Nottingham Castle reopening – all you need to know

Nottingham Castle will reopen on Monday June 21st after a £ 30 million refurbishment to turn it into a world-class heritage site for family friends.

The huge redevelopment project has created a brand new facility that officials hope will attract more tourists to the area in the long run.

When does it open?

Monday, June 21, 2021. The gates will open from 10 am.

What’s new?

It has undergone a careful £ 30 million renovation over the past three years. The redevelopment was funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Nottingham City Council, D2N2 and Arts Council England to turn it into a world-class attraction. The castle grounds have been redesigned to reflect its medieval look.

Built into what was hundreds of years ago, the moat is a new adventure playground. Slides, jungle gyms, and wooden castle towers were built to mimic Robin Hood’s Sherwood Hideout, and a fire pit and storytelling chair were installed to overlook the south side of town for remarkable views. There are a number of galleries and a museum in the newly painted Ducal Palace, which is even equipped with air conditioning to allow delicate items of importance to be seen in the exhibitions.

The Robin Hood Adventure Experience is hidden under the palace itself and replaces the old employee parking lot.

This is reached through a tunnel that is eerily lit and cold inside and has its own soundscape that leads to a series of interactive games in which you can fire a longbow and fight Little John with a quarterstaff.

The experience also tells the story of Nottingham’s outlaw legend. The site has more than 1,000 years of history, including the cave network under the palace itself.

Classrooms have been built into some of the old medieval areas of the substructure and the network of caves is visible in the walls and architecture.

And next to the gatehouse (also known as the North Bastion), an entirely new visitor center has been built.

The terrace café now has its own kitchen area where food and drink can be prepared and offers a view of Nottingham train station and much of the city.

How much do tickets cost?

The prices for the general admission ticket are as follows. For city residents in NG1 to NG9 and NG11 a discount of 10 percent is granted on castle tickets. An annual pass model will be available as soon as it is safe and the number of people on site is no longer restricted due to the Covid-19 security measures.

Art Fund Pass holders can also book general admission tickets, and the castle has a “Pay what you can afford” program in place, details of which can be found on the Nottingham Castle website. The castle will also host free open days during the year, such as

Timed activities with tickets can also be booked in advance for an additional charge:

Robin Hood Adventure:

Cave Tours – Underground Adventure

How do you book tickets?

Tickets must be purchased in advance through the website: NottinghamCastle.org.uk. Entry times are every 15 minutes, starting at 10 a.m. and the last entry is one hour before closing.

Admission to Robin Hood Adventures (entry times are every 30 minutes from 10.15 am. Allow 30 minutes for this experience) and Castle Cave Tours (entry times are every 40 minutes from 10.20 am. Allow 25 minutes for this experience) are additional bookable with a Nottingham Castle ticket. Tickets for these attractions can either be booked in advance online or at the visitor center on the day of the visit.

Visitors don’t need to buy a ticket to gain access to the new state-of-the-art visitor center, where visitors can browse bespoke products from artisans from Nottingham, UK and around the world, in the castle shop.

What is being done to make Covid safe?

Nottingham Castle is a We’re Good to Go and Safe Travels attraction and will comply with all government regulations in force at the time of opening. Some of the measures taken are as follows:

• Pre-booked tickets through Nottingham Castle website to minimize arrival delays
• Disinfection stations – There will be disinfection stations around the castle and its grounds. Staff will be performing improved cleaning throughout the day
• Face coverings – all employees and visitors wear masks in the castle and in the visitor center.
• Social distancing – Social distancing measures are in place throughout the grounds and within the castle and visitor center.
• Card payments whenever possible – cash payments are only accepted if absolutely necessary.

Read more: 28 images show a £ 30 million conversion of Nottingham Castle

Where is the nearest parking lot?

The closest car park to the castle is NCP St James Street Car Park (NG1 6EY). For those not arriving by car, visitors can take advantage of the city’s fantastic public transport options, including the tram, train, bus, and park and ride. More information can be found here: https://www.nottinghamcastle.org.uk/plan-your-visit/getting-here/

NET becomes an event ticket partner of the Nottingham Castle Trust. Customers traveling to the castle can get an event ticket, which means a return ticket costs just £ 2.50 as opposed to the normal price of £ 4.20. The tickets are available on the castle website.

Can I take my dog ​​with me?

Dogs are welcome on the castle grounds, including the outside terraces of the café and terrace café, but only guide dogs and assistance dogs are allowed in the castle and visitor center.

Can I get something to eat while I’m there?

There are two new cafes at Nottingham Castle. The Coffee Shop – in the brand new Visitor Center – offers drinks, cakes, and light refreshments, while the Terrace Café – inside the castle – offers panoramic views of the city with the option for heartier meals as well as light snacks options. Both cafés use products from the region whenever possible.

Driveway and parking spaces

Nottingham Castle has been redeveloped with wheelchair access in mind. It includes a changing room in the gatehouse next to the visitor center as well as barrier-free toilets. There are a small number of wheelchairs and walkers that visitors can borrow, as well as mobile induction loops that are available at the visitor center.

The Hood’s Hideout adventure playground can be reached via a gently sloping footpath and is wheelchair and stroller-friendly.

Free parking is available on Castle Road with easy access to the castle for Blue Badge holders and additional Blue Badge parking spaces in St. James’ Street multi-storey car park at standard rates.