St Peter’s Square, Nottingham, Bezoekersgids & wat te doen in de buurt

St Peter's Square is a small pedestrian square in the centre of Nottingham, gathered around the medieval church of St Peter. It is a quiet pocket just off the busy shopping streets, and a good place to see how much of the old town survives among the modern shops.

The story behind it

St Peter's is one of the oldest churches in Nottingham's city centre, and the square takes its name from it. The building has been altered and added to over many centuries, so its stonework reads like a layered history of the town. The church sits on the old streets that once made up the medieval heart of Nottingham.

The square also fits neatly into the Robin Hood story that Nottingham is known for. Characters like Maid Marian and Friar Tuck were not part of the earliest legends and were added later, around the 15th and 16th centuries. Friar Tuck is usually the jolly, comic figure of the band, sometimes also shown as a capable fighter, and in Disney's animated film he even became a badger.

What to look for

• The tower and spire of St Peter's, which rise above the square and make a handy landmark when you are finding your way around the centre.
• The mix of stonework on the church walls, where you can see that different parts were built and repaired at different times.
• The contrast between the old church and the shopfronts and modern buildings that surround it, a reminder of how the city has grown around its medieval core.
• The narrow lanes and gates leading off the square, whose names hint at the older street pattern of the town.

Tips for your visit

• You only need ten to fifteen minutes to take in the square itself, longer if you want to look closely at the church.
• The square is outdoors and open to walk through, but check current opening hours if you want to go inside the church, as access can vary.
• Morning and early evening are calmer than the middle of a shopping day, and the light is kind to the stonework.
• Old Market Square and the main shopping streets are only a short walk away, so it combines easily with the rest of the city centre.

See it on a quest

If you would like more than a quick look, Maid Marian's Nottingham: Finding Robin Hood is a natural fit for a place with Robin Hood links. You reach the square on foot as one stop on a longer route through the city, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Nottingham suits you if you prefer a darker mood. It takes you through the streets of the city on foot, with the app telling you about each stop and setting a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.

Lucky Treasure Hunt: The Golden Shamrock in Nottingham turns the same streets into a treasure hunt. You walk from place to place, hear about each one as you get there, and solve a puzzle along the way. One ticket covers the whole group.