Getting to Goose Fair (and Derbyshire’s autumn events) without the parking headache
Autumn is one of the busiest times of year for events across Nottingham and Derbyshire, and top of the list is Nottingham Goose Fair, back at the Forest Recreation Ground from Friday 25 September to Sunday 4 October 2026. It’s one of Europe’s largest travelling fairs (over 700 years old!), and last year it pulled in half a million visitors and an estimated £11.8 million in spending across the city, including £1.3 million on transport alone.
If you’re planning to go or, getting there is worth thinking about before the day itself.
Why parking is the biggest headache
Goose Fair isn’t like popping to the shops. Event parking at the Forest Recreation Ground is reserved for Blue Badge holders only, and it’s limited. There’s no public parking on site otherwise, and residential streets nearby are strictly no-go for event traffic during the fair, so turning up and hoping to find a space simply doesn’t work.
With ten days of the fair running and evening crowds building fast after 4pm, roads around the Forest and Mansfield Road get busy quickly too.
What most people do instead
Nottingham City Transport and NET recommend using the park and ride sites around the city, such as Phoenix Park, Wilkinson Street or Queen’s Drive, and taking the tram straight to The Forest stop. Buses run frequently along the Mansfield Road routes too. That works well if you’re one or two people happy to plan a route, buy tickets, and factor in a walk at each end.
However, it’s a different story if you’re taking:
- Young children or elderly relatives who tire easily on a long walk from a park and ride site
- A larger group, like a family gathering or a group of friends meeting up
- Anyone with mobility needs who isn’t a Blue Badge holder but still needs door-to-door access
- Visitors coming in from Chesterfield, Alfreton or Amber Valley who’d rather not navigate an unfamiliar tram network in the dark on the way home
Why booking transport in advance makes sense
A private minibus or taxi takes all of that off your plate. You get picked up from home, dropped right where you need to be, and collected again when you’re ready to leave, no queuing for the tram with a few thousand other people at 9pm, no working out where the nearest park and ride is, and no one left waiting around in the cold.
It’s not just Goose Fair either. Autumn brings a run of local events across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, from Ripley’s autumn fair to fireworks displays and Christmas lights switch-ons later in the year, and the same logic applies to all of them: the busier the event, the more it pays to have your transport sorted ahead of time rather than left to chance on the night.
When to book
If you know you’re going to Goose Fair or another autumn event, the best time to book is now, before dates fill up. Weekday evenings and the closing weekend (Fri 2–Sun 4 October) tend to be the busiest, so if you have a specific evening in mind, get it booked in early!
FAQs
When is Nottingham Goose Fair 2026? Friday 25 September to Sunday 4 October 2026, at the Forest Recreation Ground.
Can I park at Goose Fair? Only Blue Badge holders can use the event parking on site, and spaces are limited. Everyone else is directed to park and ride services or public transport.
What’s the easiest way to get to Goose Fair with a group? Booking a private minibus or taxi means everyone travels together, gets dropped close to the fair, and has a set pick-up time to head home, without relying on trams or buses during the busiest hours.
Do you cover other autumn events in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire? Yes, from local fairs to fireworks nights and Christmas events, we provide group and private transport across Alfreton, Chesterfield, Amber Valley, Derbyshire and Nottingham.
