Celebrated for its links with the folk hero Robin Hood, Nottingham is the principal city in the East Midlands of England. It lies on the River Leen, with its southern boundary following the course of the River Trent. It was granted city status in 1897 and gained worldwide recognition during the 19th-century for its lace-making and bicycle industries. The heart of the modern city is the redeveloped Market Square, which is surrounded by a cluster of shopping streets. Indeed Nottingham is England’s fifth most popular shopping destination, home to a number of department stores, including the House of Fraser, John Lewis, and Debenhams.
Lying 13 kilometres south west of Nottingham, East Midlands Airport is the 10th busiest airport in the UK in terms of passenger traffic. Its principal airlines are Bmibaby and Ryanair, serving a range of domestic and European short haul destinations. The Skylink bus runs between the airport and city centre every 30 minutes from 4.00am-11.00pm and hourly from 11.00pm-4.00am. The bus journey takes approximately 30-40 minutes, depending on traffic conditions, and costs £5 for a single or day return ticket.