Things to Do - Southwell

Local Guide · Southwell & surrounds

A day out around Southwell

One of Nottinghamshire’s most beautiful market towns, Southwell is packed with history, brilliant walking, and enough to fill a very good day out. Here’s our guide to making the most of it — with a table at Ye Olde Bridge waiting for you afterwards.

📍 Just a short drive from Oxton & Ye Olde Bridge

🗺️ Southwell, Nottinghamshire🚗 ~5 minutes from Ye Olde Bridge, Oxton 🐾 Many spots dog-friendly

“Southwell is one of those rare places that feels entirely undiscovered — even though it’s been drawing visitors for over a thousand years.”

Pronounced “Suth-ul” by those in the know, Southwell sits quietly in the Nottinghamshire countryside just a few miles from our door at Ye Olde Bridge. With its stunning Minster, fascinating National Trust site, miles of walking trails and proper country air, it makes for a perfect full day out — especially if you finish (or start) with a meal at the pub.

The highlights you shouldn’t miss

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Architecture & history

Southwell Minster

The undisputed centrepiece of the town, Southwell Minster dates back to 1108 and boasts one of the finest Norman naves in England. Look out for the world-famous “Leaves of Southwell” — intricate stone carvings in the Chapter House considered among the finest medieval craftsmanship in Europe — and the magnificent Angel Window. Entry is free, though donations are welcomed. Catch Evensong for something truly special.

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National Trust · History

The Workhouse

Built in 1824 and now cared for by the National Trust, this is the most complete and best-preserved workhouse in England — and one of the most thought-provoking places you’ll visit. Walking the same gravel “pauper’s path” trodden by desperate Victorian families makes history feel very real. There are family-friendly trails, a recreated Victorian kitchen garden, and a good on-site café. Allow at least half a day to do it justice.

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Museum · Quirky

The Museum of Timekeeping

Housed in the beautiful Grade II listed Upton Hall, just outside Southwell, this is a genuinely fascinating collection of clocks, watches and timepieces spanning centuries of horological history. Unexpected and absorbing in equal measure — a lovely quieter alternative if the Minster and Workhouse are busy.

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History & gardens

The Original Bramley Apple Tree

Southwell is the birthplace of the Bramley cooking apple — the original tree was first grown here from a pip in 1809, and a descendant still stands in a cottage garden on Church Street. The whole town celebrates its apple heritage with an annual Bramley Apple Festival every autumn. Norwood Park nearby has extensive orchards and countryside walks through the blossom and fruit.

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Sport & events

Southwell Racecourse

A proper day out in its own right, Southwell Racecourse sits just outside the town and hosts over 70 race meetings a year on both all-weather and turf tracks. It also runs antiques fairs and events throughout the year. Whether you fancy a flutter or just the atmosphere, it’s a great addition to a Southwell day.

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Architecture & a stroll

The Town Itself

Don’t rush through — Southwell town centre rewards a slow wander. The Georgian and Regency streets are lined with independent shops, the historic Saracens Head pub (where King Charles I spent his final night of freedom before being handed over to the Parliamentarians), and a weekly market on Thursdays and Saturdays with a monthly Farmers’ Market too.

Walks & outdoor adventures

The countryside around Southwell is some of the most rewarding walking in the East Midlands. Whether you’re after a gentle afternoon stroll or a proper long-distance route, there’s a trail for you.

🚶 7.5 miles · Easy

The Southwell Trail

Built on a former railway line, this flat, multi-use trail runs from Southwell all the way to Bilsthorpe through villages, meadows and woodland. Perfect for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, and a brilliant wildlife corridor — look out for sparrowhawks, yellowhammers and common lizards.

🚶 1.5 miles · Easy

Workhouse to Minster Walk

A lovely self-guided heritage walk linking the two great landmarks of Southwell, passing the River Greet, a community orchard, Caudwell’s Mill and the charming town centre. Guided walks with the National Trust run on alternate Wednesdays.

🚶 1 mile · Easy

Minster Circular

A gentler loop from the Minster past stunning Prebendal houses, the birthplace of the Bramley apple, an historic meadow and the ruins of the Archbishop’s Palace. Ideal for those with younger children or dogs.

🚴 Variable · All abilities

Robin Hood Way & beyond

The Southwell Trail connects into the wider Robin Hood Way long-distance path and the Central Linear Route, opening up miles of Nottinghamshire countryside for longer adventures into Sherwood and beyond.

🐾 Walking with your dog?

Most of the trails and outdoor areas around Southwell are dog-friendly. The Southwell Trail, Minster Circular and Norwood Park are all great with four-legged companions on leads. And of course, Ye Olde Bridge in Oxton is the perfect dog-welcoming pit stop before or after your walk — we’re just minutes from the southern end of the Southwell Trail.

Great for families

Southwell punches well above its weight for families. The Workhouse has interactive trails, dressing-up costumes and hands-on activities in the schoolroom and kitchen that keep children genuinely engaged with history rather than bored by it. White Post Farm, a short drive away near Farnsfield, has over 3,000 animals across a 25-acre site and has previously been voted East Midlands Visitor Attraction of the Year.

For something a little sweeter, the area is home to a number of dairy farms including Newfield Ice Cream Parlour — over 150 flavours served with views across rolling Nottinghamshire countryside. Hard to argue with that as a reward for a good walk.

Getting here & getting around

Southwell sits about 14 miles north-east of Nottingham, easily reached by car via the A612. From Ye Olde Bridge in Oxton, it’s a matter of minutes along country lanes — making it ideal to combine a morning or afternoon in Southwell with lunch or dinner at the pub.

There’s good parking in the town centre near the Minster, and free car parks at several points along the Southwell Trail including Farnsfield and Kirklington. Bus services connect Southwell to Nottingham, Newark and Mansfield for those coming without a car.

Finish the day at Ye Olde Bridge

After a day exploring Southwell’s history, trails and countryside, there’s no better way to end than with a proper meal and a well-earned drink at our countryside pub in Oxton — just minutes away. Dogs welcome, muddy boots expected.

Ye Olde Bridge · Oxton, Nottingham · Open daily · Booking recommended for weekends