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BY A NOTTINGHAM DAD, FOR NOTTINGHAM PARENTS

Family days out in Nottingham

Never hear “I’m bored” on a Saturday again.

Every great family day out in Nottingham: farms, museums, parks and hidden gems, with the details parents actually need before setting off.

382 places listed78 free days outThu 6pm the Weekender lands

PLAN A DAY

What's on, when you need it

This weekend in full →
49 on right nowTHU 15 OCT
Today

Everything open and on in Nottingham today, with times and prices.

TOP PICKParent & Toddler Sessions · free
See today
57 things onFRI 16 - SUN 18
This weekend
  • Fri57 things · Wheelgate Family Halloween Spooktacular
  • Sat1 thing · Wheelgate Family Halloween Spooktacular
See the weekend
TomorrowFri 16 · 57 things onRainy days145 under a roofFree78 cost nothingSchool holsHalf term · 19-30 Oct
SEASONALENDS 31 OCTHalloween: pumpkin patches, spooky trails & torchlight. 20 already live.
Plan Halloween

IN SEASON AROUND NOTTINGHAM

PICK A LANE

Jump straight to your kind of day

All categories →
Zoos & Wildlife Parks in NottinghamZoos & Wildlife Parks19Farms & Petting Farms in NottinghamFarms & Petting Farms24Theme Parks & Fairgrounds in NottinghamTheme Parks & Fairgrounds23Adventure Parks & High Ropes in NottinghamAdventure Parks & High Ropes13Museums in NottinghamMuseums32Science & Discovery Centres in NottinghamScience & Discovery Centres12Aquariums & Sea Life in NottinghamAquariums & Sea Life2Castles, Historic Houses & Heritage in NottinghamCastles, Historic Houses & Heritage33Model Villages & Miniature Railways in NottinghamModel Villages & Miniature Railways8Steam Railways & Boat Trips in NottinghamSteam Railways & Boat Trips18Caves, Mines & Underground in NottinghamCaves, Mines & Underground10Tours, Trails & Treasure Hunts in NottinghamTours, Trails & Treasure Hunts10Observatories & Planetariums in NottinghamObservatories & Planetariums4Soft Play in NottinghamSoft Play16Trampoline Parks in NottinghamTrampoline Parks4Climbing & Bouldering Centres in NottinghamClimbing & Bouldering Centres8Laser Tag & Nerf Arenas in NottinghamLaser Tag & Nerf Arenas5Go-Karting in NottinghamGo-Karting5Bowling in NottinghamBowling4Escape Rooms in NottinghamEscape Rooms5Crazy Golf & Adventure Golf in NottinghamCrazy Golf & Adventure Golf11Ice Rinks in NottinghamIce Rinks3Roller & Skate Rinks in NottinghamRoller & Skate Rinks2Arcades, VR & Gaming in NottinghamArcades, VR & Gaming9Board Game & Play Cafés in NottinghamBoard Game & Play Cafés3Pottery Painting & Craft Studios in NottinghamPottery Painting & Craft Studios6Sensory Rooms & Play Sessions in NottinghamSensory Rooms & Play Sessions3Parks & Playgrounds in NottinghamParks & Playgrounds10Country Parks & Nature Reserves in NottinghamCountry Parks & Nature Reserves11Woodland & Forest in NottinghamWoodland & Forest6Gardens & Arboretums in NottinghamGardens & Arboretums8Lakes, Reservoirs & Riversides in NottinghamLakes, Reservoirs & Riversides2Beaches & Coast in NottinghamBeaches & Coast2Walking & Cycling Trails in NottinghamWalking & Cycling Trails9Splash Parks & Paddling Pools in NottinghamSplash Parks & Paddling Pools1Pick-Your-Own & Pumpkin Patches in NottinghamPick-Your-Own & Pumpkin Patches7Skate Parks & BMX Tracks in NottinghamSkate Parks & BMX Tracks4Viewpoints & Picnic Spots in NottinghamViewpoints & Picnic Spots3Swimming Pools & Swim Schools in NottinghamSwimming Pools & Swim Schools5
Athletics & Running Clubs2Water Sports & Paddleboarding in NottinghamWater Sports & Paddleboarding2Leisure Centres in NottinghamLeisure Centres5Baby & Toddler Groups in NottinghamBaby & Toddler Groups8Dance in NottinghamDance5Drama & Performing Arts in NottinghamDrama & Performing Arts13
Music Lessons & Choirs1Art & Craft Classes in NottinghamArt & Craft Classes15Cooking & Baking Classes in NottinghamCooking & Baking Classes2
Coding, STEM & Robotics1
Languages1Reading, Book Clubs & Storytime in NottinghamReading, Book Clubs & Storytime7Forest School & Outdoor Learning in NottinghamForest School & Outdoor Learning2Scouts, Guides, Cadets & Youth Clubs in NottinghamScouts, Guides, Cadets & Youth Clubs1Homework & After-School Clubs in NottinghamHomework & After-School Clubs2Holiday Clubs & Camps in NottinghamHoliday Clubs & Camps1Parenting, Antenatal & Postnatal in NottinghamParenting, Antenatal & Postnatal1Adult Workshops & Evening Classes in NottinghamAdult Workshops & Evening Classes8Wellbeing & Mindfulness in NottinghamWellbeing & Mindfulness4Theatres & Shows in NottinghamTheatres & Shows24Pantomime & Family Theatre in NottinghamPantomime & Family Theatre11Cinemas in NottinghamCinemas7Live Music & Gigs in NottinghamLive Music & Gigs40Comedy in NottinghamComedy22Galleries & Exhibitions in NottinghamGalleries & Exhibitions6Libraries in NottinghamLibraries6Circus & Street Performance in NottinghamCircus & Street Performance5
Talks, Lectures & Author Events8Immersive & Touring Exhibitions in NottinghamImmersive & Touring Exhibitions5Indian & South Asian in NottinghamIndian & South Asian9Italian & Pizza in NottinghamItalian & Pizza14Chinese & East Asian in NottinghamChinese & East Asian9Turkish & Middle Eastern in NottinghamTurkish & Middle Eastern11British, Pubs & Carveries in NottinghamBritish, Pubs & Carveries16Mexican & Latin American in NottinghamMexican & Latin American5Cafés, Brunch & Coffee in NottinghamCafés, Brunch & Coffee22Christmas in NottinghamChristmas39
Halloween & Pumpkin Events43
Bonfire Night & Fireworks10
Half-Term & School Holiday Events2
Festivals & Fairs5
Community Events & Fun Days3
Markets & Car Boots3Sporting Fixtures & Events in NottinghamSporting Fixtures & Events3
Charity Events & Fun Runs1Open Days & Behind-the-Scenes in NottinghamOpen Days & Behind-the-Scenes5Party Venues in NottinghamParty Venues67
Party Entertainers & Characters1Hen, Stag & Group Celebrations in NottinghamHen, Stag & Group Celebrations1Garden Centres in NottinghamGarden Centres7
Toy & Book Shops1

CURATED FOR YOU

Or start with a Huddlepin list

Hand-picked and honestly described.

KIND TO THE WALLET

78

Brilliant days out that cost nothing

Proper days out with free entry, bring a picnic and you're done.

See the list →

FEED & STROKE

21

Farms, lambs and llamas

Everything you can feed, stroke or watch being ridiculous.

See the list →

INDOOR LIFESAVERS

145

Rainy day rescue

For when the forecast betrays you, all under a roof.

See the list →

STEP BACK IN TIME

67

Museums & heritage

Castles, caves and machines kids are allowed to gawp at.

See the list →

THE EVENT CALENDAR

What's on this weekend

October
Wheelgate ParkFri & SatWheelgate Family Halloween SpooktacularWheelgate Park · 2 daysDetails →
War MemorialFri 08:00City DetectiveWar MemorialDetails →
Nottingham PlayhouseFri 16 OctLocalNottingham PlayhouseDetails →
Drayton ManorFri 16 OctBlazing HalloweenDrayton ManorDetails →
Lakeside ArtsFri 16 OctThick & Tight: Natural BehaviourLakeside ArtsDetails →
babyballet NottinghamFri 16 OctTappers (3 years+)babyballet NottinghamDetails →
Lakeside ArtsFri 16 OctLagosPhoto: Stories of Movement and BelongingLakeside ArtsDetails →
Lakeside ArtsFri 16 OctPrehistoric Lives in the Trent ValleyLakeside ArtsDetails →

Plus 49 more events this weekend across Nottingham.

MORE THAN A LIST

One place, a hundred ways to explore

Browse the map, follow the crowd, or save a shortlist for the school holidays: whatever works for your family.

Explore the map

Parents' favourites

  1. 01Halloween Farm site photoThe Halloween Farm (at Cattows Farm)
  2. 02Outdoor garden centre courtyard with wooden buildings, green canopy roof, hanging lights, flowering plants, and a brick farmhouse visible behind.Reg Taylor's Garden Centre
  3. 03Japanese food from Sosu Carlton RoadSosu Japanese
  4. 04Pudding Pantry Sherwood foodThe Pudding Pantry Sherwood
  5. 05WaterLilyWaterLily
See everything →

Your shortlist, saved

Tap the heart on anything and it's waiting for the next free Saturday. No account needed to start.

Open your shortlist →

COLLECTION

Rainy day rescue

145 indoor lifesavers for when the forecast lets you down.

Open the collection

KIND TO THE WALLET

78

completely free days out within 30 minutes of Nottingham

Show me the free ones →

Get the best of Nottingham's weekend in one free email every Thursday: join the Weekender.

HIDDEN GEMS

The ones you've never heard of

Places that aren't on the usual lists, written up honestly. The full collection lives in the Hidden Nottingham guide.

Get the guide →
nottingham playhouse image credit david baird 1 scaled

No. 01Nottingham

Nottingham Playhouse

Sit in on children's theatre and big seasonal shows in Nottingham - pick a title on what's on (show-led prices).

Read the write-up →

Grilled meat wraps with fresh vegetables and white sauce on flatbread, served on dark plates.

No. 02Edwalton

Notcutts Wheatcroft

A garden centre near Nottingham with plant halls, a restaurant and a gift shop for a slower browse rather than a big kids' day out.

Summer Beach Club

No. 03Sheffield

Summer Beach Club

Outdoor summer pop-up at Meadowhall with water slides, a roller coaster and fairground rides for a whole afternoon out.

FIELD NOTES · THE HUDDLEPIN BLOG

Read before you go

Listicles, survival guides and honest write-ups, written after the day out, not before.

All articles →
Jurassic Cove adventure golf course with dinosaur theming
LISTICLE5 MIN READ7 days out for dinosaur-mad kidsBy The Huddlepin team · 12 Sept 2026
More on:🦖 Dinosaurs🎒 School holidays🛴 Ages 5-8

THE WEEKENDER

Next weekend, sorted. Every Thursday, free.

The best family things happening around Nottingham, one hidden gem, and a rainy-day backup plan, from a dad who's been there with a bored seven-year-old. Join free and get the Hidden Nottingham guide as a welcome gift.

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