Its villages are stitched together by winding lanes, old stone walls, and wide, open fields that change colour with the seasons.
There’s a calm to the landscape: woodlands thick with bluebells in spring, rivers that catch the light just right, and hidden gardens behind centuries-old walls.
The market towns still hum with life, their cobbled streets lined with independent shops and cafés that feel like local secrets.
Country walks end in warm pubs with fires that never seem to go out. It’s England at its most authentic — unpolished, unhurried, and deeply rooted.
Where the Cotswolds can feel like a postcard, Nottinghamshire feels lived in — a place that rewards those who linger long enough to notice its quietly magnificent heart.
Here’s our top 15 spots to visit before 2025 ends:
1. Clumber Park
Clumber Park was the seat of the Pelham-Clintons, Dukes of Newcastle, was purchased by the National Trust in 1946. It is listed Grade I on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.The main house was demolished in 1938 after damage by several fires. The nearby Grade I listed chapel in Gothic Revival style and a four-acre walled kitchen garden still survive. Photo: National Trust
2. Attenborough Nature Reserve
Attenborough Nature Reserve was established in 1966 and was opened by Sir David Attenborough. This much loved, nationally important site is best known for its birds with over 250 species recorded, but also provides a home for hundreds of species of plant and insects. It is cited as one of the best places in the UK to see kingfisher and is also home to rare wildlife including bitterns and otters. Photo: Sophie Bell
3. Highfields Park
Highfields Park is Grade II listed park providing 121 acres (49 ha) of public space. The site, originally part of the Highfields Estate, belonged to Joseph Lowe who along with his son Alfred, developed the site in the late 18th century and were responsible for much of the landscaping that is visible today. Photo: Visit Nottinghamshire
4. Newark
In the English Civil War, it was besieged by Parliamentary forces and relieved by Royalist forces under Prince Rupert. Newark has a marketplace lined with many historical buildings and one of its most notable landmarks is St Mary Magdalene church with its towering spire at 232 feet (71 metres) high and the highest structure in the town. It also offers excellent dining and walks along the river. Photo: Getty Images