Sightseeing in the Uk (Nottingham and the Cotswolds)

[Deadmanwade]

Hi all,

I will be taking a trip to the UK at the end of March and will be spending 4 days in Nottingham and 4 days touring the Cotswolds.

I already plan to stop by Warlord and another gaming company in Nottingham, but I was wondering if there are any musuems/historical sites which are a 'Must See!' For those who live in the area or have been there before, where do you recommend? I will have my family with me, so museums and so forth are probably better than empty fields (no matter how historically significant they are). I am sure that there are lots of interesting points, but due to a lack of time, I can only visit a couple of spots.

Thanks in advance.
DMW

[Ubique matt]

If you're interested in the English Civil Wars, in March 1646, the last major battle of the first Civil War took place in the Stow on the Wold, right in the heart of the Cotswolds. The battle actually finished in the market square where the famous Royalist Sir Jacob Astley surrendered to the Parliamentarians.  Sat at the market cross in the square, he said, "You have done your work, boys, and may go play, unless you will fall out among yourselves." 

This is the same chap that delivered the famous battle-prayer at the battle of Edgehill,  "O Lord, Thou knowest how busy I must be this day. If I forget Thee, do not forget me." and then, "March on, boys!" 

The parish church, St. Edward's, and grounds were used to hold the Royalist prisoners.

In the church near the alter, and normally hidden beneath a carpet, there is a monument to Sir Hastings Keyte, who was a Royalist Captain killed in the battle, aged 23.

The town is full of antique shops, galleries etc so the family will have plenty to do as well.
 
I'll let my east midland cousins suggest places around Nottinghamalthough the 'Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem' pub next to the castle is worth seeing. 

If you traveling to either via the sunny West Midlands let me know and I'll recommend a few more sites.

Regards,
Matt

[carvel2]

Ok DMW....where are you from?
If travelling from Nottingham to the Cotswolds...
It has to be a 10/10 for Warwick castle.
You simply cannot fail with family members or historical interest.
Its not a mmmmm its a definate WOW!

[Paul @ Warlord Games]

Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem - oldest pub in England (the world?). Carved out of Nottingham Castle cliff face. Also a favourite haunt of the Perry twins.

Warwick Castle. Google it - words can't do it justice.

[Centurion Dan]

Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem - oldest pub in England (the world?). Carved out of Nottingham Castle cliff face. Also a favourite haunt of the Perry twins.

Warwick Castle. Google it - words can't do it justice.

Ye Olde Trip do a fantastic Roast beef wrap - it's basicaly a flat Yorkshire pudding (a bit like a pancake) with beef and horseradish sauce in the middle.
Bugmans is worth a visit too at GW HQ. A couple of pints of Bugmans XXXXXX (is that enough X's) in a Dwarf themed bar is great for killing a couple of hours.
Nottingham Castle is worth a look too - the views are fantastic from up there!

[clivethecelt]

Well, the major castle in the area's been covered (Kenilworth's good, too, but if you can only do one ...). T'other main place (bit o'culture) is Stratford upon Avon - don't know if you like the theatre, but the Royal Shakespeare Company are doing Richard III at the Swan from 22 March. They're also doing a trilogy of shipwreck plays, and all three will be on at the end of March - The Tempest (from 30th), Comedy of Errors (16th) and Twelfth Night (8th). For eat and drink in Stratford, the Lamb on Sheep Street is good, but book before you get there - and, for luvvies and peoplewatching, there's the infamous Dirty Duck (actually called the Black Swan, but "renamed" by GIs in WW2) opposite the theatres.
See http://www.rsc.org.uk/whats-on/stratford-wsf/
Oh, and Stratford still has lots of the olde worlde half-timbered buildings (and the Shakespeare "experience" ), so if you're into ECW modelling ... looks like it was built by paulsmodellingworkshop, Mikeland or Grand Manner.

[Parus Ater]

I'd love to go to Wargame Mecca but I'm generally poverty stricken and I never passed a driving test.

[Deadmanwade]

Ok DMW....where are you from?
If travelling from Nottingham to the Cotswolds...
It has to be a 10/10 for Warwick castle.
You simply cannot fail with family members or historical interest.
Its not a mmmmm its a definate WOW!

Well, I will be travelling down from the North East. I am originally from Middlesbrough, though I have been out of the country for about 8 years. I've been to most of the museums up north and my wife has been pestering me to visit the Cotswolds, hence the tour this time.

Thanks to everyone for the recommendations. I will try and find some of these spots on a map and see how easy they will be to get to. If anyone has any other ideas for historical sites (Be they Celtic, Roman, Medieval or ECW), please feel free to add to this thread.

[pbeccas]

I'd love to go to Wargame Mecca but I'm generally poverty stricken and I never passed a driving test.

I am heading to the Wargame Mecca/Lead Belt July 2013. Can't wait. Stopping off at Gallipoli on the way.

[Big Al]

So, Warlord Games HQ is becoming something of a tourist attraction! I hope they will produce a brochure soon. Maybe even a Theme Park with rides such as the Roman Chariot Races and a Roller Coaster possibly name the Boars Head and maybe an adventure playground called Rorke's Drift. Then we could all retire for refreshment at The Kings Head, where we could sample traditional local fayre and fine Nottinghamshire Ales! Those who believe all those rides are only for the young 'uns can play a quiet game in the B.A. War Room.