Discover Clifton: Landscape and History

Clifton combines distinctive landscape features with a history that can be read in buildings from different centuries. A circular walk takes in the river, brook, Clifton Estate and Clifton Village; elsewhere, the landscape is shaped by a cliff above the River Trent and a park with more than 500 trees. There is also a church dating mainly from the 14th century, a manor house from the late 16th century and a dovecote from the early 18th century. You can therefore plan your stay around nature, walks or architectural history, depending on your interests.

A circular walk with varied landscape features

The Clifton Walk is a circular route that takes in the River Trent, Fairham Brook, Clifton Estate and Clifton Village. The river, brook, estate and village provide varied points of interest along the route. Holgate also tells a story of the area’s paths: the old sunken lane leads to the River Trent. Its name describes not only a route but also a distinctive historic type of path.

Another landscape feature can be seen at Clifton Grove. The area lies on an outcrop of Keuper Marl, which forms a cliff above the River Trent. Clifton Central Park has more than 500 trees representing over 40 different species. The cliff and trees offer a different perspective from the river and brook along the circular walk: Clifton can be explored through its landforms as well as its paths and green spaces.

Architectural history around Clifton Village

Clifton Dovecote stands in the middle of Clifton Village Green and dates from the early 18th century. It is considered the largest dovecote in the region. The church and manor house provide a comparison in age: the Church of St Mary the Virgin is a Grade I-listed parish church dating mainly from the 14th century. Clifton Hall is a Grade I-listed manor house from the late 16th century. Together, these three buildings bring the stated periods, from the Middle Ages to the early modern era, into close proximity.

The Clifton Village Conservation Area represents another historical dimension. It preserves the rural character of a historic riverside settlement on the outskirts of Nottingham. Along with Clifton Dovecote in the centre of the Village Green, this description helps explain the character of the place from more than one perspective: its buildings sit alongside the inherited image of a riverside settlement. The Church of St Mary the Virgin and Clifton Hall add different building types and periods of construction to this picture.

Plan your accommodation and stay around your interests

When choosing a holiday rental, your travel plans can be the deciding factor: would you like to focus on the Clifton Walk and the landscape, or are you particularly interested in Clifton Village’s architectural history and character?

Plan your transport

NET trams run from Clifton South towards Nottingham City Centre and Phoenix Park. If either direction is important to your plans, check the current timetable before travelling, as routes and times may change. This will help you coordinate getting to the attractions mentioned with your choice of accommodation and planned itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Worksop, Chilwell, Winthorpe, Clayworth, Edwinstowe, Trowell, Normanton on Trent, Edwalton.

For the wider travel overview: Nottinghamshire.