To help you dream of better weather in the spring and summer, we have cherry-picked 15 of the best to add to your bucket list of places to visit during the course of 2023.
Whether you’re looking for interesting walks, sweeping views of the countryside, fascinating monuments, cherished churches or idyllic pubs, our guide to the villages will not disappoint. The places are listed in alphabetical order.
5. Edwinstowe
Edwinstowe, sitting on the edge of Sherwood Forest, is famed as the village where Robin Hood and Maid Marian are said to have married. Close to the site of the former Sherwood Colliery, it is larger than most villages, with no fewer than five pubs. But it offers peace and privacy, as well as fun-filled tourist attractions, such as the Major Oak and the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre (pictured). Photo: Matthew Taylor
6. Epperstone
Epperstone, which can be found near Lowdham and Calverton, is a small village that has only about 600 residents but it holds its own summer festival. A designated conservation area, the parish covers 2,343 acres, of which 250 acres are wooded, and it is thought that one of its undulating fields inspired the Barrow-downs in Tolkien's book, 'The Fellowship Of The Ring' Photo: Submitted
7. Gotham
Gotham might be the fictional city Batman calls home, but it is also a rural village in the south of the county, pronounced Goat-em, which stems from the old English for goat home. It has a rich heritage and features a church that dates back to the 12th century. The village is also known for a Site of Special Scientific Interest, Gotham Hill Pasture, while it is claimed that US presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton can trace their roots back to Gotham. Photo: Submitted
8. Hardwick Village
Hardwick Village is a fascinating rural settlement within Clumber Park in the Bassetlaw district of the county, near Worksop. It consists of former labourers' cottages and a couple of farms, including Hardwick Grange. Created in the late 19th century, it was designed in a picturesque, neo-Elizabethan style specifically to give the impression of a traditional village.. Photo: Graham Lee