Nottingham

The modern city of Nottingham was built on an ancient Anglo-Saxon settlement in which people lived in the natural caves in the area. Later, people built caves for storage by digging in the soft sandstone. The first name for Nottingham indicated it was "a place of cavy dwellings", but through the years, the name was changed to Nottingham.

In fact, it is possible to explore some of these ancient caves. Creswell Crags, dubbed 'the Sistine Chapel of the Ice Age' due to recently discovered cave paintings found within its network of limestone caves and rocky crags, is where you can see one of the most northerly places on Earth to have been visited by prehistoric humans during the Ice Ages. There are several tours for the caves where you will be taken down into the caves by an experienced guide. The walks are short, though they are over varied terrain, and for families with children over 5, this is a fascinating experience to learn about the ancient Ice Age peoples of the area. You can also visit the museum which has audio visual displays and artifacts that have been found in the caves. Cave tour prices are £3.90 for adults and admission to the museum is free.

Another noted establishment using the local caves is Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem, a pub, which claims to the the oldest drinking establishment in the UK. The back drinking rooms of the pub are actually large caverns. There is another cave beneath the pub which was once used as the brewery, but now used for storage. The name of the pub "Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem" was taken from the 12th century Crusades to the Holy Land. It is said the pub was a place knights who answered the call to join the crusades stopped off for a point on their trip to Jerusalem. It is not known if these stories are true, or if, indeed, the pub is that old, but atmosphere is very unique, and certainly worth a visit. Managers of the establishment are usually happy to give you a tour of the place if they aren't too busy.

Another notable tourist spot is Nottingham Castle, a 17th century mansion built on the site of the original Medieval Nottingham Castle. When you reach the castle, you'll see spectacular views across the city. Inside the castle, you'll find a museum showcasing fifteen centuries of Nottingham history, and art gallery with rare collections of silver, glass, armour and paintings from centuries ago as well as modern national and international artists' works. You can also take a guided tour to visit the many manmade caves and tunnels, some of which date back to medieval times, that are under the Castle. Nottingham Castle is 10 minutes walk from Nottingham City centre, with easy access from train and bus stations, and parking is near the castle. The castle is open Monday through Sunday 10AM to 5PM from March through September and 11AM to 4PM October through February. Admission costs £3.00 for adults.

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See a Map of Nottingham