Parks & nature in Nottingham

Arnot Hill Park

Arnold, Nottingham

Free park with a play area, skate park and an arts trail of over twenty carvings and mosaics to hunt down.

CaféFree parkingFood on siteOutdoor play+5 more

Attenborough Nature Reserve

Attenborough

Free wetland reserve for pond-dipping, bird feeders and muddy paths, with a café for when small legs give up.

CaféDog friendlyGift shopGroup bookings+6 more

Bennerley Viaduct

Awsworth

A free, buggy- and wheelchair-friendly skywalk 18m above the Erewash Valley, with a café (Thu-Sun) and wildlife-rich nature reserve below.

Accessible toiletCaféFree parkingFood on site+6 more

Bestwood Country Park

Nottingham

Walk the hilly park trails, poke round the winding engine house and picnic - free entry and parking.

Accessible toiletBaby changeCaféFree parking+7 more

Bestwood Country Park - Mill Lakes

Nottingham

A free walk around a quiet lake with birdwatching, a Saturday morning café and no fishing or swimming to worry about.

CaféDog friendly

Calke Abbey

Ticknall

A 600 acre parkland estate with natural play, cycling trails and a faded stately house to poke around when legs need a rest.

Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingCaféChanging Places+12 more

Clifton Woods

Nottingham

A big, history-filled riverside woodland near Clifton with hidden ruins to hunt for, dog friendly and served by local buses.

Dog friendlyOutdoor playPublic transport nearby

Colwick Country Park

Nottingham

Let them loose on the lakeside playground, then walk or cycle the flat waterside paths - free park entry.

Bike parkingCash onlyDog friendlyFree parking+6 more

Cotgrave Country Park

Nottingham

Free pond dipping, nature trails and a summer Teddy Bears' Picnic in a park built on old colliery land near Nottingham.

Dog friendlyFree parkingOutdoor playParking+1 more

Dukes Wood Nature Reserve

Eakring

A free woodland trail past old oil pumps left over from Britain's first onshore oilfield, best for bluebells in spring.

Dog friendlyFree parkingOutdoor playParking+1 more

Felley Priory Garden

Underwood · ages 0-16

Underwood - Felley Priory gardens near the M1, under-16s free, free parking, tea room (no dogs or picnics).

Accessible toiletBooking requiredCaféFree parking+7 more

Gedling Country Park

Mapperley

Former colliery turned 276-acre country park with a mining-themed play area, zip wire and accessible trails, free to explore, with a proper café for afters.

Accessible toiletBaby changeCaféChanging Places+14 more

Golden Beach Karaoke Bar 黄金海岸KTV

Leicester

Adults-only private karaoke rooms in Leicester city centre, from 5pm to 2am, with cocktails and food brought to your table.

Birthday partiesFood on siteParty rooms

Highfields Park Boating Lake

Nottingham · ages 3+

Hire a rowing boat, canoe or KataKanu and paddle round the lake for an hour, no under-18s allowed out without an adult.

Outdoor play

Kedleston Hall

Derby · ages 0+

National Trust neoclassical hall and parkland north of Derby - house, grounds and cafe from about £4.25 parkland.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingBlue badge parking+12 more

Lambley Dumbles

Lambley

Pull on wellies for muddy stream-ravine walks through the dumbles and field paths - free countryside wander.

March House Farm Shop

Melton Mowbray

A farm shop with a butchery and deli that turns into a pumpkin patch, slip and slide and animal meet-and-greet through the seasons.

CaféIndoor seatingFood on sitePicnic area

Maxeys Pick Up A Pumpkin

Kirklington · ages 0+

Pick your own pumpkin from the field, ride the tractor carriage and take a shot at the pumpkin cannon.

Free parkingToiletsBaby changeCafé

Mr Pumpkin

Morley · ages 0-15

Pick your own pumpkin from a field of nearly 90,000 plants, then hit the bouncy castle and mini fairground rides.

Booking required

National Trust - Clumber Park

Worksop

Miles of woodland paths, bike trails and a playground to explore around a huge former country estate near Worksop.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBlue badge parkingBreastfeeding friendly+16 more

Naturescape Wildflower Farm

Langar, Nottingham

A free-to-visit wildflower garden with two ponds, a play area and a tearoom for cake afterwards.

CaféDog friendlyGift shopIndoor play+6 more

Nottingham Arboretum

Nottingham

Free tree trail walks through 800-plus trees on flat paths, right by Nottingham's tram stops.

CaféDog friendlyFood on siteOutdoor play+5 more

Nottingham Beach

Nottingham

A free pop-up beach with sand, a pool and paid rides in the middle of the city, open all summer.

Card onlyCash onlyToilets

Nottinghamshire Pick Your Own Pumpkins

Oxton

Kids pick pumpkins and seasonal fruit in the open fields - no entrance fee, pay for what you pick.

Free parkingToiletsFood on site

Pasture Road Skatepark

Stapleford

Roll the new concrete plaza in Stapleford - banks, rails and a long run for skate, scooter or BMX, free entry.

Free parking

Rushcliffe Country Park

West Bridgford, Nottingham · ages 1-16

A big free-to-enter park near West Bridgford with a lake, a great play area with a 14-element tower, a skatepark and 4X bike track, easily fills a whole day.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBooking requiredCafé+14 more

Sherwood Pines

Kings Clipstone

Race the play trails and pedal paths under the pines - free forest entry, pay for parking.

CaféParking

Silverhill Wood

Sutton-in-Ashfield

Free reclaimed colliery woodland near Mansfield with cycling trails, orienteering and a dog selfie spot, no parking charges.

Dog friendlyFree parkingOutdoor playParking+2 more

Skylarks Nature Reserve

Holme Pierrepont

A flat two-mile trail round lakes and reed beds where kids can spot kingfishers and grebes from proper viewing hides.

Dog friendlyFree parkingParkingPicnic area+4 more

Spring Lakes Watersports & Leisure

Nottingham · ages 1-16

An outdoor cable-lake set-up with an inflatable aqua park, wakeboarding and paddleboarding, plus a beach and shallow paddling for the under-fives.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBirthday partiesBooking required+8 more

Stoke Bardolph

Stoke Bardolph

Stoke Bardolph near Nottingham - quiet Trent-side village with Stoke Lock, flat riverside walk and the Ferry Boat Inn.

The Halloween Farm (at Cattows Farm)

Heather

Heather - seasonal Halloween farm with pumpkin patch, harvest ride, Trick or Treat Street and circus

Booking requiredFree parkingToiletsBaby change+2 more

The Hook Skate Park

West Bridgford

Drop in at the free skate bowl and plaza by The Hook in West Bridgford - BMX and boards share the concrete.

Free parking

The Linby Trail and Hucknall

Hucknall

A 3.5-mile woodland climb from Linby up to great views near Hucknall, steep in places, so leave the buggy behind.

Food on siteParkingPublic transport nearbyToilets