Our Mansfield Local Area Guide is a great place to start when considering a move to this former mining town.
Located north of Nottingham, Mansfield lies in the Maun Valley. In 1227, Mansfield was granted a Royal Charter as a market town and is now the largest town in the Mansfield Urban Area, with a growing population of over 110,000.
Mansfield was once the chief town of Sherwood Forest — the legendary base for the activities of Robin Hood, the medieval outlaw and folk hero. The forest court was held in the town’s Moot Hall, built in 1752.
The town’s brewing heritage also merits mention, particularly the well-known local brew, Mansfield Bitter. Mansfield has also produced notable personalities, including Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington and TV presenter Richard Bacon.
The bustling market town offers a wide range of local amenities, from recognisable national retailers to major supermarket chains. You can choose from several conveniently located supermarkets, including Sainsbury’s, Iceland Foods and Asda.
For indoor shopping, the Mansfield Four Seasons Shopping Centre features more than 50 occupied units, hosting well‑known brands such as Boots, JD Sports and Primark. Just outside the centre, St Peter’s Retail Park provides ample parking and a selection of larger stores, including TK Maxx.
Across Mansfield, you’ll also find a variety of banks, gyms and health clubs, hair salons and barbers, as well as the Mansfield Community Hospital and a medical practice close to the town centre.
For families, Mansfield offers a wide choice of schools. From nursery and primary through to secondary education, there are numerous options available throughout the town.
Mansfield is not short of activities and things to do. The town offers plenty of places to visit and enjoyable pursuits suitable for all ages. It is close to Sherwood Forest and Sherwood Pines, the largest public forest in the East Midlands. For something more adventurous, Go Ape provides the chance to explore the forest canopy on a treetop rope course.
The town also has a range of exciting, fun‑filled activities, including Mansfield Superbowl, a tenpin bowling alley that stays open late. Water Meadows, Mansfield’s own leisure centre, features a swimming pool, gym and soft play area.
For a cultural day out, visit the Mansfield Museum or Mansfield Palace Theatre. Located in the town centre, the museum—opened in 1904—explores the area’s social and industrial history. Mansfield Palace Theatre welcomes more than 140,000 visitors each year with its programme of shows, activities and community projects.
Vicar Water Country Park has been created on the site of a former colliery, transforming this industrial landscape into a mix of heathland, woodland and grassland, with spectacular views across to Derbyshire and Lincolnshire. At the heart of the park lies Vicar Pond, a large fishing lake originally created by the fifth Duke of Portland in the 1870s. Once used for boating and swimming, the lake has now returned to its original purpose and supports a thriving coarse fishery. The park has been awarded Green Flag status in recognition of its excellent facilities, high maintenance standards and strong community involvement. It is also designated as a Local Nature Reserve.
Sherwood Pines offers an adventurous day out in the great outdoors at any time of year. The forest features a wide range of activities, including walking and cycling trails, play areas, bike hire, wild running routes and mountain‑biking tracks. You can soar through the trees on Go Ape’s famous zip wires, and if you’re feeling peckish after exploring the forest, the Sherwood Pines Café serves a selection of locally sourced snacks.
Clowne has great road links and is only a couple of miles away from Junction 30 of the M1, in one direction it leads to London and in the other to Leeds.
Chesterfield Train Station is 9 miles from Clowne and has regular, daily services to major cities including Sheffield, London St Pancras, Leeds and more.
