Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre & Country Park, Edwinstowe, Mansfield

We visited the centre with our three children the park itself is wonderful very well kept with the people around the park having lots of time for the childrens questions. Of course the children wanted swords and axes which we brought from the shop however, the lady behind the till short changed me by £10 i noticed on the way out, i questioned it only to be told “No i always put the money on the till i’m not wrong” I had to argue to even get her to take my details, which she did on the back of the reciept leaving me with no proof of purchase. I was told if the till is out i would get it back, but she was convinced it couldn’t be her. Next morning i got a call “Sorry it seems i did short change you” Not good customer service i understand she couldn’t refund me til the end of the day but it could have been dealt with better. I await the cheque in the mail.

i went to sherwood forest and have wanted to do so for years as a young girl,i love medieval/robin hood country,clothes,castles,etc.
I am thinking to move there asap and im taking my 2 kids down there,love it.stayed at the bestwood country lodge,fantastic all the shops nearby and the sherwood forest visitor centre was just beautiful and a dream come true.The staff were friendly,excellent gift shops,toilets could be more presentable,food was overpriced and no choice for vegetarians.Im moving to nottinghamshire very soon.Will recommend to everyone and whatever time or weather you goits breathtaking and gorgeous,words cannot describe!i didnt want to come back.i was in tears when i was.Im 30 years old and finally i saw it!!I will be going there as much as i can before i move there,where i reside at the moment there is nothing there and is horrible place to live.

Sherwood forest and visitor centre is overall very popular. What I do not like to see is the way they've made it "less natural". There are footpaths and fences everywhere- and I don't think it should even deserve to be called a forest anymore. I recently went (I have been a few times before) and I could not enjoy it. It is expensive, unnatural, and does not deserved to be called a forest after all that has been done to it. Places like this should be left as they are, and always were. If not, they lose all their "magic".

This, I conclude, is not good for anyone who, like me, prefers NATURAL beauty.

This is a lovely day out even on a not so nice day. Weekends and school holidays in the summer see a wide range of activities for both adults and children. They have embraced the Robin Hood theme and you can learn a lot of you go around. The food at the cafe isn’t great and is overpriced for what it is, bit all in all it’s a great day out. You have to visit the Major Oak.

This is where most visitors who go to Sherwood Forest looking for Robin Hood end up. It is just south of Worksop and is clearly signposted from the A1 and the A614. It is located just outside the medieval village of Edwinstowe, where Robin and Marian were married.

If you arrive by car there is a £3 car park charge, but if you come by coach or minibus then there is no charge.

The centre comprises a couple of gift shops, a 5min video show, a small museum and a restaurant.

The video gives a brief introduction to the Forest and the Nottinghamshire Dukeries. The museum gives a bief history of Royal Forests.

This is also the place to park if you wish to visit the Major Oak, which is over 1000 years old. Some stories say the it’s where Robin lived, but that’s just legend - isn’t it? There is a children’s trail available from the gifts shop, I can’t remember the excact price, but it was just under a pound.

The restaurant serves hot and cold meals and is reasonably priced. This actually surprised me, as the whole site seems to be here just to make money.

The walk to the Major Oak is about twenty minutes each way along forest paths. It is accessible for those with disabilities, providing they are aware that it is a forest and not a paved path.

There is also a childrens playgound next to the car park, and a foot path leads to Edwinstowe and Sherwood Forest Amusement Park (which I’m reviewing seperately) which are about 5 mins walk away.

I believe it is possible to park in Edwinstowe and walk to the visitor centre and thus avoid paying the car park charge.

I took my 11year old daughter, who doesn’t like walking far especially in the countryside, and she enjoyed herself. Although she did keep telling me that Robin Hood never existed!