Nottingham with Teens: 25 Fun Things to Do

Nottingham is a fun, lively city with loads going on — perfect if you’ve got teenagers to entertain.

Whether you live nearby or you’re just visiting, there’s no shortage of cool things to do that’ll keep teens happy (and off their phones for a bit!).

From gruesome history to exporing underground caves to escape rooms and adrenaline-packed adventures, Nottingham really does have something for everyone.

In this post, we’ve rounded up the best things to do in Nottingham with teenagers — whether you’re after some Robin Hood history, fun with friends, or to enjoy a family day out.

Discover the history of crime and punishment from medieval times up to the modern day at the National Museum of Justice. Teens will be fascinated to learn of Nottingham’s grisly history.

In Victorian times, the police station, gaol, courtroom were all on this site. Learn how public executions were held on the front steps of the building.

They often hold reenactment days in the school holidays to help bring the history to life. Check the website befor you go to see what’s on.

Find out more at the National Museum of Justice.

Holme Pierrepont Country Park is nestled among 270 acres of beautiful parkland just 10 minutes drive from Nottingham. Enjoy tons of activities for the whole family on site.

Whether your teen is a thrill seeker or prefers more gentle activities, there’s something for everybody. Try mini golf, the sky trail, archery combat, white water rafting or the Lagoon Wipeout course with slides, climbing walls, balancing beams, demolition balls, humps and basher walls.

Book your activity at Holmes Pierrepoint Country Park.

Battle Your Friends at Meetspace VR

Photo Credit: Meetspace VR Nottingham Facebook

Meetspace VR is a virtual reality event for up to eight players. Battle zombies, killer robots and even each other at this brilliant immersive game experience in the Victoria Shopping Centre in Nottingham City Centre.

Book your virtual reality experience here

Go Crazy at The Lost City Adventure Golf

Photo credit: Lost City Adventure Golf Facebook

Also located in Nottingham City Centre is The Lost City Adventure Golf.

Try one of the two exciting indoor mini golf courses, Temple Trail and Sacred Skull. Each course has 18 holes in total.

Spend an Afternoon at Wollaton Hall and Park

Take a guided tour of the spectacular Wollaton Hall, an Elizabethan mansion set amid a 500-acre deer park.  If your teenager loves the TV series Bridgerton, they will feel like they’re on the Bridgerton set.

The same site is also home to Nottingham’s Natural History Museum, Nottingham’s Industrial Museum and the Yard Gallery, so there’s plenty to keep teens occupied.

If you don’t mind a bit of a drive, why not try a treetop adventure at Go Ape in Sherwood Pines?

Adventurous teens won’t be able to resist the treetop challenge and they may also like a segway adventure. You can hire bikes here too. 

Sherwood Pines about 55 mintues in the car from the centre of Nottingham.

Go Karting

Do you have a teen who loves adrenaline fueled activities?

If so they will enjoy indoor go karting at Teamsport Nottingham. Enjoy a session with friends or family!

Ice Skate

The National Ice Centre is located in the heart of Nottingham city centre. They have a variety of sessions each week for public skating. Teens may like the ice skating disco sessions which take place on Friday evenings.

Shop!

Nottingham is fantastic for shopping and there are so many high street shops to try within a small area. If your teenager is a shopaholic, it’s a great city to visit. Here is a quick round up of where to go.

The Victoria Centre – this large indoor shopping centre is home to over 120 stores. Shop here for big brand names including TopShop, River Island and Urban Outfitters. Department stores include House of Fraser and John Lewis.

Broadmarsh Centre – Another large indoor shopping centre which has recently undergone redevelopment and includes a mix of shops, restaurants, and leisure facilities.

Bridlesmith Gate – this picturesque street in the city centre is known for its high-end boutiques and designer stores. It’s ideal for luxury fashion and accessories.

Flying Horse Walk – a covered arcade in Nottingham’s Lace Market area. It’s home to a variety of independent boutiques and specialty stores, selling everything from clothing and jewellery to antiques and art.

Go Underground at the City of Caves

Over 800 caves are hidden beneath Nottingham’s streets, making it the  largest network of caves in the UK. At The City of Caves, teens will discover the largest publicly available section of this vast network, including WW2 air raid shelters and a medieval tannery.

The Museum of Curiosities is a four-floor museum filled with thousands of unusual, bizarre, and often eerie artifacts. The collection has been amassed over decades by paranormal investigators and includes a wide range of items such as human skulls, taxidermy, haunted objects, creepy dolls and movie props.

The museum also has an underground area with a hidden cave, and staff have reported various paranormal activities, including a £12,000 skeleton “flinging itself to the floor” and security alarms being triggered by “ghosts.”

Great for teens who are fascinated with strange, eerie stuff or a fan of all things spooky!

See a Show at the Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall

The Theatre Royal is located on Theatre Square in the heart of Nottingham’s city centre. It has an impressive program of shows and events throughout the year including ballets, Shakespeare tragedies, concerts, musicals and panto.

Find out what’s on for an evening out with a teenager in the city.

Go Boating at Highfields Park

Highfield Park is located in the University of Nottingham. One of it’s stand out features is a large lake where teens can hire a boat. Putting and croquet can be played here too. On top of this there is plenty of space for activities like football, cricket, and tennis. Plus there’s a skate park.

Throughout the year, Highfields Park hosts a variety of events and activities, including concerts, outdoor movie screenings, and festivals. It’s also a popular spot for picnics and outdoor gatherings, particularly during the summer months when the weather is warm and sunny.

Golf at the Riverside Family Golf Centre

Riverside Family Golf Centre is 1 mile from Nottingham City Centre. Challenge family and friends to a dinosaur themed game of outdoor adventure mini golf.

Book your game online here.

Penny Lane

Penny Lane in Nottingham is one of the best activity bars. Enjoy chowing down on ice cream from a vintage machine or crush your friends at a few rounds of ski ball. There’s lots of arcade machines and games including air hockey, basketball hoops and other throwing activities; it’s the ideal place to unleash your inner big kid.

Walk through the Arboretum

The Arboretum is a beautiful park in the heart of Nottingham, with plenty of space for walking, picnicking, and enjoying the outdoors. It covers 17.36 acres and features a wide range of trees and plants from around the world.

Other features of the Arboretum include a large lake and several sculptures and memorials. Keep hungry teens fed at the on-site café.

It’s also worth checking out the events schedule at the Arboretum. Popular events suitable for teens include music concerts, outdoor theatre performances, and festivals.

Try out the Extreme Rides at Nottingham Goose Fair

If you’re visiting Nottingham with your teenager in October, don’t miss the Nottingham Goose Fair.

This annual funfair has been held in Nottingham for over 700 years and is one of the oldest and most well-known fairs in the UK.

It’s held over several days in October on the Forest Recreation Ground, just north of the city centre.

Teenagers will love the fair rides, which range from traditional fairground attractions like carousels and Ferris wheels to more extreme rides like roller coasters and drop towers. There are also plenty of games and stalls where they can win prizes. Plus, fill up with a wide variety of food and drink options, which include candy floss, toffee apples, and hot dogs.

Visit the Kitty Cafe

The Nottingham Kitty Café is the perfect place for teenage animal lovers to visit.

The star of the show at the Kitty Cafe is its resident cats. The cafe is home to a group of rescued cats, who are free to roam around the space and interact with customers as they please. There are plenty of toys and cat trees for them to play with, and customers are encouraged to pet and cuddle with the cats as they enjoy their food and drinks.

The cafe offers a variety of food and drinks, including breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea. Their menu includes a range of vegan and vegetarian options, as well as plenty of sweet treats.

Jump and Bounce at Planet Bounce

Planet Bounce is an inflatable park and a fantastic place for teens to burn off  energy. There’s a wide range of trampolines, including angled walls, jump platforms, and dodgeball courts.

Pop up to the Refuel cafe on site for some well deserved refreshments after your bounce.

Challenge Your Friends to Laser Quest

Challenge family and friends to a game at Nottingham Laser Quest. This multi-level arena has a range of obstacles and hiding spots. Dim lighting, smoke effects and futuristic music create a realistic and immersive environment which is perfect for an exciting game.

Escape from an Escape Room

Escape rooms are a great activity for teens on a rainy day. There are plenty of escape room to try out in Nottingham.

One to check out is iLocked Escape Room. Choose between 3 different themed games which include Alien, The Mummy and Deep Blue: Sabotage.

More Ideas

Still not found an idea you love, here is a quick round up of a few more things that Nottingham has to offer teenagers.

The Dice Cup – this board game cafe is a great place to take board teenagers on a rainy day!

Adrenalin Jungle – located about 10 miles from Nottingham, this is well worth a trip out of the city. Try lots of fun activities like quad biking and archery.

Roxy Lanes, Nottingham – love ten pin bowling. Head to Roxy Lanes to get your fix.

Warhammer World – home of the Warhammer hobby. This is the Games Workshop’s headquarters and visitor centre. The perfect place for collectors and gamers from across the world. 

Where to Stay In Nottingham With Teenagers

Doubletree by Hilton – the hotel is located about a mile from M1 and a 2 minute walk from Cinderhell tram stop which will take you to Nottingham City Centre which is just 3 miles away. It has a fitness centre, extensive free parking and a warm cookie on arrival. Interconnecting rooms are available on request.

Premier Inn Nottingham City Centre – Located in the heart of the city centre within walking distance of the top attractions including the National Ice Centre and the Galleries of Justice Museum. Family rooms are available for 2 adults and 2 kids up to 15 years old. For older teens or more space, you can get 2 rooms for a very competitive price.

Roomzzz Aparthotel Nottingham City
Located in the city centre, The Roomzz Aparthotel has a family sized apartment and a 2 bedroom apartment, which are both great to house families with teenagers (depending on the size of your family).

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