Central England has the wow-factor when it comes to dramatic countryside. Clamber craggy peaks and moors in the Peak District National Park, bike deep through the National Forest or turn back the clock to the industrial age on the Grand Union Canal. Step into the West Midlands’ cities in style in shoppers' paradise Birmingham and cathedral city Coventry. Enjoy Shakespearean plays at the theatres, discover the Bard’s quaint family homes in Stratford-upon-Avon, and head to Sherwood Forest for adventures with England’s favourite outlaw. Be prepared for a culinary adventure too. Central England has a mouth-watering plethora of specialities from sticky Bakewell tart to sizzling balti curries and Stilton cheese.
Central England
Try your hand at archery in Sherwood Forest
Get merry with your gang with an experience Robin Hood himself would have approved of, right in the heart of Nottingham’s famous Sherwood Forest.
Location: Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire
Discover hidden Ice Age art at Creswell Crags
Hidden in a beautiful limestone gorge you'll find some of Britain's only known Ice Age art.
Location: Creswell, Nottinghamshire
New Ways to see Sherwood Pines Forest
Discover Sherwood Pines Forest on two wheels, with Go Ape’s Segway tours through Robin Hood country.
Location: Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire
Head off-road on two wheels in Sherwood Forest
From family cycle trails to extreme mountain biking, Sherwood Pines Forest offers the best when it comes to getting active on two wheels.
Location: Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire
Spring into action on a family adventure break near Nottingham
From picnics to paddles, Nottinghamshire is ideal for a springtime family adventure break, with an abundance of things to do and places to explore.
Location: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Swing through the treetops in Sherwood Forest
Connect with your inner monkey as you swing through the trees at Go Ape in Sherwood Forest.
Location: Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire
Get stuck in on a working holiday at Clumber Park
Immerse yourself in daily life at Clumber Park in Worksop, near Nottingham, with a rewarding working holiday.
Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire
Get back to nature at Attenborough Nature Reserve
The tranquil waters of the beautiful Attenborough Nature Reserve in Nottingham set the landscape for discovering and watching wildlife at its best.
Location: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Wig wam your way to Clumber Park
Camping in tents is so last year – why not try sleeping in a yurt or wigwam in the beautiful surrounds of Clumber Park?
Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire
Enjoy a camping weekend at the National Water Sports Centre
Take advantage of a budget break in Nottingham with a camping weekend at the National Water Sports centre, just 10 minutes from the heart of the city.
Location: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Unlace Nottingham’s lacemaking heritage
Nottinghamshire was once the heart of the world’s lace making industry, and it has a proud industrial heritage still strong today.
Location: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Find yourself on a farm in the heart of Nottingham
Stonebridge City Farm is a slice of the countryside in the heart of a city centre.
Location: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Stay in a secret chalet in rural Nottinghamshire
Enjoy a romantic stay in a beautiful chalet in the grounds of Langar Hall, and explore the surrounding area including country walks and walled gardens.
Location: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Visit the home of stinky cheese at Colston Bassett Dairy
If you’re a cheese connoisseur then a trip to Colston Bassett is a must when you are in Nottinghamshire.
Location: Colston Bassett, Nottinghamshire
Taste ice cream straight from the farm
Savour the delights of ice cream straight from the farm, in the pretty rural Nottinghamshire countryside.
Location: Southwell, Nottinghamshire
Find your inner zen on a detox break in Nottinghamshire
Purify the mind, body and soul with pure Japanese meditation then indulge in an oasis of relaxation at a detox retreat near Newark.
Location: Newark, Nottinghamshire
Immerse yourself in Byron's Nottinghamshire
Discover why notorious romantic poet Lord Byron was 'mad, bad and dangerous to know', with a sumptuous stay at his former home.
Location: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Discover DH Lawrence country
Discover DH Lawrence country on the edge of Nottingham and follow in the footsteps of the county's most controversial literary hero.
Location: Eastwood, Nottinghamshire
Find Byron's Nottinghamshire on the Byron Trail
Lord Byron was famous during his lifetime as a figure who could inspire love, romance, political change and liberation through his powerful works.
Location: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Lose yourself in Neverland at Nottingham Arboretum
The Arboretum just outside Nottingham’s city centre is said to be the inspiration behind J.M. Barrie’s classic children’s tale ‘Peter Pan’.
Location: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
October events: Get giddy at the Nottingham Goose Fair
The Goose Fair is one of Europe’s largest travelling fairs and is one of Nottingham’s oldest traditions, dating back more than 700 years.
Location: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
