Our Lady of Egmanton

The church at Egmanton sits quietly in the Nottinghamshire countryside between Newark and Sherwood Forest, a place most people drive straight past without noticing. It's a modest Victorian structure, but here's what stops you in your tracks: a proper shrine to the Virgin Mary inside that feels genuinely continental - something you'd expect to stumble upon in rural France or Spain, not middle England. The shrine itself is the draw. It attracts pilgrims year-round, and there's a tangible sense of devotion that's fairly rare in English parish churches. The building isn't vast or architecturally showy, but the focus on Marian veneration gives it a distinctive character. You can spend twenty minutes here or linger longer if you're interested in religious history and folk practice. It's free to visit, though opening hours aren't always predictable - best to check locally or ring ahead. History types and anyone curious about alternative religious traditions in England will find it worth the detour. Families won't get much from a lengthy stop, though it's peaceful if you're passing through. The location works well as a quiet break between Newark and the Sherwood Forest area. If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Orchard Park or Greenacres are both within two miles - it's an easy afternoon pocket route rather than a day's outing. Combine it with a walk around the village itself. Don't go expecting a grand cathedral experience. Go for the unexpected faith and the reminder that English Christianity has more layers than you might assume.