What Nottingham is known for

Sheffield, the largest city within the borders of the Nottingham Destination, is located in the northern part of the region. Historically, the town has been connected for centuries to cutlery production and it played an essential role during the Industrial Revolution, primarily for the production of extensive steel.[1] Nowadays, the city is classified among the greenest settlements in the UK, considering the number of trees per person. Sheffield is reportedly considered a popular touristic destination due to its abundance of historical monuments and sites, namely the Sheffield Cathedral, the Peace Gardens, Sheffield Town Hall, and others.[4] In the city, a Sheffield Winter Garden can also be found, which is one of the largest temperate glasshouses in the UK and belongs among the most extensive urban glasshouses in Europe.[11] Regarding the historical sites in the Nottingham District, the Wentworth Woodhouse can be found north of the city of Sheffield. The settlement's construction started in 1725, and to this day, the house and gardens are open to tourists and visitors.[13]

To the west of Sheffield, a hilly landscape comprises the Peak District and it is under the protection of the Peak District National Park. The local area is composed of lower hills and relatively well-protected nature, which is the reason for tourists staying in adjacent cities such as Manchester, Liverpool, or Sheffield, to visit the national park. Several outdoor activities are available in the territory, for example, cycling, hiking, or rock climbing.[6] Within the national park's borders, North Lees Hall, a settlement dating back to the 1300s, can be found. This medieval construction became a muse for the author Charlotte Bronte, who placed one of her stories, Jane Eyre, in a similar building. The hall has been previously visited numerous times by the author.[12]

Nottingham, the namesake of the Nottingham Destination, is a city located in the southern part of the destination's territory. The town is mythologically entangled with Robin Hood, the fabled outlaw hero of the British nation. Various places across the city, such as Sherwood Forest, the Major Oak, or Nottingham Castle, bear a connection to Robin Hood.[14] Beyond the legends of Robin Hood, Nottingham is also known for producing lace, tobacco, and bicycles. Among the famous tourist place within the city belongs Nottingham Castle, Nottingham Council House, Arkwright Building of Nottingham Trent University, and more.[9] Nottingham has much to offer above and under the ground, as over 800 caves can be found beneath the city's streets. The cave complex under Nottingham is the largest in the UK and is available for tourists to visit.[15]

Geography

The Nottingham Destination is located in the central part of England, stretching between the bay Wash on the southeast and the Humber estuary to the northeast. The country of Wales represents the approximate borders of the destination in the western direction. To the north, the city areas of Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, and Hull outline the approximate edge of the Nottingham District. Thus, the region has direct access to the North Sea in the east and an indirect one to the Irish Sea through the river Mersey in the west. The largest accumulation in the area is the city of Sheffield, considered one of the greenest cities in the UK, as Sheffield has more trees per person than any other city in Europe. Approximately 4.5 million trees are reported to be growing in the city area.[4]

The Peak District can be found outside the Sheffield city area in the west. The mountainous land of the Peak District is part of the Pennine Hills. The territory's average height is around 300 m above sea level, with its highest point, Kinder Scout, being at an altitude of 636 m above sea level. The landscape is represented by the abundance of rounded hills, plateaux, valleys, limestone gorges, and gritstone edges.[5]

Over 550 square miles of the Peak District area is protected as the Peak District National Park, the first national park to be established in the UK. As of currently, the Peak District National Park protects the local nature and species, such as red deer, white mountain hare, and ring ouzel. For many decades, the land of the natural park has been protected, which resulted in considerable touristic popularity of the Peak District. Outdoor activities such as hiking, walking, cycling, climbing, and bouldering are available for tourists in the area.[6] The national park is also visited for natural attractions, such as the Treak Cliff Cavern in the village of Castleton, which is known for the large deposits of Blue John stone and unique cave formations.[7] Another significant cave in the Peak District National Park is Poole's Cavern, a two-million-year-old natural limestone cave. The cave, which extends to approximately 310 m in length, is open to tourists and visitors.[8]

The Nottingham Destination, as well as most of the UK, is located in a temperate oceanic climate area, often classified as humid, with cool summers and mild winters.[9] The warmest month in Nottingham is July, with an average daily temperature of 22°C, while January is the coldest month, with an average temperature of 7°C. March tends to be the driest month in Nottingham, with an average of 44 mm of rainfall. The most precipitation falls during October, with an average of 72 mm.[10]

History

The largest city in the Nottingham Destination, Sheffield, has seen inhabitation approximately since the last Ice Age. After that, the Sheffield area was settled by various tribes during the Iron and Bronze Ages. In the Roman era, Romans occupied the territory, and after the fall of their empire, Celts took over the land. Sheffield Castle was built after the Norman conquest of England, which helped the city to grow and develop. By the 14th century, Sheffield became known for knife production. During the following decades, the industry developed, and the town became the second leading producer of cutlery after London. Benjamin Huntsman helped the industry evolve even further by inventing a new and more effective steel processing method, which improved the quality of the product. Around the same time, in the 18th century, a Sheffield silver plate was invented. The aforementioned inventions led to growth in the industry and business of the city; however, due to the economic crisis in the 20th century, several steelworks in the town had to be closed. Thus, nowadays, Sheffield is reportedly the center for banking and insurance, with several digital start-ups settled in the city.[1]

Nottingham, the town after which the destination is named, can be found in the southern part of the territory. The area started to shape into a city during the Anglo-Saxon settlement, which was subdued by Normans during the Norman conquest of Britain. In 1068, Nottingham Castle was built, with the city housing a Town Hall and Law Courts. On the opposite side of the castle, a French borough was established, strengthening Norman's influence in the castle. In 1194, Nottingham Castle became under the occupation of Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham. The local castle is tied to the legends of national hero outlaw Robin Hood, as the Nottingham Castle is allegedly the place of the final conflict between the Sheriff and Robin Hood. During the Middle Ages, Nottingham prospered and grew, with the leading industry being textile. During the Industrial Revolution, the town became known as the center of lace production. However, Nottingham's textile industry declined significantly after the Second World War.[3]

Nowadays, Nottingham belongs among the middle-sized cities in the Nottingham District, with the largest agglomeration being Sheffield. However, Nottingham bears significant importance to the nation. Nicknamed the "home of English sport," Nottingham is the place where the first British football club was established. To this day, Nottingham is also considered Robin Hood's town, with several tales and myths about the British national hero being connected to the city, which was supposedly Robin Hood's home.[2]