The Nottingham Goose Fair is held annually at the Forest Recreation Ground, located approximately 1 mile (about a 20-25 minute walk) north of Nottingham city centre. The 2025 event ran from September 26 to October 5, with 2026 dates not yet finalized. It is easily accessible via the "The Forest" tram stop.
Goose Fair is held annually at the Forest Recreation Ground, which is about a mile north of Nottingham city centre. It takes over all of the grassy area of the recreation ground as well as half of the car park.
Bus. Journeys can be planned via NCT or Trent Barton buses. ...
Car. Blue Badge event parking is available for £10 per car at the Forest Recreation Ground. ...
Cycling. Visitors can travel to Goose Fair via bicycle or on a Lime e-bike, which can be hired through the Lime app, available from the App Store or Google Play.
Entry to the goose fair is free of charge and then you can just pay for what you would like to go on while you are there. Street parking is nearby although it can get busy so people often opt to visit by public transport as it is so easy to do.
With more than 350 rides and attractions and thrills aplenty for all ages, Goose Fair has been staged annually in Nottingham since at least 1284. Half a million visitors are expected to attend the ten-day event.
Treat Goose Fair as a temporary theme park. You can expect anywhere up to 500 different attractions from towering drops to pop up rollercoasters, and much more! If you prefer to keep things calmer, there's still a market street that sells food and trinkets throughout the event.
"The trams are a critical piece of infrastructure here and these fare adjustments reflect the ongoing need to balance affordability with ensuring we can manage, maintain and continue to improve the network that keeps so many people moving."
Nottingham's Goose Fair is still going strong, over 700 years later. The event started in the 13th century and is the referred to as the world's oldest travelling fair. To this day, thousands are eager to attend year on year.
Nottingham, a city steeped in history and culture, lies approximately 235 kilometers (about 146 miles) north of London. This distance can be traversed by various means—by car, train, or even bus—each offering its own unique experience.
Most historians agree the fair probably started just after 1284 when the Charter of King Edward I referred to city fairs in Nottingham. The name probably came from the hundreds of geese which were driven from Lincolnshire to be sold in Nottingham. A fat roast goose was a traditional Michaelmas treat.
The biggest fair in the UK, particularly among traveling fairs, is widely considered to be Hull Fair, one of Europe's largest and oldest, featuring hundreds of rides and attractions annually in early October. Another major contender is the Nottingham Goose Fair, also ranking among the biggest, known for its massive scale and traditional food like Grandma Gingerbread.
From Friday 27 September to Sunday 6 October, Nottingham's legendary Goose Fair returns to the Forest Recreation Ground — and it's set to be bigger and better than ever!
Shoppers were left "fearing for their own lives" after a stabbing in a Primark shop in Nottingham city centre, a court heard. A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was handed a 12-month referral order following a hearing at Nottingham Youth Court on Wednesday.
Is Nottingham Safe at Night? As Nottingham is one of the most dangerous cities in England, it will be highly risky to walk at night. The crime rate is increasing gradually, with noticeable changes every year. The major crimes reported are violent crimes, property crimes, sexual offences, and drug-related cases.
Nottingham is generally considered affordable, especially compared to London and other major UK cities, offering a good balance of quality of life and lower living costs, particularly for housing, making it a popular choice for students and families seeking value without sacrificing amenities. While not the absolute cheapest UK city, it's significantly more budget-friendly than the capital, with lower rents, food, and transport costs, though individual expenses depend on lifestyle.
The 10p payment is to check that the card is valid and has some balance. The charge will get updated to the correct amount once the day has completed and TfL have been able to calculate where you went and how much they need to charge you.
As always the ground is free entry and pay for each ride and attraction as normal. There is no booking needed or required and there are no wristbands sold or needed for this SEND session. There is blue badge parking on site, usual parking charges apply as with any other time during the fair.
The nights here are spontaneous and full of energy – from bars dedicated to ping pong to pubs rumoured to the be oldest in England, there's an exciting new adventure around every corner. Whether you're into drinking and dancing the night away or just chilling with friends, there's plenty to do in Nottingham at night.
What happens if you forget to tap off the Nottingham tram?
If you fail to tap off again, then instead of the short hop ticket price of £1.50, you'll be charged the standard single ticket price of £3.40. NET will not be issuing any refunds for any incorrectly purchased tickets.
