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You are here > What's On > Things to do in Nottinghamshire in 2024
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You are here > What's On > Things to do in Nottinghamshire in 2024
It’s finally 2024, which means that we’re looking ahead to all the fun to be had in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire in the next 12 months! Keep reading to discover what you can enjoy in sport, find popular festivals, see what top seasonal campaigns you can expect from us and much more.
This Winter you can catch Light Night in Nottingham on the first weekend of February. You can expect a range of immersive and interactive light-based installations, performances and activities across the various iconic sights of Nottingham City Centre. And what’s even better, this popular after-dark festival is totally free to enjoy!
With more than 250 rides and attractions and thrills aplenty for all ages, Goose Fair is one of the largest travelling funfairs in Europe! It has been staged annually in Nottingham since at least 1284. With new rides each year and iconic food stalls (try the minty mushy peas!), it is on our Nottingham Bucket List for a reason. You will find it at the Forest Recreation Ground in September - October.
Every Summer, a beach comes to Nottingham. Even though we are land locked, Old Market Square becomes a City by the Sea, which must be experienced to be believed! Including rides, food stalls, events and a beach bar, this is a must-see if you’re visiting Nottingham this summer. It usually runs from July to September.
Head to Nottingham city centre to celebrate Pride in July. Along with the colourful parade, street festivities continue throughout the day to celebrate the city’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) culture. Various venues like Broadway get involved in the festivities, hosting their own events calendars to coincide with the parade.
Nottinghamshire is jam packed full of amazing festivals throughout the year. From Nottingham City Centre takeovers to unmissable festivals out in the County, here are a few of our favourites.
If you love music, look no further than Dot to Dot Festival in May. They are super excited to once again bring a whole host of incredible emerging talent from around the globe, across some of the best stages in the UK.
For the foodies out there, we the unique Bramley Apple Festival which runs each year in October. Celebrating the Bramley Apple, which originated in Nottinghamshire, it is a must see!
Nottingham Riverside Festival is one of our most popular festivals for visitors and locals alike! The biggest free festival in the East Midlands, you will find it on the banks of the River Trent in summer – usually around August. You can expect live music, games, food and drink stalls, the annual duck race and dragon boat racing, and a spectacular fireworks display, this staple of summer in Nottingham is not to be missed.
Did you know that Nottingham has it’s own film festival? The Mayhem Film Festival at Broadway screens the best in contemporary horror, science-fiction and cult cinema and television from around the world. Featuring premieres, previews, masterclasses, international special guest filmmakers, and unique live cinema events, the festival has developed a reputation as one of the strongest and most innovative genre festivals in the country. Catch it every October!
More information about music, food & drink, family friendly and cultural festivals, visit our festivals page.
If you’re visiting us over a specific season or holiday, we always round-up some of the best things to do. We recommend heading over to our seasonal landing pages on our website in the run-up to these holidays, as we will be updating each page with things to do, offers to enjoy and more.
Our County’s sports offering has only grown since Visit England named Nottingham as England’s official Home of Sport in 2015.
Did you know that Nottingham is the home to two-time European Cup winners? This being Nottingham Forest F.C, of course! We are also home to Notts County F.C, who claim to be the oldest professional association football club in the world, after being formed in 1862. You can still see both of these teams play their heart out at home on your next visit to Notts.
Nearby to both football stadiums, you’ll find the world famous Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, which has seen Test Cricket being playing for over a century. In 2024, they are hosting the Cricket Test Match – England v. West Indies from 18th – 22nd July.
Nottinghamshire is also proud to be home of two thoroughbred horse-racing tracks: Nottingham Racecourse and Southwell Racecourse. The history books show racing taking place in Nottingham as far back as 1773.
The Nottingham Tennis Centre also has excellent facilities and has played host to many international tournaments. This includes the Rothesay Nottingham Open, which is an annual event held in June, just before the Wimbledon Open, and therefore regularly attracts some of the best tennis players in the world including Andy Murray in 2023.
The National Ice Centre is home to the GB Short Track Speed Skating squad. Public skating sessions and amazing seasonal events take place daily and families are welcome, with Under 5s skating for free. The National Ice Centre & Motorpoint Arena Nottingham are also home to local legends The Nottingham Panthers. The only professional ice hockey team in the East Midlands, you can catch Panthers' home fixtures at The National Ice Centre & Motorpoint Arena Nottingham during the Elite League season, usually running September - April each year.
Having the National Water Sports Centre based in Nottingham, you’ll never be short of something to try out. Whether it’s Canoeing & Kayaking, Sailing, Power Boating, Rafting or Water Skiing – you’ll be sure to have a ‘splashing’ time. The Centre has an excellent white water course that operates on 700m of adrenaline pumping action. Used by the British Slalom, Freestyle Kayak and White Water Rafting Teams for training and competitions the course truly is world class. This year, they are hosting the British Rowing Club Championships on 18th – 21st July 2024 with over 3,000 athletes attending!
Some of the other amazing sporting events you can expect in 2024 include:
Outlaw, visionary and bane of the establishment, the tale of Nottingham's hero Robin Hood, who stole from the rich to give to the poor, is known the world over. Uniting universal themes of adventure, altruism and rebellion, his adventures have been retold down the generations, from medieval ballads to Hollywood blockbusters.
Robin Hood is one of the world’s best loved folk heroes and Nottinghamshire is proud to be the home of this spirited outlaw. There is no better place to learn more about the man and legend.
Our County celebrates Robin Hood Day every 29th October, which is the perfect time to explore some of the landmarks from the legends of Robin Hood and his Merry Men, from the dungeons of the Old County Gaol where he was held captive by the Sheriff of Nottingham to the church where he wed his beloved Maid Marian. We highly recommend the Robin Hood Town Tour in Nottingham and a stop at the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest! And, of course, no visit to Notts would be complete without a picture with the Robin Hood statue.
To learn more about Robin Hood, click here.
It’s hard to beat a countryside getaway sometimes! Nottinghamshire has a fantastic rural offering, full of history and charm. From Newark Castle to Sherwood Forest, there is a fantastic mix of attractions and relaxation.
Explore our Market Towns and Rural Nottinghamshire to find some hidden gems. Walk down the beautiful Southwell high street and find your next favourite café, or pop over to Ruddington on the first Saturday on the month and catch their popular market!
Other notable attractions include The National Holocaust Centre and Museum, which is the first and only place of its kind in the UK. We also recommend a stop at The Workhouse and Infirmary in Southwell, the Museum of Timekeeping in Newark and the Newark Air Museum.
You can even soar among the trees of Sherwood Forest at Go Ape!, make it your playground at Sherwood Pines, or enjoy the Visitor Centre run by the RSPB. The Visitor Centre run a fun calendar of events throughout the year, so check ahead to see if there is anything going on before your visit!
You can even stay in some beautiful and unique locations out in the county including Forest Holidays, The Sherwood Hideaway and the Gardener's Cottage at Newstead Abbey!
Visit our Notts Bucket List page for some amazing things to do in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire in 2024 including some iconic experiences like having a pint in the oldest inn in England and a visit to Wayne Manor (yes, Batman’s house!).
You can also browse our What’s On Calendar, which is the biggest events calendar in the County. There you will find tons of events in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, and you can even filter by date or category, including free things to do!
Our Things to Do pages also have fantastic suggestions for things to do in 2024 based on topic or interest. Including attractions, tours and suggestions for some great days out in Notts (like Ten Things Under £10) have a browse to discover some hidden gems.
For more Ideas & Inspiration, click here to learn about Robin Hood, the English Civil War, the Nottinghamshire Caves and Itineraries.
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