As a musician myself, I have performed at the Royal Concert Hall in Nottingham on many occasions…read more The back stage staff are always pleasant, polite and helpful, and I always have a good time there. The acoustics of the hall are incredible. The best way to hear a performance in that place in my opinion is to have no amplification whatsoever. Acoustic concerts are just beautiful there - unfortunately, this can result in the opposite when too much mikeing up is used. I went to see a Rhythm and blues band and the sound was overpowering and swam around the room without clarity. So, pick your show carefully - the programme is always varied and interesting. There's plenty of stuff to see, and at reasonable prices. The seats are comfy, bars convenient and toilets accessible.

The Royal centre is the name given to the Nottingham Theatre Royal and the Nottingham Concert Hall…read moreas they are joined together. Many great productions are shown here and almost every UK touring production will perform at one of the two buildings. Offer discounts for Students, OAP's and Children. Also offer fun summer activties for children and hold theatre related events such as backstage tours and workshops.

This is a cracking little theatre that really does not get the credit it deserves. It's well run…read moreand the staff are very friendly. i've seen many productions here and while it's not the west end (it's Chesterfield!) I've enjoyed every one! Give it a go.

Excellent local museum about DH Lawrence. If you've never been and you're a local, you really need…read moreto. Anyone who's interested in DH Lawrence must visit too. Really friendly and knowledgable staff.

There's a bit of a literary/cultural trail in Nottinghamshire, and popping out to Eastwood on a…read morepilgrimage to Lawrence's birthplace should be part of the grand tour. It's the humble home of a collier's family, furnished as it would have been in his childhood - the front parlour kept for best. Interesting to realise where he finished, given where he started. Really worth making the time to visit. [Follow the trail around the town if you've got the time too] http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/notable%20houses/dhlawrence%20house.htm

The Cineworld cinema in Burton is situated in a large complex off Guild Street, that also includes…read moreMecca Bingo and Frankie and Bennys, amongst others. The large car park requires you to take a ticket and then pay as you leave at the pay booths; the price skyrocketing to £5 after two hours! However,the cinema gives you a ticket that gives you four free hours or if you go in the evening, the car park is free. The cinema itself has an impressive glass fronted opening into a foyer area, with a wall a televisions showing film previews and music videos. There is also an entertainment area and machine where you can pay for and collect your prepaid cinema tickets. This cinema is always busy, especially at night and absolutely packed on 'Orange Wednesdays'! Prices are a little on the expensive side, but the screens themselves are air conditioned, spacious and have very comfortable seats. The Deluxe cinema with slightly more expensive tickets even has a small bar! As usual as in any cinema, the refreshments - popcorn, hot dogs, soft drinks etc. are ridiculously expensive, the advantage of a captive audience! Overall great for watching the local blockbusters, but a little on the pricey side

Cineworld is a very friendly cinema to go to, the staff there are always chatty and join in with me…read moreand my friends when we're having silly conversations. The car park is big (attached to 2 big stores also) and there is always somewhere to park. There's an arcade inside if you show up early to ensure you get tickets or if you want to hang around with your friends after. Also the staff will be there to help you out if there is somebody in there ruining the film. Once there were some kids throwing things around so we went to get a member of staff who stood in the room watching the kids so they wouldn't do it again. It is very well air conditioned though so make sure you take a jacket!

Impressive castle ruin (well, mostly) in the heart of Derbyshire. On the English Heritage website,…read moreit's No.6 of their top ten of castles and mansions in Britain. I wouldn't go that far, but it's certainly worth the 30min bus ride from Chesterfield. And there's a well-above-average Wetherspoon pub just around the corner that you can relax in after your visit to the castle. What's not to like? "Bolsover Castle was founded in the 12th century by the Peverel family, who also owned Peveril Castle in Derbyshire, and came under royal control in 1155. The site is now in the care of English Heritage and is a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument." Unfortunately, it was also besieged and partly destroyed during the English Civil War, as its owner sided with King Charles I. against Cromwell and his men - which turned out to be not such a great idea. This is why the main halls of the castle lie in ruins. Only the stables (the Duke pretty much invented modern horse dressage singlehandedly, or so they'll tell you) and the adjacent "little" castle still have a roof, and a tiny part of their former decor. Actually, the smaller castle is the greater attraction as it allows you to get a better picture of what life was like with the duke and his family in the 17th century. Bolsover Castle remains an impressive construction, and there are some re-creations that show you what the decor in the main halls must have been like. All in all, it's well-prepared and cared for by English Heritage, and most certainly worth the modest entry fee. There's also a small souvenir shop and a café as you enter/leave the grounds. Bolsover itself isn't exactly spectacular - it's mostly a commuter's village I guess. But there are a couple of promising-looking pubs, in addition to the Spoon. My recommendation would be to go to Chesterfield by train and then take the 30min bus ride (no changes - the bus stops almost exactly in front of the castle).

This is an english heritage castle It more is more like a…read morepicturesce house tha a castle You wander from room to room looking at the wonderful carvings and fantastic fireplaces and there are little doors into small rooms with more fantsatic scenes There is a fantastic stables there where the duke brought horses to be taught dressage and ballet There is a nice little cafe and a shop Its a wonderful place which has loads of unexpected little things in it

Awesome experience! Actors role playing as you walk through with a deep look into the history of…read morehow inmates were treated. Not the easiest place to get to but well worth the walk and plenty to see. Lots of interactive exhibits.

This was a really cool museum, though a bit depressing. When we paid for admission, they gave us…read morebracelets with convict numbers so we could find who we were in the past. I was a local hero who robbed married men; my boyfriend stole some curtains. We looked through punishments and torture devices, some we could even try out ourselves! We read blurbs about various convicts. We stumbled into some actors, some who were better at acting than others, not to single the cheese mongrel out or anything. There's so much information, it's easy to get lost in the museum. By the end, it can get a bit dreary. Plus, the museum is SO cold, as if the ghosts of the tortured prisoners were still trapped there. We missed the live trial which would have been cool to witness but there were some interactive bits throughout that would be fun for kids! All in all, I recommend if you're interested in the history of how humans mistreated other humans.

I went to The Venue to see a friend play in a darts competition and I was surprised just how huge…read moreit is inside. It really is just like a TARDIS. it looks like a tiny little clubroom from the outside but when you get inside it just goes on forever. There is a massive long bar and a big room with a vast dancefloor and a huge stage. You then go into the Darts room which had my head spinning because it has about 20 dartboards right round the room. There is tables down the middle of the room but it is hard if you have come to support a certain person play as they could be playing at any of the boards and you may not be able to see any of it depending on where you decide to sit. This would be an awesome place to hold a party. They hire out the rooms for functions and they also have live music nights as well as comedy nights and obviously because of the great Darts rooms they hold a lot of darts competitions so great if you just want to watch some good local talent. The prices of drinks are very reasonable and there is a limited parking area out the front but it is right across the road from Abbey St car park so there is no problem there. The staff are OK too. Friendly and efficient as bar-staff should be.

This place has a car park close to the venue, this is handy if you dont want to get a taxi or walk…read moreit. From the outside doesnt look quite big but inside has 2 decent size rooms that can be made big with slide away walls. Perfect location for functions and for gigs, this place has been a good centre for derby's local bands and also brought in some bigger bands like Fall Out Boy. Prices arent too bad either. The staff are hard working and always polite. There is a kitchen as well so food is readily available and this also means if booked out for weddin recpetions for example they can cater as well Run by 2 business partners and together its well organised.

This is a msut visit for all fans of a good british fun fare! Every October the fair visits the…read moretown of Ilkeston for 4 nights and is pumping with action from start to finish. A great mix of the good old fashioned hook a ducks stalls and the waltzes to the most modern scare rides around! The fair takes over the whole town so if you are local, public transport is the best way to get here (parking can get difficult!) This Goose fair, Nottingham is reknown for being the 3rd larget funfare in the world- Ilkeston fair is not much smaller but is a much better set up than the goose fair and has a much better atmosphere. Kids love it and adults love it just as much. The pubs are also very very busy with people soaking up the Fair atmosphere.