The Robin Hood legend has served Nottingham well but it is so much more than that. 

These days it's a buzzing city, said to be one of the best shopping areas outside London or Glasgow.

The old and the new knit seamlessly together.  There is everything from the grandeur of the castle to the fascinating Caves of Nottingham where visitors can explore some of the caves that people have lived and worked in since the 13th century. It's a real eye opener, giving insight into how different generations made use of the most primitive of homes. There's a Victorian slum cave, a tannery, and one used as a pub cellar.  The caves were easily dug into the sandstone base rock which Nottingham city centre is built on. 

In the sandstone cliffs under Nottingham castle is Mortimer's Hole, named after Roger Mortimer, the Earl of March. Mortimer was the lover of Isobel the then Queen of England and was implicated in the death of Edward II.  Edwards III was made aware of the possible motives for his father's death and so on 19th October 1330 he planned a daring raid on Nottingham Castle whilst Isobel and Mortimer were in residence.  With the help of loyal men, Edward used the Mortimer's Hole to enter the castle and seize the the Earl.  Isobel was said to plead for mercy: 'Fair son, have pity on the gentle Mortimer', but to no avail. Roger Mortimer was taken to London where on the 30th November the same year he was hunged, drawn and quartered, his remains being left on Traitors Gate.

The castle site dates back to 1068 when William I ordered a castle built to garison Norman toops. The original castle was destroyed in 1651 during the English Civil War on the orders of Oliver Cromwell. In 1674 the Duke of Newcastle built a new castle using the stone of it's predecessor. Then, due to some unpopular political decisions on behalf of the Duke, it was stormed in 1831 by an angry mob and burned to the ground.  Some 40 years later is was restored and became the UK's first local museum and art gallary.  It still surves that purpose today.

Below the castle is Englands oldest pub, Ye Old Trip to Jerusalam.  Now you have probably heard a claim like that before, but even if the claim is a close call you have to respect the fact that parts of the pub are actually caves built into the sandstone cliffs.  These caves are said to date back to Norman times. It is also said that Richard the-Lion-Heart stayed there on his way to the crusades.

The Robin Hood connection is obvious and there's the chance to re-live the story at the Tales of Robin Hood - a fully interactive centre recreates the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of medieval England. 

Nottingham is also famous for its lace, and at the Museum of Nottingham Lace you can see how the industry thrived from modest beginnings as a cottage craft to a major industry making use of computer technology.