Why ‘historic’ Nottinghamshire village mentioned in Domesday Book is crying out for visitors this spring

When you live in a county as scenic as Nottinghamshire, there isn’t much of a need to drive for hours on end in search of beauty spots.

Spring is arguably the best time of year to set aside a few days to explore the parts of Nottinghamshire that you may not have visited before.

We all know about spots such as Clumber Park and Newstead Abbey, but there are literally hundreds of other places that should be on your ‘to visit’ list.

Our county is packed with charming chocolate-box villages crying out for visitors as the weather improves.

With their cosy cottages, family-run cafes and low-beam pubs, these villages are ideal for visiting on a spare weekend.

In a world where life has become so fast, a trip to one of Nottinghamshire’s quaint villages is guaranteed to take visitors back to a bygone era.

There are plenty of villages to choose from across the county - each with its own unique characteristics - but one in particular stands out for its retro vibes.

Why Epperstone is crying out for visitors during spring 2026

Epperstone is one of those rare instances of a village to retain its charm despite experiencing a major modern construction project.

In 1982 the Epperstone Bypass - a new section of the A6053 - threatened to pave the way for more modernisation, but more than 40 years on and the village remained largely the same.

While the population of many nearby villages has soared in recent decades, Epperstone’s actually fell from 589 to 517 between 2011 and 2021.

Of course, Epperstone has seen a handful of new developments pop up in recent years, but the village certainly isn’t bloated by a large housing estate.

The centrepiece of Epperstone is the Holy Cross Church, with the Grade I listed building dating back to the 13th century.

The village’s red telephone box - which now houses a defibrillator instead of a telephone - only adds to the 1950s vibe.

It’s easy to understand why some visitors have compared Epperstone to a scene out of the BBC sitcom Father Brown.

The centrepiece of Epperstone is without doubt its pub, The Cross Keys.

With its low-beam ceilings and hearty pub meals, The Cross Keys is an ideal place for a pit-stop during a trip to Epperstone.

Or, if a pint and a bite isn’t your thing, head to the Bumbles Tea Shoppe and Bakery for a warm drink and a slice of cake.

It’s also worth noting that Epperstone was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.

At that time, the village contained 40 households - only slightly fewer than its current make-up.

So, if you want to combine natural beauty, history and a cosy pub this spring, Epperstone is the place to go.