Explore sherwood

Visiting Sherwood Forest

Although we aren’t a tourist information service, we’re proud of our local area and enjoy sharing it with visitors.

We support local events and festivals, small businesses, craftspeople and makers of fine local produce. They make the Sherwood Forest area vibrant and distinct.

Find out more about places to stay, play and explore around Sherwood Forest.

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Discover Sherwood

Sherwood Is Bigger Than You Imagine!

Many assume that Sherwood Forest is just a small piece of historic woodland near Edwinstowe. Wrong! Sherwood Forest and ‘Robin Hood Country’ covers about a third of Nottinghamshire.

From ancient abbeys, craft centres and tranquil country parks to a treetop limbing course and mountain bike trails, smiles and surprises await.

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entrance Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre
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Explore Sherwood Forest

Places to visit

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Thoresby Park

A beautiful country estate located in the heart of Nottinghamshire. Thoresby Park is a popular tourist destination, offering a variety of activities and attractions for visitors of all ages.

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Rufford Abbey

Set in the beautiful Nottinghamshire countryside, Rufford Abbey is your ideal family day out with walks through the picturesque grounds, places to relax and eat, and fun seasonal activities all year round.

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Clumber Park

Explore picturesque parkland and gardens, peaceful woodlands and a magnificent lake. Not only is Clumber’s mosaic of habitats home to an amazing array of wildlife, it is also a great place to spot it.

Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre in summer

Sherwood Forest

Discover the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre, Edwinstowe, managed by the RSPB.

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Sherwood Pines

A great venue for many activities. Cycling and mountain biking routes, way-marked trails, children’s play centre, cafe serving delicious food, lots of nature…a fantastic day out!

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Newstead Abbey Japanese Garden Image by Tom Price

The Japanese Garden, Newstead Abbey

A corner of the Orient in rural Nottinghamshire.  Ethel Webb, brought up at Newstead Abbey, visited Japan in the 1890s and returned inspired.  The garden was created for her in 1907 by a Japanese landscape designer, and decorated with authentic Japanese artefacts.

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Sherwood Observatory

Sherwood Observatory is home to the Mansfield and Sutton Astronomical Society (MSAS) and its famous white dome houses a 24-inch hand-built Newtonian Reflecting Telescope. The observatory was opened to the public in 1986. Today, visitors can be guided around the attraction by its volunteers or attend public open evenings.

Lime Cafe

The Limes Cafe

Established 40 years and a traditional, friendly old fashioned British transport ‘Caff’. Ever get bored with Skinny lattes and salad? After a day’s paint balling or dirt biking, drop in and murder a chunky bacon bap or sponge pudding. Naughty but nice! Visit the Lime Cafe.

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The Museum of Timekeeping, Upton

Time on your hands?  Visit the museum of the British Horological Institute where you can hear the voice of the original ‘Speaking Clock’ and see the watch worn by Captain Scott on his ill-fated polar expedition.

Places to stay

Staying in Sherwood Forest

Places to Stay

Sherwood Forest tourist accommodation comes in many styles- from eco-friendly camping for scouts and guides at Blakeley Lane Campsite, to luxury forest lodges with hot tubs at Sherwood Hideaway.

Explore the many different styles of tourist accommodation in Sherwood Forest and Robin Hood Country.

For full ‘Where To Stay’ listings contact local Tourist Information.

Properties referenced are examples of local providers. Inclusion does not imply any endorsement or recommendation by the Sherwood Forest Trust.
Where to stay
Things to do

Explore Sherwood

Things To Do

Sherwood Forest, once the exclusive Royal hunting playground of Kings and Dukes, now offers a wealth of places to visit and active fun for all the family!

Discover a wealth of fun solo and group activities, from walking and cycling to horse riding and golfing.

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Sherwood sites & places

Character trees

Our charity helps people to manage ecologically precious remnants of Sherwood’s heathland and woodland. Planting and nurturing trees is an important part of our work.
Sherwood Forest has some ancient and historic trees. Visit some of our famous Forest veterans, and the site of character trees now lost to the ravages of time.

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The Parliament Oak

A historic oak, once a landmark within the royal park that surrounded what is today known as King John’s Palace, Kings Clipstone. A parking spot and information panel can be discovered just off Peafield Lane not far from the village of Edwinstowe.

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The Major Oak

The mighty Major Oak has been known by several different names over the 800 years of so of its life. The tree’s modern name comes not from its huge size but antiquarian Major Hayman Rooke, who moved to Mansfield Woodhouse in 1780 and catalogued the historic oaks of Sherwood Forest.

This beautiful oak stands within the Sherwood Forest Natural Nature Reserve, which is managed by the RSPB, and can be visited by following the waymarked path from the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre.

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The Gospel Oak (or ‘Pilgrim Oak’) Newstead Abbey Gates

Spreading its branches by the Abbey gates, opposite the Hutt pub, this tree is said to have been the place where pilgrims gathered to read the gospels before walking to the priory

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Help The Ancients!

Help us protect the veteran trees of Sherwood Forest and raise a new generation of Sherwood oaks for a greener future. Donate today.

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Tourist information

Hopefully we’ve whetted your appetite to discover the attractions of Sherwood Forest and Robin Hood Country.

For online tourist information:

Visit Sherwood Forest

Visit Nottinghamshire

Prefer face to face? Visit one of our local tourist information points:

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Information points

Visit our local Tourist Information Points for face to face advice;

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Visit Sherwood

Plan your visit to Sherwood Forest here;

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Visit Nottinghamshire

Plan a longer trip taking in the whole of Nottinghamshire;

Visit website

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Get in Touch

Whether it’s by phone, email, letter, or Facebook, we love to hear from you.

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