Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem is England's oldest inn, and on its wall proudly displays the date it opened, 1189AD!

The Trip, as it affectionately know, is located at the foot of Nottingham Castle, and legend has it that knights on the way to fight the Crusades would stop off in Nottingham, a stronghold favoured by Richard 1st, in order to rest at the inn, before making the long trip to Jerusalem, and this probably provided the pub with its unusual name.

Even before stepping inside the doors the history of the place is obvious. The black and white Tudor exterior melds into the cliff under the castle, and once inside, low ceilinged rooms, cut into the sandstone immediately turn the clock back a few centuries. Just remember to watch your head as your imagination runs wild with thoughts of all the people who have drunk here, and the tales told over the years.

Alongside regular drinks usually found on tap, The Trip also has a selection of resident ales, many from The Nottingham Brewery, and ever changing guest ales mainly from local breweries. One of the best options upon encountering such an array of beers, is to order the platter of three different half pints; providing the opportunity to sample different varieties of ale without getting too tipsy.

Aside from traditional pub tipples, over the past few years The Trip has attempted to become a first choice for food locally, by developing its menu to be quality and yet still affordable. There is a great selection to choose from, which is always evolving and growing.

It is not only inside the pub where the seating is surrounded by history though, the outdoor courtyard has plenty of tables, is sheltered from the wind, heated, and is a great place to sit on a summer afternoon. Evidence of the old horse stables is everywhere.

Getting to The Trip is relatively straightforward, as it is on the Castle wall, which is only a 5 minute walk away from the city centre, and about 5 minutes from the train station. Parking is not directly available but there are metered parking places available on all the surrounding roads, and there are plenty of car parks in Nottingham; the nearest being 2 minutes away, just off Castle Boulevard.