£30m making of ‘world-class’ city attraction
NOTTINGHAM Castle has been undergoing a painstaking £30m renovation for the past three years to transform it into a “world-class” visitor attraction.
Sara Blair-manning, chief executive of the Nottingham Castle Trust, said they had been aiming to produce an ultimately “unforgettable experience” which would benefit the city as a whole.
Once it opens from June 21, it is hoped that more than 300,000 visitors will be welcomed each year.
The Post was given access to the Castle for the first time this week – and here are some of the top changes visitors will notice come the summertime opening.
■■
1 LANDSCAPING TO REFLECT A MORE “HISTORICALLY ACCURATE” LAYOUT
The castle grounds have been re-landscaped to reflect its medieval appearance. It started out as a traditional motte-and-bailey castle before the ducal palace was built to encourage artisan innovation.
Lush green grass borders the snaking pathways, all of which have been designed so they are wide enough to support a land train.
“The re-landscaping was designed to take it back to a historical level,” Sara said. “Everything has been designed to be accessible and 60 percent of our suppliers have been local. All the benches have been refurbished.
“The bandstand is a focal point and we are hoping to have booked afternoon tea there.”
■■
2 “HOOD’S HIDEOUT” PLAYGROUND
Built into what was many hundreds of years ago the moat is a new adventure playground.
Slides, climbing frames and wooden castle turrets have been built to emulate Robin Hood’s Sherwood Hideout.
A firepit and a storytelling chair have been installed to overlook the south side of the city, offering remarkable views.
■■
3 “WORLD CLASS” MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES
Within the ducal palace, which has been repainted and features a climate-control system to allow delicate items of significance to feature in exhibitions, there are a number of galleries and a museum.
Walls have been painted to reflect rebellion and social justice, including a mural by local artist Urban Canvas, while the exhibitions reflect Nottingham’s vibrant history.
These include lace exhibitions as well as alabaster sculptures which reflect biblical stories, once carved to allow those who could not read to understand them visually.
Each exhibition also features interactive screens which allow children to carve their own sculptures and play a number of other mini-games.
Sara added: “The lace gallery is designed as if it was a catwalk. We also touch on colonialism. We are not shying away from those difficult conversations.
“It is as good as anything you get in London. It is a world-class experience.”
■■
The Robin Hood Adventure Experience is tucked away beneath the palace itself and replaces the old staff car park.
It is reached through a tunnel, eerily lit and cold with its own soundscape, which leads to a number of interactive games where you can fire a longbow and battle Little John with a quarterstaff.
■■
The terrace cafe now features its own kitchen area where food and drinks can be made, and provides views of Nottingham Railway Station and a vast area of the city.
■■
The site has more than 1,000 years of history running through it, and that includes the network of caves beneath the palace itself.
Classrooms have been built into some of the old medieval areas of the undercroft, and the cave network is visible in the walls and architecture.
A wider section of the cave network will open to the public for the first time in June.
■■
An entirely new visitor centre has been built next to the gatehouse.
4 ROBIN HOOD EXPERIENCE 5 TERRACE CAFE 6 CAVES 7 A NEW VISITOR CENTRE