1 / 6Nottinghamshire packs a huge amount into one county for families: ancient caves beneath a bustling city, the legendary home of Robin Hood, hands-on farms and gentle theme parks built just for little ones. Whether you want a rainy-day adventure underground or a free-to-roam woodland ramble, here are seven confirmed family days out worth planning a trip around.
🎟️See things to do in Nottinghamshire on GetYourGuide →City of Caves
A network of ancient sandstone caves hidden beneath Nottingham's city centre, including a medieval tannery and WW2 air-raid shelters, explored on a guided or self-guided tour with audio and costumed interpretation. Kids love the underground adventure feel, with torch-lit tunnels and the WW2 shelter story making it feel like a real-life dungeon exploration. Right in the heart of Nottingham, it's an easy add-on to a city day out.
Nottingham Castle
A restored ducal mansion and museum on a historic castle site, with galleries, grounds, a Robin Hood adventure play area and optional guided cave tours beneath the rock. The Robin Hood theming, big adventure playground, interactive galleries and underground caves give families a full day mixing history and outdoor play. It sits on a landmark hilltop in central Nottingham.
Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve
A 450-acre ancient woodland and nature reserve in Edwinstowe, home to the 1,000-year-old Major Oak, with a visitor centre, waymarked trails, cafe and Robin Hood heritage. A Robin Hood-themed play area with rope bridge and lookout post, a den-building zone and easy buggy-friendly trails make it a brilliant free-to-enter woodland day out, capped off by a visit to the legendary Major Oak.
White Post Farm
A 25-acre family farm park at Farnsfield with more than 3,000 animals, from classic farm breeds to exotics like meerkats and reptiles, plus indoor and outdoor play areas. Hands-on animal feeding with goats and guinea pigs, reptile handling, indoor soft play and outdoor play zones keep younger children busy whatever the weather.
Wollaton Hall, Gardens and Deer Park
A grand Elizabethan mansion in Nottingham housing Nottinghamshire's largest Natural History Museum, set in 500 acres of free-entry parkland with roaming red and fallow deer. The free deer park and playgrounds, a museum full of animal specimens, plus a free under-5s activity zone and children's trail sheet make it a superb low-cost family day out.
Sundown Adventureland
A children's theme park at Rampton aimed at the under-10s, with over 30 gentle rides and immersive themed areas such as Rocky Mountain Railway and the Tractor Ride. Designed specifically for younger children, its story-book theming and low-thrill rides let toddlers and pre-schoolers enjoy the day without height barriers getting in the way.
Clumber Park
A vast National Trust country estate near Worksop with woodland, heath and a serpentine lake, offering cycle-hire trails, walking paths, a walled kitchen garden and cafe. Miles of flat, family-friendly cycling and walking trails, a big lake, play areas and Go Ape treetop adventure nearby make it a classic outdoor family day.
Tips for a family day out
Mix your week between indoor and outdoor spots so bad weather never spoils the plan: pair rainy days with City of Caves or White Post Farm's soft play, and save Sherwood Forest, Wollaton and Clumber Park for sunshine. Several of the best sites, including Sherwood Forest and Wollaton's deer park, are free to enter, so you can build a low-cost day around them. Book paid attractions ahead in school holidays, pack a picnic to keep costs down, and check ride height and age suitability at Sundown Adventureland if you're travelling with toddlers.
FAQs
What are the best free family days out in Nottinghamshire? Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve and Wollaton Hall's deer park and grounds are both free to enter, offering trails, play areas and wildlife without an admission charge (some parking and activity fees may apply).
What's a good day out for toddlers and pre-schoolers? Sundown Adventureland at Rampton is built specifically for the under-10s with gentle, low-thrill rides, while White Post Farm's hands-on animals and indoor soft play suit little ones in any weather.
What can we do in Nottinghamshire on a rainy day? City of Caves takes you underground out of the weather for a torch-lit adventure, and White Post Farm's indoor play and reptile handling keep children entertained when it's wet outside.
🎟️ Top things to do in Nottinghamshire
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