Southwell Retreat

The park’s next door to an old National Trust-protected workhouse (five minutes’ walk), an early-19th-century building that once housed the area’s needy. Nowadays, it’s a place for gandering at exhibitions depicting what life was like for people in poverty during the Victorian era. Central Southwell, half a mile away, is also steeped in the past thanks to the minster, which is said to have one of the finest naves in Europe; the market town’s also known as the birthplace of Bramley apples and activities are held annually to celebrate the fruit. For goings-on across the year, check out the horse-related events at Southwell Racecourse (10 minutes’ drive), or admire the livestock at the family-friendly White Post Farm (15 minutes) if there’s no racing happening during your visit. To tire the kids out, let them take on the treetop challenges and zipwires at the Go Ape adventure park in Sherwood Forest (25 minutes) or simply on a stroll around the paths while pointing out ancient oak trees that have survived for hundreds of years. Younger travellers may also like to be set loose in Newark’s castle or taken on boat trips across the town’s river (but be warned: they might balk at being dragged along to the shops in the pretty Georgian market square).