Ah, you've made it to the grand finale, our twelfth and final stop: Nottingham Castle! As you approach, keep your eyes peeled for a stately building perched high on a dramatic, rocky cliff known as "Castle Rock." The castle looms majestically over the city from its elevated position, commanding the skyline. You'll see its robust stone walls and grand facade, reminding you of its storied past.
Nottingham Castle is not your medieval fairytale fortress (most of that was gone by the 16th century). Instead, what stands before you is a Stuart Restoration-era ducal mansion completed in the 1670s. Imagine a mansion so fancy it makes Buckingham Palace look like a starter home! Built on the bones of a Norman castle that dates back to 1068, this palace has seen royal intrigues, medieval battles, and even a touch of arson (thanks, rioters of 1831).
Perched 130 feet above the city on cliffs to the south and west, the views from here are epic - a perfect spot to snap that “king or queen of the world” selfie. William Cavendish, the 1st Duke of Newcastle, began building this version of the mansion, but it was his son who wrapped things up. Despite being burned down in the 19th century and only receiving a facelift in the 1870s to house an art gallery and museum, the castle retains an air of dignity and historical gravitas.
Look around, and you’ll find remnants of the old gatehouse and parts of the ramparts, giving you a hint of its fortified past. Today, though, the castle is owned by the Nottingham City Council and, after a £30 million restoration project, it reopened in June 2022 with much fanfare… only to close again a few months later. Fear not, it’s back in business as of June 2023!
In its heyday, Nottingham Castle was not just a fortress but also a royal playground, close to hunting grounds and royal forests. Let’s not forget its role in the legendary tales of Robin Hood - yes, this was the spot for the ultimate showdown between the outlaw and the nefarious Sheriff of Nottingham. And just to throw in a dash of royal drama, King Richard I (aka "the Lionheart") once laid siege to it in 1194, and in 1330, King Edward III staged a thrilling coup d'état here (thanks to a secret tunnel, no less).
So take a moment to revel in the layers of history, the grandeur, and maybe, just maybe, the lingering aura of Robin Hood himself. What a castle, right?
