Craft Centre

The Craft Centre in Edwinstowe is a proper working studio where local makers actually produce their work - not some museum piece gathering dust behind glass. You'll find potters at wheels, woodworkers with planes and chisels, jewellers with their torches on. It's the kind of place where you can watch someone make something from start to finish, then buy it if you fancy.

This is gold if you're the sort who appreciates how things are actually made rather than just owning them. Kids get a kick out of seeing the craftspeople in action, though they'll likely lose interest after an hour or so unless there's a hands-on workshop running. History buffs won't find much here - it's contemporary craft, not heritage - but those who like supporting local makers and taking home something genuinely made nearby will find it worthwhile.

Edwinstowe sits on the edge of Sherwood Forest, so the Craft Centre works well as a morning stop between walks or as a rainy-day diversion. It's only a short drive from Centre Parcs Sherwood Forest and Sherwood Castle Holiday Forest if you're basing yourself at one of the nearby holiday parks. Clumber Park is under five miles away too, so you could string together a decent Nottinghamshire trip. Check opening hours before you go - they're not always open standard times.