I have just returned from Nottingham where I helped our son clear out of student housing. Took a flight with Lufthansa to Birmingham and continued by train to Nottingham.
We (had my brother and niece in tow) stayed at the Mercure Hotel on George Street. Service and breakfast were really good, but I found my room too small. I would stay there again, but I’d make sure I get a bigger room. And yes, the original floorboards have a slope (the hotel was built in 1822) and the corridors creak. My room (#211) felt like a ship cabin at times, which was the case even without beer.
We enjoyed some really good beer around town, such as Day Tripper, Acorn, etc. I want a pint!
A sight to see is Wollaton Hall and Deer Park. We arrived in the late morning and there were so many deer in the park. Wollaton Hall, an Elizabethan mansion is quite a site. It also hosts a natural museum of stuffed animals, set in a natural landscape. I did not care so much for this, but enjoyed its architecture more. We also had a very pleasant lunch in the courtyard cafe.
Wollaton Hall provided part of the setting for the latest Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises, released July 2012.
Next was Nottingham Castle, which is situated right in the center of town.
From our hotel on George Street, it was only a 10-minute walk to the castle with the neighboring Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem (the oldest inn in England).
Nightlife in Nottingham is quite interesting. The city was just teeming with people on Friday night.
We ended up in a rocky bar…
I had to try new English food such as this one. The photo does not do the wrap justice. It was so big! Too much for me.
That’s me stepping out of a smelly phone booth, but I enjoyed the photo opportunity. Just held my breath.
I found this English rose at the Nottingham Castle. It smelled wonderful and my iPad camera was able to capture the color beautifully.
I like Nottingham. The best part were its people. Whether we looked confused at the bus station or had to figure out what to do next, so many people offered to help. This was truly amazing.
I opened my umbrella once in three days. Friday evening we sat outside in warm temps and it almost felt a bit like being in a southern European country. The Brits know how to party and have a good time. For Germans like us, we were surprised when even a pub’s security guards had friendly lines for us.