Newark-on-Trent

Newark is one of the more underrated market towns in the East Midlands — a genuinely handsome centre built around a market square that's among the largest in England, with a ruined castle sitting right on the River Trent.

Newark Castle was where King John died in 1216, and although it was largely demolished after a Civil War siege, the surviving riverside range and the gatehouse are enough to make the castle grounds a proper destination rather than a footnote — and they're free to walk around. The Market Place, a short walk away, is dominated by the parish church of St Mary Magdalene, whose spire is one of the tallest in the country.

Why stay here rather than just visiting

Newark works well as a base if you'd rather have a quieter evening than a city-centre one, while still being under 20 minutes by train from Nottingham and on the East Coast Main Line, so London is under 90 minutes away. It's also the more practical base if Southwell, Lincoln or the Trent Valley villages are on your list — all are closer to Newark than to Nottingham.

Where to Stay in Newark-on-Trent

• 
  Premier Inn NewarkJust off the A1, a couple of miles from the town centre.
• 
  Travelodge Newark-on-TrentCentral, at Beaumond Cross.
• 
  Best Western Deincourt HotelOn London Road, close to the centre.
• The Grange HotelShort walk from Newark Northgate station.
• 
  Kelham House Country Manor HotelEdwardian country house in the village of Kelham, just outside town.
• The Lord Nelson InnPub-inn on Main Road, on the outskirts of town.
• Bridge House Bed & BreakfastSmall adults-only B&B on London Road, close to the centre.
• Ivy Farm AccommodationQuiet B&B on Newark Lane, just outside town.

Antiques and markets

Newark's antiques and collectors' fairs at the Newark Showground are among the largest of their kind in Europe and run several times a year — worth checking dates before you book, since the town's accommodation fills up fast on fair weekends.