The Touist Information center here is not as helpful as the one in Grantham, but you can get a map of the city there. As you walk from the train station into the center of town, you cross over the canal. There are may pleasure boats on this canal, and you can rent one for a day. There is also a pleasant walk along the water way as it flows past the office parks. On a hill overlooking the town is Nottingham Castle.
Admission is free during the week, but costs a few pounds on the weekend.
This site has seen many different structures on it, and the archeological tour of the site is far more interesting than the sad Georgian manor that sits on the hill now. Nevertheless, the gardens surrounding the castle are wonderful, and the museum inside the Georgian manor is very interesting. The view of the city from the castle walls is a little industrial, but lovely in expanse. There are a great many guided tours of Nottingham. For more information concerning these tours, please consult the booklet on reserve in the RWC library.