Nottingham Castle Museum & Art Gallery

Nottingham Castle Museum & Art Gallery is a major historic and cultural attraction located in Nottingham, England, on a sandstone hill known as Castle Rock. The site was originally established as a Norman fortress in 1068 by William the Conqueror and played an important role in English history for centuries, including during medieval royal conflicts and the English Civil War. Although much of the original medieval castle was destroyed, the present building is a grand ducal mansion built in the 17th century, later restored after being damaged during riots in 1831. In 1878, it became one of the first municipal museums and art galleries in the United Kingdom.

Today, the museum combines history, art, archaeology, and interactive exhibitions, with displays focused on Nottingham’s heritage, the legend of Robin Hood, rebellion and social justice, military history, and decorative arts. Visitors can view collections of paintings, sculptures, ceramics, historic lace, costumes, and medieval artifacts, as well as explore the famous underground sandstone caves and tunnels beneath the castle. Following a major redevelopment completed in 2021, the castle now offers modern galleries, family-friendly exhibits, immersive experiences, and panoramic views across the city, making it one of Nottingham’s most popular tourist destinations.

Exhibitions and events

Museum of the Mercian Regiment

Permanent exhibition

Discover 300 years of history of bravery, leadership, duty and sacrifice since 1741 for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. The gallery tells the history of the Mercian Regiment and its Antecedent...

The Long Gallery

Permanent exhibition

This space houses a permanent display of the best of the museum's fine art. The painting collection covers British and European art ranging in date from the 11th century to the present day. ...

'Katha' Exhibition: Evolving Identities

Temporary exhibition until 01.11.2026

Launching from:  Friday 8th November 2024 Our Nottingham City Museum’s curators have been working with Nottingham Trent University in relation to our World Cultures collections. Each student...

Early Nottingham Craft Gallery

Permanent exhibition

To showcase the way Nottingham’s craftspeople found creative ways to use alabaster stone and salt-glazed pottery long before the technological innovations of the Industrial Age. These collections...

Nottingham Lace Gallery

Permanent exhibition

The current Lace Gallery in Nottingham Castle was crea ted  in 2021, but when the  Castle  first  opened for the public, with the name “Museum and Art  Gallery”  back...

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