Things to do with the kids in Nottingham

Whether you’re trying to fill out a long summer holiday or just occupying some hours after school, Nottingham has plenty of activities for tots, juniors and teens to enjoy. From soft play to ice skating, you’re bound to find something to occupy them, and hopefully tire them out in the process!

Wear them out with a day at the park

When the sun is up and the weather is warm, it’s a shame to spend the day indoors. Luckily, Nottingham is famous for its green spaces! Whether you’re taking the kids to feed the ducks at Highfield, run around the Wollaton Hall gardens or play hide and seek in the woods, the city has plenty of options for enjoying the great outdoors.

Lead a siege on Nottingham Castle

Your little ones have probably given themselves the imaginary titles of kings, queens and knights already, so why not take the young nobility to see a real castle? Nottingham Castle is one of the city’s many historical locations with a direct link to the daring tales of Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham. The castle clearly understands where its appeal lies, as it hosts a full timber adventure playground to let the kids roleplay their very own sieges.

Follow the clues on a treasure trial

If your kids need a little persuasion to take their weekend walk, Treasure Trails offers a fine way to trick them into having fun. Explore Nottingham’s iconic parks with a case file of clues and a mystery to solve, letting their imaginations do the rest. Follow tales of pirates, spies or the enigmatic Robin Hood through Sherwood, Wollaton and the Lace Market, and raise the stakes with the promise of treasure (cupcakes) at the end!

Meet the animals at Stonebridge City Farm

Being a parent gets expensive quickly - childcare, transport, more food than you ever believed possible - so when you get the chance to save some money, of course you’re going to take it! If you’re searching for free things to do with toddlers in Nottingham, look no further than Stonebridge City Farm, a lively charity full of fluffy, feathery and scaly residents that your tots will be thrilled to meet. You can also donate to keep the farm going if you wish, or pop into their shop and cafe for pastries, eggs and pet supplies.

Visit Green's Windmill science centre

Keeping your kids’ minds occupied during the long summer months is a constant struggle, especially if they’ve already gone through all the books you bought for them. That’s why science centres exist! At Green’s Windmill, you can teach your future scientists all about electricity, light and magnetism, and with any luck, they’ll be teaching the teachers about it when the school year rolls around again!

Admire fish at the garden centre

It’s not a traditional day out, but it is free! Many little ones love nothing more than watching animals do their thing, and brightly coloured tetras, bottom-feeding plecos and charismatic guppies are all wondrous jewels of the deep to a child. Explore the undiscovered regions of the fish room at Bardills Garden Centre, and sneak in some of your own shopping chores on the side while you’re there.

Express their creativity at the Lakeside Arts Centre

Are you the proud parent of an artist, singer, actor or dancer? The Lakeside Arts Centre is ready to be blown away by your little one’s skills. Cultivate their silliness at a circus skills workshop, watch a puppet show of their favourite book, or help them to create their own Pinocchio with paper, glue and a splash of imagination. With plenty of activities to choose from, the Lakeside Arts Centre is a local favourite for filling long summer days.

Bounce around at a trampoline park

Kids running around the house with too much energy? Hop on over to the Red Kangaroo and experience Nottingham’s true crowning jewel: a bouncy obstacle course to put Winnie the Pooh’s Tigger to shame. It’s a surefire way for your kids to wear themselves out before bedtime.

Unleash them at a soft play centre

If you’re looking for indoor activities for kids in Nottingham, you can’t go wrong with soft play. Spend a rainy day drinking coffee while the little ones climb, slide and play fight their way through one of the city’s many indoor play centres, like Pirate’s Play. It may just be a time filler for now, but an afternoon out at a jungle gym of slides, tunnels and ball pits is guaranteed to foster fond memories for years to come.

Teach them ice skating at an indoor rink

Do your little ones love the freezing, wet and cold winter holidays? Do their coats and gloves keep getting clogged with snow and slush ice? Fear not - at the National Ice Centre you can bring the winter inside! Enjoy all the charms of the freezing cold with none of the hassle of experiencing it outside. Sign them up to the Holiday Club for 7–13-year-olds or enjoy a one-off skating session that you’ll all remember fondly.

Watch a movie at Broadway Cinema

Movies have been a parent’s best friend ever since Disney was created in 1923 and remain a tried-and-true method for keeping kids entertained to this day. Nottingham’s Broadway Cinema knows that all too well, and hosts plenty of kid-friendly viewings and activities for families to enjoy. They also regularly run older movies, making it easy to introduce the kids to some of your own favourites.

Drop into Gloworm Festival

Are you tired of staring longingly at adult-focused festivals and events that you just can’t go to with the kids in tow? Today is your lucky day! Nottingham hosts its very own yearly Gloworm Festival aimed at families, with a lineup of your kids’ favourite TV stars, bands and fairground rides to enjoy. Simply grab a bite to eat at a street food stall, join them on the teacups or watch a band jam to family-friendly tunes on stage.

Go exploring the City of Caves

If your family is a little too old for soft play and petting zoos, don’t worry; there are plenty of things to do in Nottingham with teenagers! While teens can be harder to entertain than younger kids, sometimes all it takes to keep them interested is a shift in perspective - one that Nottingham’s underground city will be happy to give you. The aptly named City of Caves is a warren of tunnels sprawling underneath Nottingham, complete with historical artefacts, displays and a whole lot of history to learn.

Immerse yourselves in a virtual world

If there’s one thing we know about teenagers, it’s that they love to play video games. While it’s easy to feel out of the loop while they talk about the newest Fortnite dances, there is a way to meet them in the middle: Meetspace VR is a virtual reality gaming experience great for getting your teens out of the house. Choose from a range of games or mission-based escape rooms and jump into another world with them - maybe you’ll learn a thing or two!

Escape a room together

As your juniors grow up into teens, then an escape room might be appealing! Escapologic offers 11 well-crafted escape rooms for older kids to enjoy, ranging across various difficulties and themes.

The best kids activities in Nottingham

There’s no shortage of fun activities around Nottingham, whether you’re occupying the kids, spending a day out with friends or going on a date. Hopefully, this guide has helped you to fill out the holiday weeks and prevent your bored little ones from climbing the walls! If you’re looking to move closer to Robin Hood’s thriving hometown, check out our new build homes in Nottingham today.

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