Worksop is a thriving market town located at the northern edge of Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire. Believed to have been in existence since Anglo Saxon times, the town is aptly dubbed the ‘gateway to the Dukeries’ referring to the great number of ducal country estates which lie close by. This influence is even reflected in the town centre where coloured stone is set into the paving on the pedestrian streets, depicting the local heraldic crests. There is also a paved maze featuring a heraldic lion and unicorn, giving the town a sense of real historical character.

Today Worksop is home to over 40,000 people and the town, whilst retaining its historic charm has developed to serve the needs of the local community and the many visitors to its picturesque surroundings. Worksop is a bustling market town, which hosts regular open-air markets including a monthly farmers’ market and other popular events such Continental Markets. The town’s retail offers an exciting mixture of both high street names such as Boots, Dorothy Perkins, Burtons, New Look, Claire’s Accessories and Matalan, together with numerous small niche and specialist shops. The Priory Shopping centre, located at the northern end of Bridge Street is for many the main focus of retail activity with key names such as WH Smiths, Woolworths, Wilkinson’s, Peacocks and Evans. It is also at the centre of the future development of the town, and through the work being undertaken by the Worksop Renaissance Partnership will play an important role in attracting new business and retail to the town centre.

However there is much more to Worksop than shopping. Whether you are an occasional visitor or a local resident, Worksop and its nearby surroundings have variety of interesting attractions to satisfy everyone’s taste. These include the Worksop Priory Church founded in 1103 and the Chesterfield Canal which, completed in 1777, cuts through the heart of the town centre connecting it to the east with the River Trent. If nostalgia is your thing, Mr Straw’s House, a National Trust property which unchanged for the past 60 years offers a true glimpse into the past. There is also the award winning Harley Gallery situated in the Welbeck Estate on the outskirts of Worksop that has earned national recognition for excellence and innovation with its unique mix of contemporary exhibitions, craft shop and museum. If it’s the great outdoors that you are after the limestone gorge honeycombed with caves at Cresswell Crags tells a fascinating story of life 50,000 years ago during the last Ice Age and the 3,800 acres of parkland, farmland and woods of the National Trust’s Clumber Park are both only a stones throw away.