The Robin Hood Adventure Trail

The Robin Hood Adventure Trail is running across Nottingham city centre until Saturday 5 December, a free, family-friendly hunt that takes you through the city's most famous legend. The premise is simple: the sneaky Sheriff of Nottingham has hidden letters around the centre, and it's up to the cleverest clue-hunters to help Robin track down his missing treasure.

To get started, you'll need a map. You can pick up a free copy from participating venues, including Nottingham Castle, Nottingham Contemporary, and Nottingham Central Library, or just download and print one at home. From there, you set out to find eleven legendary characters scattered across the city — Maid Marian, Little John, the Sheriff, and Prince John among them — each holding a secret letter. Once you've collected all eleven and cracked the code, you'll find the treasure's location, and you can claim your reward at Nottingham Castle (NG1 2DT).

One of the best things about it is that there's no rush to finish in one go. You can chip away at it over a few weekends or tackle it all in one afternoon. Much of the route is buggy-friendly, which makes it a lot easier if you've got smaller ones in tow. Along the way, there are creative activities and family-friendly events at the venues you'll pass, with kid-friendly cafés and restaurants nearby for when you need a break.

It's a free trail, so it's an easy one to fit in without spending a penny. You can pick up your map at Nottingham Castle, Nottingham Contemporary, or Nottingham Central Library, and the whole thing runs until Saturday 5 December.