the year) or simply pop-in for one of their public skating sessions - where under 5s skate for free! You can also try your hand at some adventurous watersports at the National Water Sports Centre and try canoeing, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding and much more.

For more sporting events throughout the summer, please click here. Or for more ideas on how to get active in Notts, click here.

Budget Friendly

We love a bargain and to find some budget-friendly options, so we’ve put together some ideas for a Free Day Out in Notts. You can also find a huge list of Free Events including kids activities, festivals, galleries and live music.

We’ve also put together a list of Ten Things to do for Under £10, and an example itinerary for a Weekend on a Budget.

Discover Nottinghamshire

You don’t have to attend or take part in an event to do something new either. Discover charming scenery with a gentle stroll around beautiful towns and villages such as Southwell or Newark or learn more about the Nottingham’s famous rebel writer D.H. Lawrence in Eastwood.

If you like cycling, enjoy epic routes at Sherwood Pines and Clumber Park - once you’ve tried it you’ll soon be hooked and a great bike ride will be sure to make a memorable day out.

As well as lots of exciting events and activities taking place this summer, Nottingham is also simply an awesome city in which to hang out. There's loads of unique places to enjoy amazing food and drink, such as Iberico World Tapas and Ye Olde to Jerusalem - you're sure to find something to suit all tastes and budgets.

For more ideas about how to explore Nottinghamshire, click here.

If you haven’t found anything that tickled your fancy on this page, use the boxes below to find everythig you need for an amazing summer in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.