Lakeside Arts

About

Set in the picturesque grounds of Highfields Park alongside a boating lake, Lakeside Arts serves as the public cultural center of the University of Nottingham. Formally established as a unified arts complex in 2001, it blends performing arts, historical research, and visual culture within a vibrant university campus setting. The venue boasts several remarkable features. Its Djanogly Recital Hall is widely celebrated across the UK for its world-class acoustic design, making it a favorite location for BBC classical music broadcasts and live recordings. The complex also houses the University of Nottingham Museum, which was originally founded in 1933 following a major donation of rare Roman pottery excavated from the ancient settlement of Margidunum. Inside, visitors can explore a diverse array of spaces tailored to art, history, and live performance. The Djanogly Art Gallery hosts a rotating calendar of contemporary and historical exhibitions featuring local and international artists. Nearby, the museum displays regional archaeological finds spanning over 250,000 years, from early Palaeolithic stone tools to medieval artifacts. For performance enthusiasts, the DH Lawrence Pavilion and Djanogly Theatre host an eclectic mix of contemporary drama, dance, family shows, and literature events. A lakeside cafe and craft shop complete the experience, offering scenic views over the surrounding parkland.

Nottingham United Kingdom

Location

You will find it at Lakeside Arts, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, at the south entrance of the campus next to Highfields Park. If you put it in a sat nav it is better to use East Drive, Nottingham rather than just the postcode, that gets you straight to the lakeside. It sits on the edge of the university lake, with its own theatre, galleries, museum and cafe all in one spot. Because it is on University Park you are already in a green, relaxed area. Right outside is Highfields Park itself, perfect for a walk around the lake and boating lake before or after a show. The University's own museum and the Djanogly Gallery are part of Lakeside, so you get archaeology, contemporary art and exhibitions in one visit. You are also only a few minutes from the city centre, so everything else is close. Wollaton Hall and Park, that big Elizabethan mansion with its Natural History Museum and deer park, is just down the road. Nottingham Castle, with its museum, art gallery and Robin Hood stories, is about ten minutes by car. You also have Nottingham Industrial Museum at Wollaton, Green's Windmill, and in town the National Justice Museum and Nottingham Contemporary. It is a really handy base for mixing a bit of art with castles, parks and museums.