Tour Your Town
Broxtowe is a place shaped by its people.
From our proud industrial roots to the vibrant communities we see today, our Borough has always been defined by industry, creativity, and pride. That legacy still courses through the veins of our high streets, our communities, and the people that truly make Broxtowe.
Here, bounded by the City of Nottingham to the east and the rivers Trent and Erewash to the south and west, urban life meets rural tranquillity. Four busy centres sit alongside sprawling countryside, the very same that inspired one of England’s greatest literary minds – D.H. Lawrence. Independent shops, cafés, restaurants and pubs bring a unique energy and individuality you won’t find anywhere else.
But Broxtowe isn’t just about where you go, it’s about who you meet. The business owners who welcome you like family, the friendly locals, the people who bring passion, personality and a slice of home to every corner of the Borough.
We invite you to explore our Broxtowe, immerse yourself in local stories, support independent business, and discover what makes us so special!
Cllr Teresa Cullen
Attractions
Attenborough Nature Reserve
Opened in 1966 by national treasure Sir David Attenborough, whose family hail from the nearby village of Attenborough, Attenborough Nature Reserve offers some of the most serene and beautiful walks in nature for miles around. Best known for its eclectic mix of birds species, the reserve is also home to otters, bats and many species of butterfly.
With multiple trails across the site over 220 hectares, bird hides scattered throughout, and a beautiful café and gift shop overlooking the water, Attenborough Nature Reserve is the perfect spot for a day out in nature.
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Beauvale Priory
Founded in the mid-14th century, Beauvale Priory was one of just nine priories in England dedicated to the Carthusian Order of monks. Partially destroyed by King Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century, it is now a popular spot for walkers and cyclists with tearooms and an artisan bakehouse on site.
An ideal spot for coffee and cake after a walk around nearby Colliers Wood Nature Reserve, just a 30-minute walk or 5-minute drive away, a site which the monks used to mine.
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Beeston Canalside Heritage Centre
Situated in the historic weir cottages next to Beeston Lock, Beeston Canalside Heritage Centre offers stunning views across the River Trent and Beeston Weir from their beautifully planted garden. One of the cottages has been restored to recreate how it would have looked in 1842 when the family of Martha Rice, her husband, and 4 children lived there, who would have worked on the canals at the time. There’s also a cosy café on site with some top notch cakes to tuck into.
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Beeston Town Centre 
The largest of our town centres, attracting over 70,000 visitors a week, Beeston is known for its vibrant street art and strong mix of award-winning independent shops, markets, restaurants, pubs and bars. It’s a place you can spend all day exploring, experiencing new cultures from across the globe, discovering hidden gems locals love and Beeston’s independent spirit.
Bennerley Viaduct
Towering 18 metres above the Erewash Valley, Bennerley Viaduct (pictured at the top of this page) is one of Broxtowe’s most visually striking attractions. The largest of two remaining iron-wrought viaducts in the UK, it’s a truly unique marvel of British engineering and fine tribute to local mining heritage. With a recently opened visitor centre and café, this industrial icon really is a must see!
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Bramcote Hills Park and The Walled Garden
Bramcote Hills Park covers approximately 27 hectares, contains three different nature reserves that are home to a wide variety of wildlife, and has recently been recognised as a park of high quality for a 20th consecutive year by the Green Flag Awards. The site is also steeped in history with remains of The Hills House on the edge of the woodland, and it being the long-standing home of Broxtowe’s flagship community event – next June being the event’s 25-year anniversary.
The Victorian Walled Garden offers a serenity and calmness, containing a new sensory garden with over 8,000 bulbs, a Holocaust Memorial, and an unobscured view of the mysterious Hemlock Stone.
Free car parking at Bramcote Hills Park, Bramcote, Nottingham NG9 3JT.
Chapel on the Hill
Built in 1883 atop The Knowle, Chapel on the Hills is a unique Grade II listed building, offer panoramic views across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire from its grounds and still has many of its original architecture and features intact.
Why not make a day of it? Chapel on the Hill has watched over a Kimberley for more than 100 years and seen its rich industrial and brewing heritage, making it the ideal spot to head into a local pub for lunch.
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Colliers Wood
Mining activity had been taking place on the Colliers Wood site for over 700 years, beginning with the monks from Beauvale Priory and ending as Moorgreen Colliery in 1985. It’s now been transformed into a calm nature reserve perfect for walks with the family or furry friends, complete with a tribute to the mining that used to take place and the miners who lost their lives.
Pair this with a trip to Beauvale Priory for coffee and cake and see the home of the site’s very first miners, or head south into Eastwood for more mining heritage at the D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum or with the D.H. Lawrence Trail The D.H. Lawrence Trail
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Events
There's always something going on in our Borough, whether that be Oxjam music festival in Beeston, our flagship event Hemlock Happening on Bramcote Hills Park, or cultural festivals like the D.H. Lawrence Festival around Eastwood.
Find something for you whatever the season.
D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum 
The D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum is where this literary legend was born on 11 September 1885. Only 30 minutes from Nottingham city centre, the Museum is a must see for fans of literature, and for those wanting to delve deeper into Nottingham’s literary heritage. Step back in time to experience the traditional Victorian wash house, see the parlour; a room only for special guests and have a wander around the parental and other bedrooms. The museum’s permanent exhibition features items from Lawrence’s family and even paintings created by the author himself.
Pick up something special for a loved one or yourself in The Little Red Brick Gift Shop afterwards too!
Eastwood Town Centre
With deep cultural and industrial roots, Eastwood has a strong sense of identity. One of England’s finest writers, D.H. Lawrence, was born here in a miner’s cottage which is now the D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum, and his legacy is apparent throughout the town. Eastwood was also the birthplace of the Midland Railway, with the idea born in The Sun Inn in 1832, which played a key role in the booming local coal industry and powering the nation.
Hemlock Stone
A prominent rock formation shrouded in myth, including witches and giants, with history going back centuries. Surrounding walks offer panoramic views stretching to Wollaton Hall. Free parking is available at Bramcote Hills Park, Bramcote, Nottingham NG9 3JT.
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Kimberley Town Centre
Kimberley has a rich brewing heritage, leaving a legacy of craftsmanship, highlighted in today’s wide range of independent business spanning the length and breadth of the town. Not far from the town you’ll find evidence of the town’s local mining heritage in the form of the longest Victorian wrought iron viaduct in the country and one of only two still standing, Bennerley Viaduct.
Stapleford Town Centre
Stapleford’s identity is rooted in its industrial past, most notably the historic F. Chambers & Company Limited Pencil Works factory. That heritage still shapes the town today, giving it a strong sense of character and resilience, with the Chambers family still producing pencils in the town. Subject to a recent £21 million investment project that’s given the high street a new lease of life, Stapleford is a town on the up.
Strelley Hall
Originally built as a castile in the 1200’s, Strelley Hall is situated on the edge of the beautiful village of Strelley, the majority of the building we see today was built in 1780’s and is now the perfect coffee and cake stop on a stroll through the Broxtowe countryside. It’s also home to a number of independent local traders and craft shops within the grounds.
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Swingate Water Tower
Swingate Water Tower is a grade II listed, neo-classical style water tower, towering nearly 100 feet above the surrounding Broxtowe countryside. Built in the 1940’s, it used to supply water to Nottingham before it was decommissioned. Pair it with a trip to Chapel on the Hill in Kimberley, nearby Bennerley Viaduct or Strelley Hall, or discover Kimberley’s favourite high street independents.
Babbington Lane, Kimberley, Nottingham NG16 2SS.
Walking and Cycling
Broxtowe boasts some of the best walking and cycling trails in Nottinghamshire, ranging from town centre heritage trails to adventures in nature.
The Nottingham Canal Trail and Broxtowe Country Trails run the length of the Borough on adjacent sides, taking in breathtaking countryside scenery and meandering through some of Broxtowe’s picturesque villages like Attenborough, Cossall, and Strelley. Or pick up the start of The Big Track from Beeston Lock, taking you through the City Centre up to Trent Bridge.
If you fancy taking in some local literary heritage, there are two interactive D.H. Lawrence walking trails in Eastwood which explore the writers upbringing in the town.