Nottingham Arboretum

WHAT IT’S LIKE

Nottingham's oldest park, right by the city centre with tram access, buggy-friendly surfaced paths and a tree trail to explore, but no public toilets on site.

This is Nottingham's oldest public park, opened back in 1852, and it's the closest green space to the city centre. It's home to a collection of over 800 trees, some dating from the original Victorian planting, and there's a Tree Trail and Heritage Trail leaflet you can download to turn a walk into a proper explore for kids. There's also an orienteering map and a self-guided health walk if you want to make a day of it. Most of the park is on surfaced paths so it's fine for buggies and wheelchairs, and dogs are welcome under control. The seasonal café (check its Facebook page for opening) is handy for a pit stop, but there's currently no toilet provision on site, so plan accordingly, especially with little ones. Parking is limited to on-street spots, but the NET tram runs right alongside the park with a stop about 150m away, making it an easy car-free trip from the city. The park has four entrance points (Waverley Road, Arboretum Street, North Sherwood Street and Addison Street) and hosts a busy events programme through the year including the Green Festival. There's also an active Friends group running things like bulb planting and heritage walks if you fancy getting more involved.