Nearby Villages
While Clifton Village offers a peaceful retreat on the edge of Nottingham, we are also the gateway to some of the most historic and charming settlements in the East Midlands.
From the “madness” of Gotham’s legends to the industrial heritage of Ruddington’s framework knitters, the surrounding landscape is a patchwork of ancient river crossings, eccentric architecture, and hidden rural gems.
Whether you are looking for a weekend stroll along the Trent, a visit to a local museum, or simply a new spot for a pub lunch, our neighbouring villages are all within a short 10‑mile radius.
Explore the unique character and history of our closest neighbours on this page.
Barton‑in‑Fabis
(~2 miles)
History: Known locally as “Barton‑in‑the‑Beans,” this riverside village is linked to Civil War history. King Charles I is believed to have crossed the River Trent nearby in 1646 during his flight from Oxford.
Attractions: The 14th‑century St George’s Church and the peaceful walking paths around Barton Island.
Thrumpton
(~3 miles)
History: A designated Conservation Area dominated by Thrumpton Hall. The Hall includes a priest hole and has historical links to families associated with the 1605 Gunpowder Plot.
Attractions: Thrumpton Hall (1607) and the village’s distinctive diamond‑shaped date stones on historic cottages.
Gotham
(~3.5 miles)
History: Famous for the “Wise Men of Gotham,” who, according to legend, feigned madness to avoid a royal tax. The story later inspired Washington Irving and ultimately gave “Gotham City” its name in the Batman universe.
Attractions: The Cuckoo Bush Mound and the Batman‑themed sculptures near the local inn.
Ruddington
(~3 miles)
History: Once a global centre for framework knitting, the village still features the characteristic long windows designed to let light into the knitters’ workshops.
Attractions: The Framework Knitters Museum, Great Central Railway (Nottingham), and Rushcliffe Country Park.
Bunny
(~5 miles)
History: Home to Sir Thomas Parkyns, the “Wrestling Baronet,” who rebuilt much of the village in a distinctive Flemish‑inspired red‑brick style in the early 1700s.
Attractions: The eccentric architecture of the Old Schoolhouse and the ancient bluebell woods of Bunny Old Wood.
East Leake
(~6 miles)
History: A thriving community that developed from a farming village into a centre for the gypsum mining industry and the Great Central Railway.
Attractions: St Mary’s Church, with its medieval tower and historic fittings, and the scenic Midshires Way walking route nearby.
Kegworth
(~7 miles)
History: A historic coaching stop on the London–Manchester route and an important port on the River Soar, with a long tradition of river trade and transport.
Attractions: The Kegworth Museum and the attractive locks and narrowboats along the Soar Navigation.
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