Nottingham

The galleries at Frog, Owl, and Snake offer an unexpectedly avant-garde arts scene for this part of south Nottingham. This corner of Nottinghamshire feels properly suburban - all neat housing estates and well-kept gardens - but scratch beneath the surface and there's more character than you'd expect.

Bradmore Methodist Church anchors the community feel, while the railway heritage runs deep here. The Great Central Railway connects through Ruddington Fields and Little Ruddington stations, offering proper steam train journeys that kids absolutely love. It's a cracking way to see the countryside without getting your boots muddy.

Wilford Hill provides decent views across the Trent Valley when the weather's clear. Not exactly Alpine, but well worth the short climb for a proper perspective on how green this area really is. The surrounding countryside rolls gently towards the Leicestershire border, all arable fields and the odd copse.

Getting here's straightforward - the A60 runs right through from central Nottingham, about 20 minutes by car depending on traffic. The city centre's close enough for a proper night out, but far enough away that you won't hear the weekend revellers.

Staying at one of the nearby parks makes perfect sense for exploring both the city and the Vale of Belvoir beyond. Holme Pierrepont Campsite puts you close to the National Watersports Centre, while the glamping options at Wolds Wine Estate offer something a bit more upmarket. The positioning's spot-on for day trips - you can be in Sherwood Forest in 30 minutes or wandering around Nottingham Castle before lunch.