You don’t need a degree to work out that Nottinghamshire is a truly historic part of England.
The first evidence of human settlement in Nottinghamshire dates back 40,000 years, which gives you an idea of how historic the county is.
The 2,160 km2 of Nottinghamshire has been walked by Romans and Anglo-Saxons, with both groups of people playing an important role in shaping the county we know today.
Of course, many of the roads and buildings linked to bygone eras are now long-lost, but scratch beneath the surface and the history of Nottinghamshire can come to life.
We’ve taken a look at 6 of the oldest Nottinghamshire villages where you can still live and visit in 2025.
Here are the top 6 oldest villages across the county:
1. Ollerton
Situated on the eastern edge of Sherwood Forest, Ollerton's location gives a nod to its history. The village was first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Alretun. In 1086 it had a recorded population of 15 households, having swelled to 11,103 residents by the time of the 2021 Census. | DHJ Photo: DHJ
2. Warsop
Like Ollerton, the civil parish of Warsop is located on the edge of Sherwood Forest. Warsop appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086 as a settlement named Wareshope. King John and Edward I are said to have had impromptu parliaments at the Parliament Oak Tree in the far east of the parish during the 13th century. | DHJ Photo: DHJ
3. Papplewick
Papplewick is a beautiful village to the north of Nottinghamshire, just outside of Hucknall. The village has a rather quaint charm, which give visitors an insight into its rich history. The village, of Saxon origin, was mentioned in the 1086 Domesday book as Paplleuuic. Photo: David Lally
4. Barnaby in the Willows
Away from the historic villages around Sherwood Forest, we find ourselves exploring Barnaby in the Willows. Located east of Newark, Barnby in the Willows has a history that includes Roman presence, evidenced by pottery finds. The village is shown in the Domesday Book as belonging to the Bishop of Bayeux. | Geograph Photo: Geograph