Igloo Hostel, Nottingham, England.
Nottingham is a great city and 2014 saw my return here for the first time since 2006 and only my second visit to the city. This time round, I was playing the backpacker, so I stayed in a hostel and worked my way through some of the city’s main sights, as well as heading to a gig in nearby Derby and spending a night in the countryside at Clumber Park. In Nottingham City itself, I found the quirky Igloo Hostel online and checked in.
Igloo Hostel – great place to stay while backpacking in Nottingham, England.
It’s an easy hostel to get to, I arrived in Nottingham by train and from the train station, just walk down the hill (right as you exit the front of the station) down to Broadmarsh Bus Station and get the FREE local bus to the Victoria Centre. I got off on Mansfield Road and from there it’s just a 2 minute walk to the Igloo Hostel, which is number 100 on the right hand side as you walk up the hill.
Free local bus service in Nottingham.
I was welcomed by B, who runs the hostel and shown to my room. This was cosy and warm immediately and here are 5 reasons I loved this hostel and recommend it as your base when backpacking in Nottingham.
1. Cosy Rooms
Talking about cosy, the rooms are clean, tidy and extremely homely. I had a nice comfy bed, a table lamp, a desk, a chair, a bit of peace and a view over the street. The hostel reminded me of the cosiness of the Abraham Hostel in Jerusalem and the Penthouse Hostel in Yerevan.
My cosy room in the Igloo Hostel in Nottingham, England
View onto the street from my room at the Igloo Hostel.
2. Quirky Decor
I was on the top floor in the room known as “Lighthouse”, all the rooms are named after a different type of random dwelling place. Room names like Teepee, Campervan, Lighthouse, Nest and Beehive.
Art in the hallway.
Teepee and Campervan – 2 of the quirky room names.
Each room has a specific picture on the wall related to that decor so obviously mine was of a Lighthouse.
The Lighthouse picture in my bedroom at the Igloo Hostel.
3. Wi-Fi Everywhere in the Building
The hostel reception and the second building with bedrooms all have in house, in room wi-fi! The Wi-Fi is fast and as I had a room to myself (Panny wasn’t on this trip) I even had my own desk!
My wi-fi corner – I even had a desk.
4. Ideal Location
You’re in the city centre of Nottingham to all intents and purposes, and it’s a top notch city to explore. From the Igloo Hostel, simply walk down Mansfield Road and you can walk you way around the main sights (Robin Hood statue, the Castle, England’s Oldest Pub etc.) and ending up on the other side of the Trent River at the City Ground, Nottingham.
Nottingham Castle
Robin Hood Statue
Mansfield Road.
5. Tourist Information
The reception has endless maps, leaflets and brochures on all the tourist sights in and around Nottingham, making it an easy city to go backpacking in. Not only that but each room has an information sheet in it and the staff know all about what you can see in Nottingham (and around).
Nottingham Maps and Information.
As a bonus, you also get 25% off your bill in the pub opposite, which is called the Golden Fleece.
It was a quick stop over in Nottingham for me as I headed south next back to the town of Bournemouth for yet another reunion. If you’re in Nottingham, here are the details for booking the Igloo Hostel:
100 Mansfield Road • Nottingham • NG1 3HD
Telephone: +44 (0)115 947 5250 | Email: [email protected]
Book it now on Agoda.com
Here is a video from my Lighthouse Room in the Igloo Hostel while backpacking in Nottingham:
What a cool looking hostel! Even though I am from England, I have yet to visit Nottingham, so maybe I will hit these guys up when I head that way on my next trip home!
Kate recently posted…7 of the Most Gorgeous Castles in Germany
Hi Kate thanks for the comment – yes this hostel is cool and there are other nice ones in Bath, Bristol and London too. Worth trying next time you’re in the home land! Safe travels. Jonny