Cheap flights to Nottingham
Set your departure airport and maximum budget: SniperAir tracks prices to Nottingham and alerts you the moment a deal matching your criteria appears.
Quick summary
Country
United Kingdom
Continent
Europe
Airport
EMA
Currency
Pound sterling (GBP)
Time zone
UTC+0 (UTC+1 during summer time)
Deals already spotted to Nottingham
Real flight examples detected by SniperAir, with their reference price.
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Why track Nottingham with SniperAir
Robin Hood's city of sandstone caves and lace, in the heart of the Midlands
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Nottingham is a city in the East Midlands of England, on the River Trent, with 323,632 residents at the 2021 census (Wikipedia EN); the wider conurbation is more than double that. It is the legendary home of Robin Hood's enemy, the Sheriff of Nottingham, and it grew rich on lace, bicycles and tobacco before turning towards services (Wikipedia EN). Its character also comes from the soft sandstone it stands on: Visit Nottinghamshire says more than 850 man-made caves have been mapped beneath the streets, once used as homes, cellars, dungeons and air-raid shelters. Nottingham is a UNESCO City of Literature, a status confirmed by the city's own literature website, and Wikipedia (EN) notes it was named England's Home of English Sport in 2015. The air gateway is East Midlands Airport (EMA), which sits between Nottingham, Derby and Leicester. This guide presents Nottingham as open sources describe it; SniperAir tracks flight prices to EMA, compares them with the route's real price history and alerts you when one drops below your budget.
Airport and getting into town
East Midlands, an airport between Nottingham, Derby and Leicester
Nottingham – East Midlands Airport (EMA)
East Midlands Airport (EMA) is at Castle Donington in Leicestershire. According to Wikipedia (EN) it lies between Loughborough (16 km), Derby (20 km) and Nottingham (23 km), with Leicester 32 km to the south; the airport's own pages give 12 miles (about 19 km) to Nottingham station, so allow about 20 km. There is no station at the airport, but buses run 24 hours a day: the airport says Skylink Nottingham runs every 20 minutes by day and the Skylink Express to Trent Bridge and central Nottingham every half hour, and Wikivoyage (EN) puts the express at roughly 35 minutes. Further buses link the airport with Derby and Leicester. East Midlands Parkway, about 5 miles away, is the nearest station, with an on-demand bus. Timetables change, so check before you travel.
Distances from Wikipedia (EN): Loughborough 16 km, Derby 20 km, Nottingham 23 km and Leicester 32 km from the airport. We do not quote airline schedules or fares.
For a price alert, EMA is the airport to follow even though this page is about Nottingham. If you are happy to go further, Birmingham Airport is about 64 km away (Wikivoyage EN), reached by train via Birmingham New Street. Entry rules, travel advice and flight availability depend on where you are travelling from and can change: check your own government's official guidance before booking.
Landmarks
Wollaton Hall, the Trent, Castle Rock caves, the Lace Market and Newstead
Nottingham is best seen from its castle hill down to the Trent. The five pictures below are followed by other places mentioned in the text.
Wollaton Hall, an Elizabethan mansion
Wollaton Hall, built between 1580 and 1588 probably by Robert Smythson in Elizabethan style (Wikipedia DE), stands in a deer park of about 200 hectares (Wikivoyage EN). The mansion houses the city's Natural History Museum, and the Industrial Museum is in an outbuilding (Wikipedia EN).
Trent Bridge and the River Trent
The Trent runs along the south of the city. This ornamented blue iron bridge crosses the river close to the Trent Bridge international cricket ground, one of the venues that Wikipedia (EN) cites when it describes Nottingham as a major sporting centre and England's Home of English Sport.
The caves of Castle Rock
The sandstone of Castle Rock is honeycombed with man-made caves. Visit Nottinghamshire says more than 850 have been mapped under Nottingham, used as homes, storerooms, dungeons and tanneries, and as shelters in the Second World War. Wikipedia (FR) says some were lived in until 1924.
The Lace Market and its church tower
The Lace Market, on the site of the old Saxon settlement, has four- to seven-storey red-brick warehouses, iron railings and red phone boxes, many converted into flats, bars and restaurants (Wikipedia EN). A tall pinnacled church tower rises above its roofs.
Newstead Abbey, Lord Byron's home
About 19 km north of the city, Newstead Abbey was the home of the poet Lord Byron and includes the ruins of a Gothic abbey (Wikivoyage EN). Byron is buried in Hucknall church, a few minutes from the Hucknall tram stop.
Other places in Nottingham: the castle, founded by the Normans in the 11th century on Castle Rock, of which only the gatehouse survives, the present building being a stately home rather than a medieval fortress (Wikivoyage EN); Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, partly cut into the rock and claiming to date from 1189, one of several pubs disputing the title of England's oldest (Wikipedia EN, DE); the Council House with its dome on Old Market Square; the medieval church of St Mary's; and George Green's windmill in Sneinton (Wikipedia EN).
Museums and culture
The National Justice Museum, Green's Mill, Wollaton and contemporary art
The National Justice Museum
Housed in Shire Hall in the Lace Market, it is a museum of law, crime and punishment through the ages (Wikipedia EN). Visit Nottinghamshire says the old gaol and courts date back to the 15th century and that some cells are carved from the caves. We do not quote prices or opening hours.
Green's Mill and the museums at Wollaton
Green's Mill in Sneinton is a working windmill, once the workplace of the self-taught mathematician George Green (Wikipedia EN; Wikivoyage EN). At Wollaton Hall the Natural History Museum shows zoology, geology and botany, and the Industrial Museum in the old stables gathers machinery from textiles, transport and mining.
Nottingham Contemporary
This contemporary art centre stages major exhibitions with education programmes for all ages (Wikivoyage EN). Opening days change, so check before you go.
Food and drink
Historic pubs, local ale and plant-based dining
Pubs and local ale
Wikivoyage (EN) recommends pubs in the Lace Market and Hockley, as well as canal-side pubs, and cites a city-centre pub that serves ale from a Nottingham brewery. We name no venues and no brands.
A city with a vegan reputation
Wikipedia (EN) ranks Nottingham among the UK's most vegan-friendly cities, and Wikipedia (FR) mentions a food festival in August whose dates vary.
No signature dish
The sources we consulted name no speciality specific to Nottingham, so we do not invent one. For cheap eats, Wikivoyage (EN) points to restaurants along Mansfield Road and in the pedestrian streets of the centre.
Getting around
On foot, by tram, by bus and by train
Walking the centre
Wikivoyage (EN) recommends exploring the centre on foot because many historic streets are pedestrianised. The railway station is a ten-minute walk from the centre.
Trams and buses
The Nottingham Express Transit tram, reintroduced in 2004 (Wikipedia EN), has two lines sharing the same tracks in the centre; you must buy a ticket before boarding or risk a penalty fare (Wikivoyage EN). Nottingham City Transport runs the largest publicly owned bus network in England (Wikipedia EN). We publish no fares.
Trains to London and neighbouring cities
Nottingham station is on the main line out of London St Pancras, with trains to Derby, Leicester, Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham (Wikivoyage EN). Spanish Wikipedia notes the airport is under 30 minutes by car from the city.
Budget and precautions
Budget, health and general precautions
Price level
The open sources we consulted do not give reliable, cross-checked price ranges: Wikivoyage's amounts come from a single source and different years. We therefore quote no prices. The currency is the pound sterling, and the season and booking date affect both flight and accommodation prices.
Weather and kit
Pack a waterproof all year: Wikipedia (EN) describes a temperate oceanic climate with rain spread across the year.
Flights, entry rules and insurance
SniperAir tracks prices to EMA and compares them with the route's history, but it does not sell or book tickets. Entry rules for the United Kingdom, travel advice and health cover depend on where you are travelling from and can change: check your own government's official guidance before booking.
When to go
A temperate oceanic climate, mild in summer and damp in winter
Winter
Wikivoyage (EN) describes cool, damp winters, and air frost is common according to Wikipedia (EN).
Spring
Parks such as Wollaton turn green; a pleasant season for the caves and museums before the summer crowds.
Summer
Wikivoyage (EN) mentions mild summers, good for canal-side terraces and parks, and for day trips to Sherwood and Newstead.
Autumn
Goose Fair, a large travelling funfair, takes place each year at the beginning of October at the Forest Recreation Ground (Wikipedia EN). Rain returns, which suits museums.
Wikipedia (EN) says Nottingham has a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) with warm, mild summers, mild to cool winters and abundant rainfall throughout the year. We give no numerical averages because the sources we consulted do not agree on figures for the city.
By length of stay
What to do in Nottingham by length of stay
The essentials
Castle Rock and its caves, Old Market Square, the Lace Market, one museum of your choice and an evening in a historic pub.
Nottingham in depth
Wollaton Hall and its park, Green's Mill, the canal, Trent Bridge and a trip to Newstead Abbey.
Beyond the city
Derby by bus (Wikivoyage EN), Sheffield in about an hour, Leicester, Sherwood Forest to the north, and Matlock and the Peak District about an hour by car.
In pictures
Nottingham in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Nottingham
How far is East Midlands Airport from Nottingham?
EMA is at Castle Donington, about 20 km from Nottingham (12 miles according to the airport, 14 miles according to Wikipedia EN). It also lies about 20 km from Derby and 32 km from Leicester.
How do I get from EMA to Nottingham?
Skylink buses run 24 hours a day according to the airport, with Skylink Nottingham every 20 minutes by day and the Skylink Express every 30 minutes. Timetables change, so check before you travel.
What should I see first in Nottingham?
Castle Rock and its caves, Old Market Square, the Lace Market, Wollaton Hall and the Robin Hood story, according to Wikipedia (EN), Wikivoyage (EN) and Visit Nottinghamshire.
Can I visit Sherwood Forest from Nottingham?
Yes. Sherwood Forest Country Park is about 27 km north of the city (Wikipedia EN) and Newstead Abbey about 19 km (Wikivoyage EN). Check public transport links before you go.
Are Derby and Leicester close to Nottingham?
Yes. Derby is easy to reach by bus from Nottingham (Wikivoyage EN), and Wikipedia (DE) puts Derby about 25 km and Leicester about 50 km away by road. Journey times vary by mode of transport.
How many days do I need in Nottingham?
One or two days cover the centre, Castle Rock and a museum; three or four let you add Wollaton Hall, Green's Mill and Newstead Abbey.
How much does a flight to Nottingham usually cost?
The price depends mainly on your departure city, the time of year and how far ahead you book. The "opportunities" section above shows real examples of prices SniperAir has already detected to this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Nottingham drops below my budget?
Create an alert profile with your departure airport, Nottingham (EMA) as the destination and your maximum budget. You are notified automatically as soon as a matching price is detected. SniperAir monitors and alerts, it does not sell or book tickets.
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