Coach and Minibus Hire in the United Kingdom

Nottingham Coach Hire with a Driver

The council lists six coach drop-off points in central Nottingham and there is no charging Clean Air Zone. The catch is that none of the six lets a coach wait, so plan where it goes once the group is off.

Drop off, then move on

The council's points are for setting down and picking up only. Once the last passenger is off, the driver has to leave. That makes the collection time a fixed appointment: the group should be standing at the kerb when the coach pulls back in, not finishing lunch.

Pick the point by the first place the group is visiting. Mount Street is the stop for Nottingham Castle, and it is also the nearest set-down for the Trip to Jerusalem inn and Robin Hood's statue. For Motorpoint Arena and the National Ice Centre, use Belward Street across the road. With two coaches, use two different points so they are not queuing for the same space.

Mercedes-Benz Tourismo 49-seat coach, exterior
Mercedes-Benz Tourismo 49-seat coach, exterior

Flights through East Midlands

From Old Market Square to East Midlands Airport is 14 or 15 miles, a 25 to 30 minute drive when the roads are quiet. Private hire coaches load at a dedicated bay, and each one has to be booked in with the airport ahead of time. Send flight numbers early so the operator can make that booking.

Birmingham Airport is about an hour away and can be the better choice when its flights suit. Its coach road in front of the terminal is for coaches only; a minibus collects elsewhere.

Airports serving Nottingham

Stadiums and arenas

  • City Ground — Nottingham Forest; about 31,000, on the banks of the River Trent in West Bridgford
  • Trent Bridge — Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club and England Test matches; about 17,500
  • Meadow Lane — Notts County; about 300 yards from the City Ground
  • Motorpoint Arena Nottingham — Nottingham Panthers ice hockey, concerts

Day trips and transfers from Nottingham

  • Newstead Abbey — about 12 miles, about 25 min
  • Southwell Minster — about 15 miles, about 30 min
  • Sherwood Forest (Edwinstowe) — about 20 miles, about 40 min
  • Belvoir Castle — about 20 miles, about 40 min
  • Chatsworth — about 35 miles, about 1 h
  • Lincoln — about 40 miles, about 1 h

Coach rules in Nottingham

  • East Midlands Airport (EMA) is about 14-15 miles by road south-west of Old Market Square, about 25-30 min in light traffic via the A453; Birmingham Airport is about 55 miles (about 1 h).
  • Nottingham City Council lists six city-centre coach drop-off points: Mount Street (NG1 6HE), Wellington Circus (NG1 5AE), South Sherwood Street (NG1 5ND), Belward Street (NG1 1LB, opposite the arena), Station Street (NG2 3DQ) and Peveril Street (NG7 1FD).
  • The drop-off points are strictly for setting down and picking up: waiting and parking are not permitted.
  • Mount Street is the main set-down for the castle, the Robin Hood statue and Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem; Belward Street serves Motorpoint Arena and the National Ice Centre.
  • Nottingham is not on the government list of charging Clean Air Zones.
  • Goose Fair, a free ten-day funfair on the Forest Recreation Ground (Gregory Boulevard, NG7 6HB), runs around the turn of September and October (2026: 25 September to 4 October); expect heavy traffic north of the city centre while it is on.

Match days by the river

The City Ground, Meadow Lane and Trent Bridge sit close together by the Trent. When one of them has a big crowd, roads round the river slow right down. Set the return pick-up away from the grounds and allow extra time in both directions.

Every autumn, as September turns into October, the ten-day Goose Fair is held on the Forest Recreation Ground. Expect slow going on the roads north of the city while it is open, and give any trip heading that way a margin or a different route.

Half days and full days

Newstead Abbey and Southwell Minster are each within about half an hour, which suits an afternoon. Sherwood Forest and Belvoir Castle take about 40 minutes. Chatsworth and Lincoln are about an hour each way, better for a full day with a long stop.

Questions

Can the coach wait on Mount Street while we visit the castle?

No. A coach may only stop on Mount Street to load and unload; it cannot park or wait. The coach drops you, leaves, and returns at the agreed time.

Is there a Clean Air Zone charge in Nottingham?

Nottingham is not on the government's list of charging Clean Air Zones, so there is no zone charge to budget for on a city-centre trip.

Where does a coach stop for a concert at Motorpoint Arena?

Belward Street, opposite the arena. The same rule applies after the show: no waiting, so agree an exact collection time and have the group ready to board.

Other charter services

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