Nottingham Private Walking Tour: Robin Hood & Lace History

Nottingham lace industry tour: explore historic manufacturing hub and its lasting street heritage

A private walking tour of Nottingham led by a local guide for two hours, covering the city's connection to Robin Hood, Lord Byron and the lace trade that earned it the nickname "City of World Lace Manufacture." You'll see Old Market Square, St Mary's Church, the Lace Market, Nottingham Castle and Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, England's oldest inn, while learning about local architecture, crime and punishment, and the culture that shaped the East Midlands. The guide customizes the route on the spot to match your interests.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Nottingham's history and landmarks

• Learn about Robin Hood and famous locals
• Discover local architecture and iconic buildings
• Explore Nottingham’s Lace Industry history
• Understand crime, punishment, and local culture
• Visit Old Market Square
• See St Mary’s Church and Shire Hall
• Walk through The Lace Market
• Tour Nottingham Castle
• View Robin Hood Statue
• Stop at Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem inn

The experience

What makes Nottingham tick? A private guide who knows the city's 2,000 years of history, from Roman settlement through the medieval period, the industrial boom and into today. You'll walk past Old Market Square and St Mary's Church, then into the Lace Market district where the trade that built the city's fortune still shapes the streets. The guide points out the architecture that tells the story: which buildings survived, which were torn down and why, and what each one meant to Nottingham's rise as a world trade hub.

Robin Hood lives here, not just as legend but as a figure woven into how Nottingham sees itself. You'll see his statue and hear how the outlaw became the city's symbol of rebellion. The tour also covers Lord Byron, who lived in Nottingham, and the cultural threads that run through the place: the language people speak, the crimes that shaped law and punishment, the women who gave the city its nickname "The Queen of the Midlands." Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, England's oldest inn, sits on the route. A building that has stood since the 12th century.

The guide walks with your group only, so the pace and the focus stay yours. If something catches your interest (a building, a story, a corner of the Lace Market), the route can shift on the spot. Two hours covers the main sites without rushing, and the guide speaks English throughout.

What’s included

• Private guided tour with a local guide who walks with your group only.
• two-hour walking route covering Old Market Square, St Mary's Church, the Lace Market, Nottingham Castle, the Robin Hood Statue and Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem.
• customizable stops and pacing based on your interests.
• guide in English.
• suitable for all fitness levels, with stroller access available.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day13 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 18:00

Book up to2d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Global Guide Services

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so the guide and route belong to your group alone: ideal if you want to ask questions, linger at sites that catch your interest, or shift the focus on the spot. The two-hour format fits a morning or afternoon without consuming your whole day in Nottingham.

Top questions

What is the Lace Market and why does it matter to Nottingham's history?

The Lace Market is the district where Nottingham's lace industry operated at its peak in the 19th century, when the city became the world's center for lace manufacture. The buildings, streets and layout still reflect that era, and the tour shows how the trade transformed Nottingham into "The Queen of the Midlands" and a global trade hub.

Will we actually see Nottingham Castle on this tour?

Yes, Nottingham Castle is one of the stops on the walking route. The guide will show you the castle and explain its place in the city's history spanning nearly 2,000 years.

Can the guide change the route if I want to focus on something specific?

Yes. The guide customizes the tour on the spot based on what interests you, so if you want to spend more time on Robin Hood, the lace industry, Lord Byron or any other aspect of Nottingham's history, the route can shift to match.

How long is the tour and what's the pace like?

The tour runs for two hours and is suitable for all physical fitness levels. It's a walking tour through the city center, so you'll be on your feet, but the pace is steady and manageable for most people.

Is Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem actually England's oldest inn?

Yes, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem is England's oldest inn and is included as a stop on the tour. The building dates back to the 12th century and sits on the walking route through Nottingham's historic center.