I've spent almost all of today (I got up early and everything!!) looking at activities we can do on the moot. I've had ideas floating around but I finally decided to write them down and try to make sense of them.
Below I list them (with post codes so you can find them on Google maps) and a short description. If you've anything to add please post it and I'll pop it on the list. This isn't a strict thing and anything can be added or taken away as long as it is plausible. So let's get this party started, shall we?
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Nottingham
- Sherwood Forest (NG21 9HN)
“At the entrance to the country park is Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre with an exhibition on Robyn Hodes Sherwode, two shops and the Forest Table Restaurant. A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Nottinghamshires first National Nature Reserve (NNR), the forest is also home to a wide variety of flora and fauna that live on the dead wood and among the fallen leaves.”
- Nottingham Castle (NG1 6EL)
“Historic site at the heart of the Robin Hood legend and starting point for the English Civil War. Situated on a high rock, Nottingham Castle commands spectacular views over the city and once rivalled the great castles of Windsor and the Tower of London.”
- Belvoir Castle (NG32 1PE)
“This one was remodelled to be a Cavalier's pleasure palace, there's the outer castle which is mostly wrecked apart from the huge riding school (Vienna is not the only place to have had one) and the Little Castle which isn't little, and is amazing.”
- Creswell Crags (S80 3LH)
A set of limestone caves to explore for fun times.
- Alton Towers (ST10 4DB)
I’ve got some free tickets to this, so yeah! It’s got lots of stuff for all ages, and also a water park, apparently. There are also neat gardens and an awesome old castle to explore, too, if you don’t fancy the rides.
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York
- Jorvik Viking Centre (YO1 9WT)
Learn all about Rune. Also Vikings. It’s a cool little museum with stuff to buy, too!
- Barley Hall (YO1 8AR)
The building has been restored with high ceilings, exposed timber frames, and possibly the only horn window in England. It has been decorated to replicate what it would have looked like as the Snawsell home around 1483 and boasts a magnificent Great Hall. Visitors to Barley Hall can make themselves at home, sit on the chairs, handle the objects and experience what it would have been like to live in medieval England.
- York Minster (YO1 7HH)
The largest medieval gothic cathedral north of the Alps
- Clifford’s Tower (YO1 9SA)
Once the central stronghold of York Castle, the tower is all that remains; it has nice views from the top and looks a neat place to picnic.
- National Railway Museum (YO26 4XJ)
You can see the Hogwarts Express here, as well as various other trains and steam engine things. If you’re into that sort of thing.
- The Deep Aquarium (HU1 4DP)
It’s an aquarium with lots of fish, sharks, stingrays and probably some water as well.
- City of York Walls (YO1 8RY)
Massive walls of defence. Good for shenanigans.
- YorkBoat / Red boats (YO1 7DP)
Boat rides that are ‘safe and easy to drive’
- North Yorkshire Moors Railway (YO18 7AJ)
Ride on a steam train through some pretty landscapes.
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Oxford
- Eagle and Child pub
The famous location for Tolkien and the Inklings’ discussion meetings and general tomfoolery
- The Lamb and Flag pub
Alternate Tolkien and co meeting place; has more space than the E&C
- Punting
Old fashioned Newtonian boating
- Oxford walking tour
There’s a Tolkien and CS Lewis specific tour, but we could probably make our own
- Botanic Garden
Nice place for a picnic
- Christ Church College
Place where Harry Potter was filmed, also quite nice otherwise
Bear in mind, though, a trip to Oxford will probably only happen once so we'd have to fit in as much as possible into a day trip. Whereas York and Nottingham are right on the doorstep for the cottage so it's not inconceivable that we can do multiple days with those things.
Please let me know if there's anything else we can do!
