Recommend May 2018 - 46

onsitereview

Michelle Marie Arean

"Nottingham is a real slice of middle
England, with the city full of both rich
history and modern life. It's a UNESCO City
of Literature, no less, inspiring writers and
poets like Byron and D.H. Lawrence. It's
the birthplace of the English Civil War, and
also has a rich sporting heritage," says Chris
Hickman, communications manager for
Experience Nottinghamshire.
During our trip to Nottinghamshire, a
county in Central England that is home
to the city of Nottingham, as well as an
expansive countryside and market towns,
we explored, among other things, the life
of literary icon Lord Byron during a visit to
Newstead Abbey, which was led by none
other than the poet himself (well, sort of...
read on).

A Visit With the Lord Himself
At Newstead Abbey, which has the aura of
an ancient castle rather than a private home
turned public museum, guests will get an
introduction to Lord Byron both as a civilian
and a poet. While touring the abbey's dining
room, bedroom, and writing and living areas,
the guide, dressed as Lord Byron, shares the
history of the house and of Byron himself.
Many of the poet's published works and
personal paintings, swords, letters, and more
are on display throughout the abbey.
It was a snowy day when we visited, but for
those visiting on warmer days, the ground's
landscapes and gardens are said to be an
idyllic place to relax while looking out for
peacocks, swans, and geese.
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46 may 2018

On the Hunt With an Outlaw
Another tour takes guests through
Nottingham with Robin Hood at the helm,
a unique way to learn about the city's history
and culture. Robin Hood leads visitors to the
Lace Market, a historic quarter-mile square
area where they learn about the city's lace
industry in the 18th and 19th centuries; in
fact, during the British Empire, this historic
area was the center of the world's lace
industry; today it's a protected heritage area
spilling over with bars, restaurants, and shops.
The tour takes visitors to the Piano
& Pitcher restaurant, a restored church
featuring stained glass windows and exposed
brick archways. It definitely makes for an
interesting stop for a bite to eat. For dinner,
suggest the World Service Restaurant housed
in 17th century Newdigate House, where
your clients can enjoy a AAA- and Michelinrated fine dining experience from a menu
that changes daily and which blends British
cuisine with worldwide influences.
Continuing on with the tour, it also
visits Nottingham Castle, which I
learned has about 850 man-made caves
underneath; however, it's closed until 2020
for renovations. When it reopens, it will
offer virtual reality Robin Hood activities,
cave tours, and more. Tour price is $20.28
pp (converted from pounds at press time),
or clients can opt for one of the other two
Robin Hood tours: Robin Hood Sherwood
Forest and Nottingham in a Nutshell.
(This is a good time to book your clients on
a Robin Hood tour as the latest film based
on this character will be released this
November nationwide.)

In Nottingham,
visitors can go on a
Robin Hood-guided
tour of the city.

"

Nottingham will mainly appeal to a
young traveler for its independent
shops, bars and nightlife, with the
Lace Market and Hockley area of the
city in particular a mecca for young
urbanites. But it's also great for young
families, too, with lots of attractions
for children. The surrounding county
has more in the way of heritage
attractions for the older traveler.

"

Nottinghamshire

VISIT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE/PAGE ONE PHOTOGRAPHY

Globetrotting

-- Chris Hickman, Communications
Manager, Experience Nottinghamshire

Peak District
Recommend a detour to The Heights of
Abraham in Matlock Bath, which we accessed
via cable car while taking in the views of the
snowy hillside below.
Three-hundred years ago travelers began
to arrive in the area when they discovered
its curative thermal waters. Today, guests can
take a guided tour to learn about the history
of the area, part of which has been designated
a UNESCO World Heritage site. There's an
underground tour to see two caverns where
mining once took place. Here, guests can see
carvings and inscriptions left by miners, and
guests can enjoy lunch on site at the Vista Bar
& Restaurant while taking in the stunning
views. Matlock Bath is about an hour's drive
from Nottinghamshire, and about two hours
by train. Adult tickets to access The Heights
of Abraham are priced at $24.
Nottinghamshire makes for a perfect day
trip as it "is easy to reach from London,
Birmingham and Manchester, as well as
nearby East Midlands Airport and has awardwinning public transport," says Hickman.
"The city-center is compact and walkable,
with Old Market Square at its heart-the
largest such public square in the U.K."
Travelers can reach Nottinghamshire from
London in about two hours by train and three
by car. ■
Contact Information
Heights of Abraham: heightsofabraham.com
Robin Hood Tours: ezekialbone.com/robin-hood
Visit Nottinghamshire: visit-nottinghamshire.co.uk
recommend.com
http://www.heightsofabraham.com http://www.ezekialbone.com/robin-hood http://www.RECMD.IT/SHAKESPEAREENGLAND http://visit-nottinghamshire.co.uk http://www.recommend.com
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