Car Hire Nottingham

With its central location in England’s East Midlands, Nottingham enjoys excellent road links to surrounding areas. The city lies just off the M1 motorway, the main route from the country’s north to south, beginning in London. It continues all the way north of Nottingham to Leeds, just over 100 kilometres away.

If you’re travelling via the M1, the main exits for Nottingham are Junction 26 from the north and Junction 25 from the south. These exits allow you to access the city centre via the A610 and the A52 respectively.

The M1 also runs through Sheffield, taking just over an hour to cover the 65 kilometres from Nottingham, with the UK’s Steel City set against the beautiful backdrop of the Peak District National Park. In the other direction, you can also use it to reach Leicester, around 45 kilometres south.

UK motorways generally have a speed limit of 70mph (112km/h), making them the quickest route to get where you want to go. The same is true on dual carriageway ‘A’ roads like the A52 and A606, once you’re outside of built-up areas. On single track sections limits typically drop to 60mph (96km/h), while within the urban centre of Nottingham the speed limit is usually 30mph (48km/h), and as low as 20mph (32km/h) in places.

If you’re driving within Nottingham itself, you’ll find that a few parts of the city centre are pedestrianised, including the Old Market Square and Clumber Street near the Victoria shopping centre. You’ll find plenty of convenient parking spaces where you can leave your hire car to explore on foot.

The major shopping centres, including Intu Victoria and the Arndale Centre, have their own car parks, while the Crown Plaza multi-storey car park on Wollaton Street offers easy access to the Old Market Square.

The historical and cultural attractions in Nottingham rival a destination twice its size. You’ll find museums, art galleries, parks and even a castle to explore. When you hire a car in Nottingham you can also plan some great day trips in the surrounding area.

Art and history

Once the industrial heart of Nottingham, today the Lace Market area forms part of its booming Creative Quarter. Overflowing with stylish cafes and restaurants, many of them are housed within former warehouses and factory buildings.

Attractions in this part of the city include Nottingham Contemporary, a gallery exhibiting modern displays of work by UK and international artists. This free gallery is open every day except Monday.

Not far away you’ll find the National Justice Museum, within a 14^th-century building that once served as the city’s courtroom and jail. Today, it’s a popular visitor attraction where you can tour the former cells and even see trials re-enacted in the historic courtroom.

The museum is open seven days a week, and some of its exhibitions are free while others require tickets. A full programme of events can be found on the museum’s website.

Going underground

Next to Nottingham Contemporary is one of the city’s most unusual attractions, City of Caves. Beneath the streets lies an ancient collection of sandstone structures that were carved out of the rock centuries before.

Over the years, they’ve been used as everything from residential housing to dungeons and air raid shelters, with some of the caves only discovered in the last decade.

Tours take place throughout the day, with joint tickets available for the National Justice Museum. This is a popular attraction, so advance booking is recommended where possible.

Historic home

For something completely different, make the 10-minute drive to the suburb of Sneinton, home to the William Booth Birthplace Museum. This small but fascinating place tells the story of the Salvation Army founder, who was born here in 1829.

Inspect the four rooms restored to their original style, while you learn about the General’s life and legacy that continues to this day. The museum is open by appointment only, so call or email to book in advance. All the details you need, including where to park, are available on the museum website.

Natural wonders

Nottingham is a lively, bustling city but it contains a surprising number of green spaces. If you’re looking to relax, pay a visit to the Arboretum, the city’s oldest public park. This beautiful green space is rumoured to have been the inspiration for Peter Pan’s Neverland – the author JM Barrie lived and worked as a journalist in Nottingham for several years.

Just a short drive away you’ll find Wollaton Hall, an Elizabethan stately home set among scenic parklands. Head inside to explore the Museum of Natural History and the Nottingham Industrial Museum or take a guided tour of its grand rooms.

Outside there are peaceful footpaths and lakes, where herds of deer roam freely around the grounds. The hall and deer park are open daily, with parking available on site for a small fee.

Car hire in Nottingham puts all this and much more within easy reach.