Find vegan friendly delights and indie shopping dotted around one of our favourite British cities.
Mollie Carberry
Fri 13 Jul 2018
From the bustling Market Square to the cobbled alleyways of Hockley, Nottingham is full of hidden gems to keep you busy this summer.
From local vegan restaurants to unique sustainable clothes shops, I used the nifty pebble guide to Notts and explored every nook and cranny.
Cake, coffee and shopping - sounds like our kind of Saturday...
Forget the cornflakes
No self-respecting weekend can begin without a hearty brunch to kick things off. Luckily, Nottingham has no shortage of breakfast spots - whether you’re a pastry person or you fancy a fry-up with all the trimmings.
Skip the city centre for Small Food Bakery at Primary where you can watch the bakers conjure up the best sourdough in the city. Try the breakfast sourdough with sunflower and pumpkin seeds, figs, prunes and apricots soaked in green tea.
Smell that bread in the oven! Small Food Bakery should be your first stop on a Saturday
Retail therapy
Whether you need to pick up a last-minute birthday gift, stock up your summer wardrobe or just fancy a treat, Nottingham’s endless variety of shops has got you covered.
For original and reworked vintage pieces, pop into Wild and Cow vintage stores (they’re just round the corner from one another). Both stock an impressive collection of clothes for you to rifle through.
If clothes shopping isn’t really your thing, head back across the square to Handmade in Nottingham. This lovely little space showcases work from local artists, designers and makers.
Pick up some textiles, prints, jewellery or accessories for your home and know you’re supporting local creative talent at the same time.
Discover local designers at Handmade in Nottingham
Nothing beats a cuppa and a good book
After wandering round the shops, it’s probably about time to sit back in the sunshine with a mug of tea. Nestled in the lovely Cobden Chambers is Kiosk (part of the creative THiNK space); a cafe with a daily changing menu of the best locally-sourced treats.
Need a bit of reading material to keep you company?
Ideas on Paper is a must-visit. Handily located in Cobden Chambers up a winding staircase, this shop is a magazine-lover’s heaven. The light, airy space is stocked floor-to-ceiling with a mind-boggling selection of indie prints and publications - whether you have a passion for pop culture, travel or fashion, Ideas on Paper has a mag for you.
Stop by the courtyard outside Think for a mid afternoon pitstop with a magazine from Ideas on Paper
Image Rhys Herbert
Vegan snacks and ethical goodies
If you’re visiting Nottingham on the first or third Saturday of the month, you’re in luck.
Pop by the amazing Sneinton Vegan Market, home to the very best local veggie and vegan food producers. Burgers, smoothies, curries and cakes - and it’s all cruelty-free.
We love a lazy Sunday...
Picnics and parks
Nottingham is full of pockets of green space to relax in on a summer Sunday. Probably the most famous (and rightly so) is the beautiful Wollaton Park.
The hall, gardens and deer park are the perfect family day out, and with the lush fields, glistening lake and stretches of golf course, the park feels a million miles from any city centre.
Pick up a picnic from my favourite deli, Delilah or grab some craft beers to go from Kraftwerk.
If the clouds roll over and the day looks ominous, head into the Elizabethan hall and explore the fossils, minerals, plants and animals in the incredible natural history museum.
Make your weekly food shop sustainable
Sunday jobs don’t have to be all doom and gloom. Ditch the dull supermarket shopping trip and browse all the natural food Nottingham has to offer.
Pop into The Natural Food Company, Out of This World, The V Spot, or find the the monthly Nottingham Zero Waste Collective to transform the way you shop.
How many deer will you spot at Wollaton Park?
End your weekend the right way
After you’ve stocked up on all the bits and bobs you need, treat yourself to dinner at the Nottingham Street Food Club.
Hidden upstairs at Intu Victoria Centre, the independent indoor street food market hosts a rotating selection of local food and drink stalls that deliver the ultimate in comforting nibbles.
Staying for longer than just a weekend? Check out our handy pebble guide to Nottingham for even more hidden gems to keep you busy.
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