Top 15 Must-Do Activities in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire

Mansfield, a historically significant market town, has deep industrial roots as a major coal producer that persisted until the close of the 20th century. Although mining has nearly vanished within a generation, remnants such as headstocks remain in locations like Clipstone and Pleasley, where an engaging museum is located. Additionally, the majestic Hardwick Hall showcases Tudor luxury; it was built for Bess Hardwick, who acquired substantial wealth during the challenging Elizabethan era. Furthermore, the family residence of Lord Byron is nearby at Newstead Abbey, and the legendary grounds of Sherwood Forest, associated with Robin Hood, are situated to the northeast, boasting ancient oaks and an annual summer festival dedicated to the folklore hero.

1. Hardwick Hall

Commissioned by Bess Hardwick, the most influential woman in Elizabethan England (after the queen), this remarkable residence was completed in 1597. Architect Robert Smythson designed Hardwick Hall, showcasing the advances of its era with large floor-to-ceiling windows.

During a period when glass was costly, these impressive windows signify Bess’s immense wealth.

The structural achievement was made possible by relocating the chimneys to the interior walls, thereby maintaining the integrity of the external walls.

Bess’s initials, ES (Elizabeth Shrewsbury), can be discerned in the openwork atop the rooftop banqueting house pavilions.

Remarkably, many interior furnishings date back to Bess’s time, including embroideries featuring her initials, which may have been created by her own hands.

2. Hardwick Old Hall

Adjacent to Hardwick Hall lie the intriguing ruins of Hardwick Old Hall, which are maintained by English Heritage.

This Elizabethan structure predates the complete Hardwick Hall, having been initiated in 1587 and displaying similar grandeur along with numerous innovations inspired by the Italian Renaissance.

Bess resided at this location while the new hall was constructed; subsequently, it served as a guest residence.

Although now merely a shell, Hardwick Old Hall did not fall into ruin until the 18th century, and visitors can ascend the stone stairway to glimpse the interior.

English Heritage has preserved significant portions of the ornate plasterwork, notably featuring a hunting scene within the Forest Great Chamber.

Nearby, the West Lodge exhibition provides further insights into Bess Hardwick’s life and architectural developments during the Elizabethan era.

3. Mansfield Market Place

As the economic heart of the town, Mansfield Market Place owes its current layout to the Improvement Act of 1823, which facilitated the clearing of streets to establish this prestigious public area.

A market has been operating in Mansfield for more than 700 years, and this tradition continues from Tuesday to Saturday, offering a diverse food court and a live performance stage situated in front of the Town Hall.

Constructed in 1836, the late Georgian monument faces the Bentinck Memorial, a decorative Gothic Revival canopy honoring Lord George Bentinck, a 19th-century Conservative politician involved in the resignation of Sir Robert Peel in 1848. The square’s north side features the elegant Moot Hall, a Georgian assembly building erected in 1752.

4. Pleasley Pit

Pleasley Colliery serves as a gateway to understanding Mansfield’s industrial legacy; it is a designated Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Sunk in the 1870s, this mineshaft remained operational until 1983, with preserved structures including headstocks, engine houses, and two steam winders.

The North Winding Engine, constructed in 1904 by Lilleshall of Oakengates, was capable of producing 1500 working horsepower through two 40-inch pistons and cylinders.

Simultaneously, the South Winding Engine, built in 1922 by Markham of Chesterfield, was undergoing restoration at the time of this writing.

Though the shafts have been filled, the South Shaft Pit Top retains the appearance it had during its operational days, showcasing a collection of mining carts and other artifacts within an intact control room.

Surrounding park trails follow the routes of the old railways servicing the mine, fostering a rich array of natural habitats, including ponds, reedbeds, and magnesian limestone grassland.

5. Mansfield Museum

The town’s museum is a distinguished community-oriented attraction that organizes temporary exhibitions for diverse audiences.

It is housed within a complex of buildings built in 1938, augmented by the glass-covered Arcade Gallery, which was established in 1990 and serves as the main entrance.

The museum’s permanent exhibitions provide insights into Mansfield’s various industries, including mining, quarrying, precision engineering, hosiery production, brewing, and shoemaking.

Visitors can explore the work of Georgian ceramic painter William Billingsley, renowned for his Lusterware.

Additionally, the EplorActive gallery offers hands-on exhibits where children can engage with environmental themes guided by the “Eco Dude.”

There is always a new temporary exhibition on display; for instance, in September 2018, attendees could discover memorabilia celebrating the life of local celebrity Alvin Stardust.

6. Sherwood Forest Country Park

When one hears the name “Sherwood Forest,” the first association is likely Robin Hood.

This legendary figure is known for having selected this ancient royal forest as his hideout.

The Nottingham County Council oversees approximately 450 acres of this historically significant royal hunting ground.

Having been forested since the Last Ice Age, the area is home to some oaks that date back to the Medieval period.

Among them is the Major Oak, estimated to be between 800 and 1,000 years old, prominently linked to the folklore of Robin Hood.

Every summer, the park hosts a week-long festival dedicated to Robin Hood, featuring a dynamic array of Medieval music, storytelling, activities for children, and reenactments of battles between Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham.

7. Sherwood Pines Forest Park

In contrast, Sherwood Pines Forest Park is located just a few miles south, on the outskirts of the former mining community of Clipstone.

This vast space allows visitors to explore Nottinghamshire’s largest public greenery, encompassing 3,300 acres.

The park is particularly popular for cycling: the long-distance Sustrans Route 6 traverses through the forest, and visitors can choose from three designated trails (Family Trail, Adventure Trail, and Kitchener’s Trail, which offers a higher difficulty level). Bicycles are available for hire at the Visitor’s Centre, which also houses a café and a children’s adventure play trail.

If that excitement isn’t sufficient, Sherwood Pines features a Go Ape High Ropes facility offering various rope courses for both adults and children, in addition to a 2,000-square-meter adventure area known as Nets Kingdom, featuring four large bounce nets.

8. Sherwood Forest Railway

Located in a valley between Mansfield and the village of Edwinstowe, the only narrow gauge steam railway in Nottinghamshire can be found.

This 15-inch track runs along historical flood dykes, an early 19th-century irrigation system installed by the Duke of Portland.

The railway operates from mid-February to the end of November and offers a scheduled timetable of train rides daily from 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Two steam locomotives, “Pet” and “Smokey Joe,” traverse the line, alongside a diesel engine, a light track inspection works railtruck, and a light electric locomotive.

The coaches have been repurposed from various locations across the country, ranging from Longleat in Wiltshire to the Cleethorpes Light Railway in Lincolnshire.

9. Wheelgate Park

Combining the elements of a theme park and a children’s farm attraction, Wheelgate Park features rides and activities dispersed across eight distinct zones.

A summary of the attractions includes fairground rides, miniature rollercoasters, a mirror maze, trampolines, bumper boats, expansive playgrounds, and crazy golf.

The Black Diamond Mining Zone reflects the local industrial history and includes a sizable sandpit along with a miniature train, whereas the Robin Hood Zone provides a toddler-friendly water play area.

Furthermore, the Animal Adventure Zone showcases a variety of domestic animals such as cows, sheep, pigs, llamas, and goats, and offers pony rides.

10. Papplewick Pumping Station

This Gothic Revival-style pumping station may be one of the grandest in the country.

Located on open farmland eight miles south of Mansfield, the architecturally striking brick structure functioned to supply drinking water from the underlying rock to the City of Nottingham until 1969.

Visitors can explore the facility on Wednesdays and Sundays, witnessing the two original beam engines and six Lancashire boilers that powered them.

These significant machines maintain operational status and are showcased on select Steam Days, which typically occur once a month.

These Steam Days often align with themed events, such as a vintage and retro fair held in mid-September, during which attendees have the possibility to tour the eerie vaulted reservoir.

11. White Post Farm

White Post Farm offers both educational and recreational opportunities, making it an ideal destination for families with young children.

This operating farm features enclosures with llamas, donkeys, ponies, deer, goats, pigs, cows, chickens, and even some exotic species such as wallabies and reindeer.

Indoors, visitors can interact with meerkats, hold domestic rats and hamsters in the Rodents Room, visit a walk-in aviary, and explore areas dedicated to reptiles and insects.

In summer, activities include sheep racing, crazy golf, and a large castle-themed playground.

If the weather is not cooperative, children can enjoy demonstrations in the show barn, navigate the indoor play area, or observe newborn chicks, rabbits, and kid goats in the Silver Barn and Incubator.

12. Newstead Abbey

Situated approximately fifteen minutes down the A16, Newstead Abbey is the ancestral residence of Lord Byron.

Prior to the arrival of the renowned poet in 1808, the estate was in considerable disrepair, a consequence of the erratic behavior of the 5th Baron Byron, whose opposition to his son’s marriage led to the estate’s neglect during the 18th century.

Although Lord Byron did not reside here for any significant period, the house and gardens are striking and house a collection of Byron-related memorabilia.

The current structure emerged on the grounds of the dissolved Newstead Abbey in the 16th century; the ruined facade of the abbey church is connected to the Tudor country house.

The expansive 300-acre grounds encompass the River Leen, which nourishes the gardens’ lakes, ponds, and cascades.

Visitors can explore walled gardens, an Alpine garden, and a sunken Japanese garden complete with bamboo groves and stepping stones traversing streams.

13. Rufford Abbey

The narrative surrounding Rufford Abbey mirrors that of Newstead, as it features remnants of a Cistercian monastery alongside a 16th-century mansion that is also partially in ruins.

Like Newstead, Rufford Abbey is located at the center of a country park, encompassing 150 acres of meadows, woodlands, and gardens.

The focal point consists of the ruins, which include the best-preserved Cistercian cloister range in the country.

A staircase, known as the night stair, leads down into the abbey’s cellar and the monks’ refectory, exhibiting simple rounded arches and octagonal columns reflective of the austere Cistercian architectural style.

The refectory alcoves, previously designated for the storage of linens and utensils, can still be identified in the front wall.

Entrance to the site is complimentary, supported by dioramas and interpretive signage.

14. Palace Theatre

Mansfield’s Palace Theatre is the town’s primary venue for live entertainment, conveniently located on Leeming Street adjacent to the Mansfield Museum.

The theatre has an intriguing history; it was originally inaugurated as a cinema in 1910 and subsequently converted to a performance venue upon its acquisition by the council in 1953. A comprehensive redevelopment took place in the 1990s, revitalizing the interior while preserving the Edwardian glamour of the auditorium.

The Palace Theatre offers a diverse array of performances nearly every night of the week, ranging from contemporary dance, plays, and musicals to classic rock concerts, tribute acts, and stand-up comedy shows.

15. Vicar Water Country Park

Situated at the edge of Sherwood Forest, Vicar Water Country Park is a site that underwent reclamation from industrial use in the late 1970s.

The park’s centerpiece is a lake formed by damming the Vicar Water, a tributary of the River Maun, initially established in 1870 as a fishery for Welbeck Abbey, the residence of the Dukes of Portland.

In the 20th century, spoil tips from the adjacent Clipstone Colliery (closed in 2003) encircled the lake, their headstocks still standing as prominent features.

Over time, vegetation has flourished across these spoil tips, characterized by steep descents leading towards the water.

Among them, Ann Bowers Hill includes an orientation table that labels the local collieries.

On clear days, viewers can spot the towers of Lincoln Cathedral, located 30 miles away.