Experiences and tours
More to explore
From the castle’s galleries to the caves below, join us on bookable tours, trails and experiences including our Robin Hood Adventures.
Tours and experiences can be booked in advance as part of your ticket, or on the day of your visit from the Visitor Centre, and are the perfect way to get more from your day at Nottingham Castle. For more information about access including our caves, visit our accessibility page.
Quick links to our tours and experiences
Castle Caves – underground adventure tour
Castle Caves – Mortimer’s Hole
Please note, all tours are subject to change due to Covid-19.
Relive Robin’s rebel adventures
Robin Hood Adventures
Immerse yourself in the world of medieval Nottingham. Progress through the Castle Tunnel to the Robin Hood Adventures and sit back in a forest clearing to watch some of the outlaw’s most thrilling adventures on our digital storytelling screens.
In the coach-arch gaming spaces, fire your longbow to defeat your companions in our digital archery competition and prove you’re Robin’s equal or, with quarterstaff in hand, spar with Little John in the depths of Sherwood Forest.
Plus, See what life was like in the medieval town on our innovative interactive gaming tables and see if you can survive a day and the dangers of 14th Century Nottingham.
The Robin Hood Adventures experience can be booked as part of your day at Nottingham Castle. Please note you must also have a castle ticket to enter Robin Hood Adventures.
Trails for little outlaws
Outdoor family trails
Try our outdoor family trails and explore the castle’s grounds.
There’s Hero in the Green Hat – find the missing words in Robin’s ballad, then complete it with your own wicked rhymes. Go barmy for origami and, in your new headgear, head to speaker’s corner to proclaim your Robin Hood adventure. Or, Up Close with Nature – discover the natural world beneath your feet on our environmental trail. Investigate the castle’s creepy-crawlies and be fascinated by fantastic foliage on this fun outdoor adventure.
Plus seasonal and special event trails like our Easter egg hunt or our Halloween Spooktacular. Which will you try?
Trails are available to buy from the Visitor’s Centre.
Castle Caves
Underground Adventure Tour
A 25 minute tour exploring the foundations of the medieval castle from dire dungeons to wondrous wine cellars – hear the stories of Nottingham during the time of Robin Hood and in the underground spaces where they actually happened!
- The tour has a capacity of 15 people.
- The tour is suitable for families and young children.
- It covers the distance of approximately 120 steps of varying steepness and regularities with a handrail. Some of the ground underfoot is uneven.
- There will be dim lighting.
A cave tour can be booked as part of your day at Nottingham Castle. Please note you must also have a castle ticket to access the caves.
Castle Caves
Mortimer’s Hole Tour
On this 45 minute tour uncover intrigue and murder in the 14th century, when supporters of King Edward III break into Nottingham Castle to capture the usurpers Queen Isabella of France and her lover, the wicked baron Roger Mortimer, through the city’s caves. Relive this daring raid and the role the famous underground passages have played in the castle’s history since.
- The tour has a capacity of 15 people.
- The tour is suitable for families with older children.
- It covers the distance of approximately 220 steps of varying steepness and regularities, with a handrail. Much of the ground underfoot is uneven.
- There will be dim lighting.
A cave tour can be booked as part of your day at Nottingham Castle. Please note you must also have a castle ticket to access the caves.
In the Galleries
Daily Highlight Art Tour
Join our Explainer Team for a free 30-minute daily tour as they explore what inspires and informs artists and makers’ practices and work. They’ll pick out some of their favourite pieces to discuss as a group and highlight works and objects that you might not dwell on without knowing and exploring the hidden stories behind the works.
Discover a hand-picked selection of works spanning from medieval alabaster to modern art in this fun, informal and informative tour.
- Runs every day and is free of charge!
- Each tour has a capacity of 15 people.
- Recommended for adults, although children are welcome.
Group bookings can book their own bespoke Art Highlight tour, at a time to suit them.
Volunteer led tours
Please ask at the Visitor Centre on the day for details as these tours are subject to volunteer availability.
From tours of the grounds to the Mercian Gallery these bite-size volunteer-led tours will showcase and share our volunteer’s passions.