This Sunday, 17th April, BBC Radio Nottingham are holding their “Big Day Out”, offering free entry to loads of amazing heritage attractions across Nottinghamshire. It’s a celebration of the county’s rich history which you can discover with your family on what should be a fantastic, fun-filled day finding out more about where you live. All of the places taking part are inviting you to come down and see what they have to offer with either free or reduced entry.
Explore Notts’ mining heritage at the Bestwood Winding Engine in Bestwood Country Park. Become a “History Hunter” and dress up as both modern and Victorian miners or sample the delicious homemade cakes at the Dynamo House café. From seams of coal to seams of a different kind, The Framework Knitters Museum in Calverton allows you to dress in yet more Victorian garb. It looks like it’ll be a great day for those who like dressing up!
Get literary and discover more about the lives of some of the county’s greatest authors at both the D H Lawrence Birthplace Museum in Eastwood or Newstead Abbey, once the home of the man who was “mad, bad and dangerous to know” – Lord Byron! Perennial Nottingham favourite Nottingham Castle is free so why not go for a picnic in the grounds and nip up to the Long Gallery, making sure to see the stunning Gardener’s Daughter by Pre-Raphaelite painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Or hop on the number 30 bus and explore Wollaton Hall’s Natural History Museum (home of George the Gorilla) and Nottingham Industrial Museum in the hall’s grounds along with a herd of deer – make sure they don’t nab your sandwiches!
Want something a bit more Twenty-first Century? Then The National Videogame Arcade in Hockley will sort your Sonics from your Marios and there’s loads of fantastic games to try! Also in town is the Galleries of Justice and their new exhibition on the trial of Roger Casement, an Irish spy hung for treason 100 years ago! Grissly!! Or go underground and explore the caverns under the Malt Cross’ Victorian music hall that used to form part of a Carmelite Friary dating back to 1271!
If you’re willing, go milling and grind some flour at Green’s Windmill & Science Centre, where you can also find out about Nottingham mathematician George Green’s famous theorem. Also in Sneinton there’s the William Booth Birthplace Museum, detailing his role in the foundation of The Salvation Army, and, a short hop over Carlton Road is Stonebridge City Farm, where you can meet more animals than you’d see in the Old Market Square at closing time on a Saturday night! Further afield, and if hard labour’s your thing, try The Workhouse in Southwell or get aeronautical at Newark Air Museum.
It’s a fantastic day where you can see all that Nottingham and Nottinghamshire has to offer for low or no cost. So what are you waiting for? For a full list of venues, more information and terms and conditions, please click here.
Hey, Nottingham! Want to hear some of the greatest orchestral music ever written – for FREE?
Well, you can! The world famous BBC Symphony Orchestra is playing as part of the Ten Pieces project at the Royal Concert Hall on Monday 18th April at 5:15pm and, yes, the tickets are 100% free! They’ll be led by world renowned conductor Alpesh Chauhan with soloists to be confirmed – but we’re sure they’ll be brilliant. To get your tickets (for free, which we can’t stop sayings!) – click here.
Ten Pieces is in its second year of bringing exciting concerts to the city and inspiring young people to get creative with classical music! Ten Pieces II hopes to be a springboard for creativity and enjoyment of all forms of music. Aimed at young people in Key Stage 3 – although you can attend from any age, the concert features a mix of famous orchestral, choral and operatic pieces, and includes two contemporary classics from Anna Clyne and Gabriel Prokofiev.
Tickets for families can be booked here and are limited to parties of up to 6 people and if you’re interested in playing or learning more about music, check out our friends Nottingham Music Hub.
Hope you’re having a great first day of the holidays. With no school for the next two weeks you may be thinking that you might be getting bored due to a lack of things to do. Well, you’d be wrong – there’s loads of things happening across the city that you can take part in and they may even be something you can sign off on your OppNotts challenges.
You can bring Nottingham lace to life with giant looms and noisy machines at Nottingham Contemporary. Or why not help Robin Hood at Nottingham Castle and try not to end up in the stocks! Follow the clues to find the missing Easter eggs hidden around the grounds? Find them all to claim a prize! There’s also daily crafts sessions in the morning and a chance to handle objects from medieval times every afternoon. Entry is also cheaper if you take your CityCard! Dinosaurs are on the loose at Wollaton Hall – follow the Dinosaur trail around the Hall museum to see if you can find all of the hidden dinosaurs! Plus, take part in crafty fun where you can create your own dinosaur badge, mask or mini dino! Or, bake your own Easter inspired cakes over the holidays at Green’s Windmill using their own ground flour!
There’s also loads of events happening at your local library like Nottingham Children’s Book Award craft sessions at Hyson Green, Sneinton, Clifton, Bilborough, Radford Lenton, Aspley, Wollaton, Bulwell Riverside, Southglade Park, Meadows, Basford, St Ann’s Valley and Nottingham Central libraries – check the links for the days! And events in your local park: use your detective skills to work your way around Vernon Park, Radford Recreation Ground or The Forest and see how many natural items you can scavenge. Why not join the park rangers at The Forest on a fun and exciting activity and make your very own woodland mobile to take home? Or try an orienteering session at Highfields Park to hunt for Captain Steve’s treasure – follow the clues he’s left to find the great lost treasure, with games and challenges along the way! Back at Highfields again there’s also the chance to hear tales of fabulous fish, mythical mermaids and a host of other weird and wonderful creatures from the deep with Maggie McBride’s Pirate Tales!
With so much going on, you’ll need another break before going back to school in two weeks time! Have a great first week off and enjoy getting out and about in Nottingham!
