Newark

The River Trent curves lazily through this market town that's managed to keep its feet firmly planted in reality while Nottingham's bright lights beckon just down the A1. Newark sits at that sweet spot where Lincolnshire's flat farmland meets Nottinghamshire's gentle hills, making it a proper crossroads both literally and figuratively.

You'll find the town centre has that lived-in feel of somewhere people actually go about their business rather than pose for Instagram shots. The weekly market still draws folk from the surrounding villages, and the cobbled square feels authentically English without trying too hard. It's refreshingly free of chain coffee shops on every corner.

Balderton Lake offers decent walks when you need to stretch your legs, though don't expect dramatic scenery - this is countryside that works for a living. The surrounding area is peppered with woodland like Shipman's Plantation and The Debdale, perfect for those who prefer their nature walks without crowds. Folly Hill provides the best views across the Trent Valley, though it's more of a gentle rise than anything mountain-like.

Getting here couldn't be easier. The A1 runs right past, making it a doddle from London or Edinburgh, while the train from Nottingham takes barely twenty minutes. That accessibility is exactly why the glamping spots and caravan parks scattered around make such sense - you can be here in no time but feel properly away from it all.

Staying at one of the nearby parks like Southwell Retreat or Wigwam Holidays Orchard Stables gives you the best of both worlds. Close enough to nip into town for supplies or a pub lunch, far enough out to hear actual silence at night.