Full of history, Nottingham is a great place for a lovers’ break.
Nottingham may be forever associated with Robin Hood and his band of thieves, but the real-life city is a charming place filled with romantic things to do. If you’re visiting with your sweetheart, there is no shortage of date ideas in Nottingham, from seeing beautiful ancient monuments to dining in some of the UK’s best restaurants. Try one of these loved-up activities the next time you’re in town.
Visit a poet’s home
12 miles north of the city is Newstead Abbey, the ancestral home of local poet Lord Byron. Originally a priory founded by King Henry II of England in 1170, it was converted into a stunning country house 350 years later. Lord Byron, who is widely considered to be one of the greatest romantic poets of his time, lived in Newstead Abbey from 1808 to 1814. Today, you can discover the Byron collection where you can see some of his personal affairs, letters, portraits, his original giltwood bed and the desk where he wrote much of his poetry. You can also visit the Dressing Up Room and try on period dress costumes and replicas of Lord Byron’s favourite clothes. Visitors can walk around the Newstead Abbey Gardens with a gorgeous lake, rose garden and the ivy-covered remains of the oak Lord Byron planted in 1798.
Hold hands at Nottingham Castle
Nottingham Castle was once a royal fortress and residence back in the Middle Ages before it was converted to a magnificent mansion in the 17th century. After it was destroyed in a fire in 1831, Nottingham Castle was rebuilt as an art gallery and museum dedicated to the history of the city. The museum is home to a collection of fine and decorative art collections, as well as historical displays, costume galleries and temporary exhibitions. You can also visit the labyrinth of manmade caves and tunnels hidden beneath Nottingham Castle or take a romantic stroll through the stunning gardens as the sun sets to find the famous Robin Hood statue just outside the castle walls.
Enjoy a candlelit dinner at Hart’s Restaurant
Just near the Castle is Hart’s Restaurant, one of Nottingham’s best upmarket eateries. The award-winning restaurant offers modern British fare created with top quality, local-sourced ingredients and a wide range of wines from all around the world. Hart’s also offers a traditional English afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, homemade tarts and cakes, finger sandwiches, tea and coffee.
See a show on Broadway
You don’t have to go all the way to New York to see a show on Broadway – the Nottingham four-screen Broadway Cinema is one of the best Nottingham date ideas. It has been voted one of the most cinematic theatres in the world and plays a curated selection of independent, art-house and mainstream films. Nottingham native fashion designer Sir Paul Smith designed the fourth cinema with 35 double ‘love seats’, perfect for snuggling up to your loved one, champagne in hand.
Walk around the Lace Market
Nottingham was once a world leader in lace making and you can still see impressive examples of the 19th century industrial architecture around the Lace Market area. The Lace Market is found in the middle of the Old Town and is now one of the town’s up-and-coming cool spots where the old lace warehouses have been transformed into trendy shops, bars and cafes. It’s a great place to spend a day looking around and stopping by other Nottingham attractions like the Galleries of Justice, Nottingham Contemporary and the 15th century St Mary’s Church.
