Nottinghamshire &amp; Derbyshire


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-visit-an-open-garden"><strong>Visit an open garden</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/04/tulips-unsplash-1024x683.jpg" alt="Tulips unsplash" class="wp-image-17728" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/04/tulips-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/04/tulips-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/04/tulips-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/04/tulips-unsplash.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>There are some lovely local gardens flinging their doors open to the public this weekend as part of the <a href="https://ngs.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Garden Scheme</a>. In <a href="https://ngs.org.uk/nottinghamshire-by-arrangement/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Notts</a>, there&#8217;s a gorgeous garden in <a href="https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/44171/160-southwell-road-west" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Southwell Road West</a>, Mansfield open on <strong>Sun 3 May,</strong> with a woodland garden, a border designed to cope with sun, large island beds, and climbers galore. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rock-out-at-a-festival"><strong>Rock out at a festival</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="931" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/04/Groovebox-1024x931.png" alt="girls dancing at groovebox festival nottingham" class="wp-image-17729" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/04/Groovebox-1024x931.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/04/Groovebox-300x273.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/04/Groovebox-768x698.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/04/Groovebox.png 1092w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wearegroovebox" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@wearegroovebox</a></figcaption></figure>



<p>Festival season is officially upon us and <a href="https://wollatonhall.org.uk/groovebox-in-the-park/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><u>Groovebox In The Park</u></a> is spreading the love this bank holiday weekend.&nbsp;Uplifting house tunes and disco beats bring the party vibes to Nottingham’s stunning Wollaton Hall on Sunday. Headlined by house music titan&nbsp;Armand Van Helden<strong>,</strong>&nbsp;the line-up pushes Groovebox’s reputation for cutting-edge talent &nbsp;and includes the likes of Kepler, Lottie J, Marsolo, Micah Baxter, Riordan&nbsp;and&nbsp;Ruze. Alongside the stacked DJ line-up, expect roaming entertainers, stilt walkers, fire breathers, and street food vendors. Feels like the start of summer.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-follow-an-art-trail"><strong>Follow an art trail</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/04/Belper-arts-trail-by-Rebecca-Morledge-1024x1024.jpg" alt="belper illustration by rebecca morledge" class="wp-image-17723" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/04/Belper-arts-trail-by-Rebecca-Morledge-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/04/Belper-arts-trail-by-Rebecca-Morledge-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/04/Belper-arts-trail-by-Rebecca-Morledge-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/04/Belper-arts-trail-by-Rebecca-Morledge-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/04/Belper-arts-trail-by-Rebecca-Morledge-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/04/Belper-arts-trail-by-Rebecca-Morledge-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/04/Belper-arts-trail-by-Rebecca-Morledge.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image by <a href="https://www.rebeccamorledge.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><u>Rebecca Morledge</u></a></figcaption></figure>



<p>Fancy an arty weekend nosing around cool venues and picking up some original art? Head to the <a href="https://www.belperarts.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><u>Belper Arts Trail</u></a>, on <strong>Sun 3 and Mon 4 May </strong>for its awesome art trail. With live music, ‘busk’ stops, hands-on workshops, and scores of artists taking part in venues across the town centre, there’s stacks to choose from.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-take-a-dawn-chorus-walk"><strong>Take a dawn chorus walk</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/04/dawn-chorus-Photo-by-Vidar-Nordli-Mathisen-unsplash-1024x683.jpg" alt="bird singing dawn chorus" class="wp-image-17733" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/04/dawn-chorus-Photo-by-Vidar-Nordli-Mathisen-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/04/dawn-chorus-Photo-by-Vidar-Nordli-Mathisen-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/04/dawn-chorus-Photo-by-Vidar-Nordli-Mathisen-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/04/dawn-chorus-Photo-by-Vidar-Nordli-Mathisen-unsplash.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo by Vidar Nordli Mathisen / unsplash</figcaption></figure>



<p>Set the alarm and enjoy a <a href="https://wollatonhall.org.uk/dawn-chorus/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dawn chorus walk</a> before everyone else wakes up. Start your early-morning exploration of Wollaton Park on Sat 2 May at 5am at the Walled Garden entrance, just as the park begins to wake. You’ll enjoy a perfectly peaceful guided stroll of the park, listening out for different species and learning how to recognise their calls. Coffee will be available by the lake from 6 am.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solve-a-murder-mystery"><strong>Solve a murder mystery</strong></h2>



<p>If you fancy yourself as a bit of a Poirot, head to the National Justice Museum on <strong>Sat 3 May</strong> for an <a href="https://www.nationaljusticemuseum.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">immersive evening of intrigue</a>, accusations and suspicion<strong>.</strong> Miss Crackle is on the hunt for a husband. Perhaps the best way is to hold a party at the newly rebuilt Shire Hall and show off her wealth &#8211; with a pineapple. Her party is ruined when her footman is murdered and the tropical fruit he was guarding was stolen. It’s up to you and your crew to solve the murder and hunt the pineapple.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-immerse-yourself-in-stories"><strong>Immerse yourself in stories</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/03/Chatsworth-book-x-1024x683.jpg" alt="chatsworth ancient book" class="wp-image-17292" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/03/Chatsworth-book-x-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/03/Chatsworth-book-x-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/03/Chatsworth-book-x-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2026/03/Chatsworth-book-x.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Still not visited <strong>Chatsworth’s</strong> wonderful <a href="https://www.chatsworth.org/events/house-of-stories/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">House of Stories</a> exhibition? Use the bank holiday to get up early and make the trip because it’s well worth it. Read my review <a href="https://nottsderbyshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/arts-culture-things-to-do/first-look-house-of-stories-tales-from-the-chatsworth-library/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here.</a> You can also indulge in a spot of nature crafting if that&#8217;s your thing &#8211; there&#8217;s a lovely <a href="https://www.chatsworth.org/events/mono-printing-from-nature/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monoprinting Workshop</a> on<strong> Sun 3 May </strong>where you&#8217;ll use flowers, leaves, and fern to print with.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



<p><a href="https://nottsderbyshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/whats-on/whats-on-may-notts-derbyshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Your local what’s on guide for May</a></p>



<p><a href="https://nottsderbyshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/latest-news/superflash-fresh-new-openings-stunning-sculptures-filming-goss/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Superflashy newsflash: what&#8217;s new near you</a></p>



<p><a href="https://nottsderbyshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/arts-culture-things-to-do/first-look-house-of-stories-tales-from-the-chatsworth-library/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Review: House of Stories, Chatsworth</a></p>


6 things to do locally this May bank holiday weekend

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