Wollaton Hall

An ornate Elizabethan mansion from 1588 set in 500 acres of deer park, now housing Nottingham's Natural History Museum. The building itself is one of England's finest examples of 16th-century architecture, featuring elaborate stone carvings and a distinctive roofline. It sits below the headline sights but earns its place on a longer visit to Nottingham. Tickets cost Hall entry £6 adult, £4 child, Park free and 2-4 hours including park walk is enough to see everything without rushing.

Priority: Medium - include with 2+ days Time needed: 2-4 hours including park walk Best for: one of england's most photographed elizabethan Skip if: You're short on time - the hall and park deserve half a day to appreciate properly Cost: Hall entry £6 adult, £4 child, Park free

You enter through the great hall with its hammerbeam ceiling, then explore period rooms filled with Victorian natural history displays including taxidermied animals and geological specimens. The deer park surrounds the building with red and fallow deer roaming freely among ancient oak trees.

Accessibility: Ground floor wheelchair accessible via ramp, lift to upper floors, accessible parking available, mobility scooter loan

One of England's most photographed Elizabethan buildings with genuine period rooms and extensive parkland. It is not the first thing you should see in Nottingham, but with two or more days it fills a gap the major sights leave. Afternoon tends to work best here.

Skip if: You're short on time - the hall and park deserve half a day to appreciate properly

• The deer park is free and open all year even when hall is closed.
• Free parking on site unlike most Nottingham attractions.
• Bring a picnic - the park grounds are perfect for outdoor dining.

Insider tip: The hall was used as Wayne Manor exterior in The Dark Knight Rises - the staff enjoy discussing the filming

Best exterior shots from the south lawn, interior photography allowed in most rooms, deer in park are approachable but maintain distance