Why pretty market town with gentler rhythm to life is my favourite place in Nottinghamshire
Described as ‘England’s perfect market town’, it is only a 40-minute drive from Nottingham.
People who live in Nottinghamshire know the county is much more than the city of Nottingham.
Across its 830 square miles are picture-perfect villages and friendly market towns that visitors often overlook.
Look a little closer and you’ll find that many places across the county have a story worth hearing.
From the remains of medieval castles to pubs that have stood for centuries, Nottinghamshire’s villages and market towns are full of history. In many places, that history stretches back several hundred years.
In one town, though, there’s evidence of human settlement from more than 2,000 years ago.
Southwell is only a 40-minute drive from Nottingham. It’s known for a high street full of independent shops, good restaurants and striking architecture. The centre of the town is its cathedral, which has stood here since the 12th century.
This place of worship has been in use for more than 900 years. Built in 1108, it’s considered one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture in the UK.
If 1108 feels distant, imagine Southwell several centuries earlier, in Roman Britain. Historians are certain the modern town was an important Roman settlement, with a major breakthrough in understanding coming in 1959.
When the Minster School was built in the late 1950s, significant Roman remains of a high-status building — possibly a villa — were uncovered. Archaeologists found mosaics and wall paintings thought to date to the 7th or 8th century.
The remains are believed to have come from a large Roman villa, possibly around 180 feet by 220 feet. The site was given to Southwell Minster in 2015, protecting it from future development.
Experts think more evidence of Roman Britain still lies under Southwell’s modern streets. It’s one reason some people call the town “Nottinghamshire’s own Pompeii.”
Why is Southwell ‘England’s perfect market town’?
Southwell is an easy place to like because it feels welcoming the moment you arrive.
The town is walkable, calm and well cared for, with streets lined by independent shops instead of the usual chains. The Minster gives the whole place a sense of character, but it never feels crowded or overdone.
There are good cafés and restaurants, green spaces close by and enough history around every corner to make a simple stroll feel interesting.
It has the balance people look for: busy enough to feel alive, quiet enough that you can slow down and enjoy it.
We agree with the Telegraph, which recently described Southwell, as ‘England’s perfect market town’ - it most definitely is.
What are you favourite spots in Southwell? Get in touch at [email protected].