New exhibition examines the role of the River Leen and its role in shaping modern Nottingham

Ask anyone to name a river they associate with Nottingham, and they will likely say the Trent. A brand-new exhibition at the University of Nottingham’s Lakeside Arts, now puts the lesser-known River Leen at the centre of the story of modern Nottingham.

The free exhibition, The Leen: Nottingham’s River, which runs at the Weston Gallery from Thursday 9 October 2025 to Sunday 15 March 2026, traces the Leen from its source in the Robin Hood Hills above Newstead Abbey to the River Trent at the Meadows, showing how it has connected places and communities.

Co-curated by Dr David Beckingham and Dr Rachel Dishington of the School of Geography, in collaboration with Manuscripts and Special Collections, the exhibition features archive materials that show the challenges created by industrial activity and population growth.

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