Edwinstowe offers a variety of ways to enjoy a stay: the Robin Hood legend at St Mary’s Church, crafts at the Sherwood Forest Arts and Craft Centre, and nature experiences in Sherwood Forest. There is also the Major Oak, a cycle route, and guided walks after dark. When planning your trip, you can combine culture and nature or focus on one of them.
St Mary’s Church: history and modern-day use
St Mary’s Church dates from around 1175. Hundreds of tourists visit the church each year, where, according to legend, Robin Hood and Maid Marian were married. The connection to the legend sits alongside the building’s history and its present-day use: the church is still used daily for prayer and services. Here, you can encounter a medieval church, a traditional tale, and active religious life all in one place.
Crafts in a former coach house
The Sherwood Forest Arts and Craft Centre is located in the converted coach house and stables of the former Edwinstowe Hall. Visitors can watch staff put the finishing touches to many original gifts and products. Seeing the items being worked on is therefore part of the visitor experience. If you would like to add a cycle route to your plans, the Ancient Sherwood Cycle Route starts at the Centre.
The Major Oak and Sherwood’s natural environment
The Major Oak is Britain’s largest oak tree; its age is believed to be between 800 and 1,000 years. From the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre, you can reach the tree on a 15-minute walk through the forest. Sherwood is also designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The Major Oak is a specific natural landmark, while the SSSI designation refers to Sherwood’s protected status.
The Major Oak can be visited when the nearby Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre is open. Seasonal opening hours apply in 2026. Check the times before your visit, especially if you plan to go after 31 December 2026.
Cycle route and guided evening walks
The Ancient Sherwood Cycle Route runs mostly through flat terrain, and the paths are generally maintained. Conditions can change with the seasons, so it is advisable to check the route conditions before setting off. If you are looking for a guided nature activity, you can join a bat or glow-worm walk in Sherwood Forest after dark. Check the dates of these walks before your trip.
The nature activities take place at different times: the walk to the Major Oak takes 15 minutes from the Visitor Centre, while the guided walks take place after dark. This lets you decide whether a daytime visit or an evening activity fits better into your plans.
Discover more destinations: Thurgarton, Blyth, Sibthorpe, Misterton, Chilwell, Eastwood, Sutton Bonington, Coddington.
For the wider travel overview: Nottinghamshire.
