Nottingham

Nottingham, principal city of the East Midlands, is known primarily for its links with the legend of Robin Hood, but it has much more to offer in terms of history, architecture and modern-day vibrancy.

The city began in the 6th Century as a Saxon settlement called Snottaingham, was captured and fortified by the Danes in the 9th Century and re-captured by the English in 920. The first castle was built in Nottingham by William the Conqueror in 1067, and remains a landmark of the city. But it was the town's market and manufacturing trades that, since establishment in the Middle Ages, saw Nottingham grow into the city it is today. Nottingham remains particularily well-known for lace manufacture.

The city's architecture displays a rich collection of ages and styles, but there are few high-rise buildings in what remains an essentially low-rise, small-scale city.