Nottinghamshire, East Midlands
An ancient oak woodland, Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire is synonymous with outlaw Robin Hood whose legend lives on today. Throughout August 2026, the Robin Hood Festival marks its 40th anniversary with horseback combat, comedy, storytelling and other action-packed displays against this historic backdrop.
In autumn the forest puts on a real show, so follow the Major Oak trail to see Britain’s biggest oak tree, estimated to weigh 23 tonnes and aged between 800 and 1,000 years old. Major Oak is said to have been the favourite hideout of Robin Hood and his Merry Men, according to legend. These days the trees are home to a rich array of wildlife, so visitors can join a guided bat or glow-worm walk for the best chance of spotting them. Spend the night five minutes from the woods at the Forest Lodge Hotel, a charming 18th-century coaching inn with its own ‘Maid Marian’ and ‘Robin Hood’ suites.
There are nods to Robin Hood around every corner in the city of Nottingham too. Discover 1,000 years of history at Nottingham Castle, where a statue of the outlaw wielding his bow and arrow guards its walls. Explore medieval Nottingham with Robin and his Merry Men as part of its new and interactive Robin Hood Adventures exhibition.
For more fun stories about the city’s most famous son, visitors can join Ezekial Bone’s Robin Hood tour of Nottingham to visit some legendary landmarks, like the Old County Gaol where Robin would have been imprisoned. Get some fresh air at Wollaton Hall, Gardens and Deer Park, home to 90 red and 120 fallow deer. Or, head below ground to explore Britain’s largest network of caves at the City of Caves, Nottingham’s subterranean marvel. Finish with a drink at the 12th-century Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, England’s oldest surviving inn, where it’s easy to imagine Robin and his Merry Men toasting their adventures with a pint.
The wider East Midlands region is easily accessible from Nottingham. At the foot of the Lincolnshire Wolds is Gunby Estate, Hall and Gardens, with 1,500 acres of unspoiled countryside to wander. Enjoy independent shopping at Leicestershire’s quaint market towns like Market Harborough, and stay at nearby Brook Meadow, a working farm with glamping, lodges, and luxury camping and caravanning. Or, head north-west of Nottingham to the outdoor playground of the Peak District National Park, with adventure-ready accommodation at Bike & Boot in the Hope Valley.
Ashdown Forest, East Sussex
Just 30 miles (48km) from London is South-East England’s largest public open space: Ashdown Forest. Its heath and forest landscapes are a vital habitat for wildlife like the Dartford warbler and silver-studded blue butterfly, but there’s another special animal who calls the place home. Author AA Milne lived near the forest and would often stroll there with his son, Christopher Robin, and his beloved bear, Winnie-the-Pooh – and so a childhood classic was born.
Follow in Pooh’s pawprints around Ashdown Forest with the official Pooh Walks trails. Key landmarks in the forest include Poohsticks Bridge, where Milne and his son reportedly first played the game; Roo’s Sandy Pit, the site of a former quarry; and the Heffalump Trap, where Pooh and Piglet tried to catch the creature. Visitors may also recognise Gill’s Lap, known as Galleon’s Lap in the books, which became Christopher Robin’s Enchanted Place.
On the fringes of the forest, the pretty village of Hartfield is home to more Pooh hotspots. Pooh Corner is a tearoom, gift shop and museum where AA Milne’s creation takes pride of place – right down to the teddy-bear-shaped toast and honey served in the café. Visitors can pick up some Pooh merchandise, including a Hundred Acre Wood-scented candle or a commemorative 100th anniversary toy.
Nearby accommodation options include aptly named Bear Inn in Hartfield, whose rooms are named after Pooh characters. Or, stay at the very place where Milne wrote Winnie-the-Pooh a century ago: Cotchford Farm, with its outdoor pool, tennis court and private gardens. It’s an idyllic base for exploring more of East Sussex, like Kew Wakehurst and The Bluebell Railway.