St Oswald's

The churchyard at St Oswald's sits quietly on the edge of Retford, a solid medieval structure that rewards a proper look around. Inside, you'll find the usual run of stone monuments and wooden pews, but what catches you is the sheer age of the place - parts of it date back to the 12th century, and you can feel that weight of centuries in the thick walls and worn flagstones.

This is really for the history-minded rather than casual visitors. If you're into churches and their stories, there's enough here to spend a good half hour working through the inscriptions and architectural details. Families with young kids might find it a bit quiet, though the churchyard itself is pleasant for a wander if you've got time to kill.

Admission appears to be free, though opening hours aren't reliably published, so it's worth checking ahead or taking your chances with the door. Allow twenty minutes to an hour depending on how deep you want to go with it.

If you're based at one of the caravan parks nearby - Trentfield Farm is less than two miles away, or any of the others strung along the Retford area - St Oswald's makes a gentle morning stroll before heading out to Sundown Adventureland or Wild Acre Village for something with more immediate appeal. It's the sort of place that fits nicely into a broader day rather than being a destination in itself, but if medieval churches are your thing, it's well worth the short detour from wherever you're staying.