Visiting Nottingham's Rainbow Quarter

The practical side of a trip to Nottingham's Rainbow Quarter: how to get there, where to park, how to stay safe at night, and the dates worth planning around.

Getting there

Nottingham (railway station). Trams run from the Nottingham Station stop to Lace Market, the nearest stop to Hockley.
NET tram lines 1 and 2 both stop at Lace Market on Fletcher Gate, near Hockley, with up to 16 trams an hour. Buses 34, 50, 77, 78 and 79 stop outside The Pride Shop on Maid Marian Way.
By air: East Midlands Airport: Skylink Nottingham bus every 20 minutes by day and hourly at night; Skylink Express every 30 minutes 04:00 to 23:00.

Parking

Fletcher Gate car park, Fletcher Gate, Nottingham NG1 2FZ. Lace Market, next to the tram stop.
Spaniel Row car park, Spaniel Row, Nottingham. Underground pay and display beneath The Pride Shop.

Staying safe

Nottingham Street Pastors: Church volunteers patrol the city centre on Friday and Saturday nights, 22:00 to 03:00, offering water, flip flops, first aid and a listening ear.
Safe Space Pledge and Safe Space van: Venues sign an eight-point pledge to keep women and girls safe; a council Community Protection van parks on Derby Road on busy nights as a place to get help.
Best Bar None and taxi marshals: Accreditation for well-run licensed venues and marshalled night-time taxi ranks, funded by Nottingham BID (reported 2016).

Street Pastors are out on Friday and Saturday nights from 22:00 to 03:00 if you need help.
Look for venues signed up to the Safe Space Pledge, and the Safe Space van on Derby Road.
The Health Shop on Broad Street offers free condoms and testing in the heart of the quarter.

Reporting hate crime

In an emergency call 999; otherwise report to Nottinghamshire Police on 101 (anonymous reports accepted). You can report online via True Vision (report-it.org.uk) or to Stop Hate UK on 0800 138 1625 (24 hours), which can pass reports to police anonymously. Notts Victim Care (0800 304 7575) supports victims whether or not they report. You can also report online through True Vision. In an emergency call 999.

Notts Pride (Nottinghamshire Pride)

Notts Pride (Nottinghamshire Pride) is usually in July (last Saturday), around March through the city centre and the Rainbow Quarter in Hockley, ending at Sneinton Market (main stage) with a second stage at The Grove. Free; some afterparties (Gladrags at The Palais, Homoelectric at The Bodega) are ticketed Official Notts Pride (Nottinghamshire Pride) website.

Next: where to stay · saunas · nights and drag · community.

Checked 15 October 2026. Details change, so confirm with each venue before you travel.

Sources

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