Broxtowe

If you’re interested in the life and works of David Herbert Lawrence, follow the Blue Line Trail from Durban House. The trail makes six stops including the school he attended, family homes and places cited in his novels. The DH Lawrence Festival takes place each August and September. The annual event celebrates his life and works with lectures, tours and events. 

Lawrence studied locally at the University of Nottingham. The library and research centre there is now one of the major international research centres for his works circa 1885 - 1930. Broxtowe houses a vibrant student population, with the nearby university attracting many international students. The University of Nottingham also has campuses in Malaysia and China.
 
Waterways dominate the Broxtowe landscape. The Erewash Canal runs 12 miles due north from Trent Lock to Langley Mill and is popular with cyclists and recreational walkers. At Beeston you’ll find a marina and lock, with boating and outdoor recreations. From here the Nottingham Beeston Canal navigates through the city centre and out to the River Trent. The marina sits on the outskirts of Attenborough Nature Reserve. Attenborough is an award winning eco centre set in 145 hectares of flooded gravel pits and islands. It’s best known for its birdlife and winter wildfowl.

Alongside the tranquil towpaths are vibrant retail centres and Broxtowe is home to IKEA Nottingham.

In Stapleford you’ll find one of Nottinghamshire’s most intriguing geological features - the Hemlock Stone. A natural outcrop, there’s much speculation about its origins. Could it be a natural phenomenon caused by erosion? Or was it the work of man and symbol of druid worshipping? Either way, Stapleford Hill is a place of continued interest. 

Meanwhile in the village of Bramcote there’s Bramcote Hills Park, a 19th century Green Flag park with a walled garden, woodland and an excellent backdrop for outdoor pursuits.

On Broxtowe’s border with the city of Nottingham is Wollaton Hall. This 16th century stately home is set in 500 acres of historical deer park. The spectacular Tudor building, designed by Robert Smythson and completed in 1588, is also home to the city's Natural History Museum. In the Courtyard Stables you’ll find the Industrial Museum, Steam Engine House, Wollaton Visitor Centre and the Yard Gallery, an exciting exhibition space with a changing programme of displays exploring art and the environment.