Rufford Abbey: Rufford’s one place to visit
Mapped inside Rufford’s built-up area is one place to visit, and within 5 km of its edge another 3. The mix takes in 2 attractions, an abbey or priory and a museum. One of the places on the list is maintained by English Heritage. Set 34 km out, Lincoln Cathedral makes a day trip.
Start here in Rufford
Alongside Rufford Abbey you find 2 attractions and a museum.
Abbey or priory · English HeritageRufford Abbeyin townAttractionAttractionGo Ape! Sherwood Pines2.9 km outside town, to the westMuseumMuseumBilsthorpe Heritage Museum3.5 km outside town, to the southAttractionAttractionMajor Oak3.7 km outside town, to the northwestEach has a page of its own: what it is, who runs it, the weather month by month and what else is near it.
Where things are
The map stretches to Major Oak, 4.2 km away.
The dashed line is Rufford’s built-up area; orange marks its middle (where most people live). Numbers match the list below. © OpenStreetMap contributors · ONS built-up area 2022
What kind of places
Between them they are 2 attractions, an abbey or priory and a museum.
Green: inside Rufford. Grey: within 5 km of its edge.
1 place is cared for by English Heritage (Rufford Abbey).
Full list of places
First the one in town, then the 3 within 5 km of its edge.
The one inside Rufford comes first, then the places within 5 km, close and well known first. Churches and listed buildings are on the History page, not here.
11 listed buildings are on Rufford’s History page → · Parks, footpaths and green space in Rufford →
Day trips from Rufford
Lincoln Cathedral, 34 km away, is the best known of the 12.
CathedralLincoln Cathedral34 km east
ChurchSouthwell Minster12 km southeast
CastleNottingham Castle26 km south
Abbey or prioryNewstead Abbey15 km southwestHistoric houseHistoric house · National TrustHardwick Hall18 km west
Historic houseChatsworth House39 km west
CastleCodnor Castle26 km southwest
Castle · English HeritageBolsover Castle19 km west
CastleLincoln Castle34 km east
Historic houseBelvoir Castle35 km southeastCastleCastle · English HeritageConisbrough Castle37 km north
Historic house · National TrustBelton House38 km southeastPlaces well known beyond Rufford (Wikipedia articles in several languages, published visitor counts, or a National Trust, English Heritage or Cadw property), close and famous first. Distances are straight lines from the middle of the town.
What visitors ask about Rufford
What are the main attractions in Rufford?
The place to visit inside Rufford’s built-up area is Rufford Abbey. In all, 1 place to visit is mapped inside the town, and 3 more within 5 km.
Does Rufford have a museum?
1 museum or gallery is in or within 5 km of Rufford: Bilsthorpe Heritage Museum.
Is there a National Trust or English Heritage property near Rufford?
Yes. In or within 5 km of Rufford, 1 place is cared for by English Heritage (Rufford Abbey).
What are the best-known days out near Rufford?
Within 40 km: Lincoln Cathedral (34 km), Southwell Minster (12 km), Nottingham Castle (26 km), Newstead Abbey (15 km).
Where are Rufford’s historic buildings listed?
Rufford has 11 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade I. They are on its History page, from Historic England’s list, not repeated here.
How is this list made?
From OpenStreetMap (museums, galleries, zoos, theme parks and attractions, castles, forts and abbeys, and historic houses and gardens that are open to visitors) and Wikidata (what each place is, who runs it, its website and visitor counts). A place counts for Rufford when it is inside the ONS 2022 built-up area, and as nearby within 5 km of its edge. Opening times and prices are not shown: check the official site.
Places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database Licence) and Wikidata (CC0), placed in the ONS 2022 built-up area (Open Government Licence v3.0). Visitor counts are the latest Wikidata gives, with their year.
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (11)
- Rufford Abbey: Enchufla Con Clave, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lincoln Cathedral: DrMoschi, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Southwell Minster: DeFacto, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Nottingham Castle: Cosmicutencil, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Newstead Abbey: brianfagan from Nottingham, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Chatsworth House: Rprof, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Codnor Castle: Douglal, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bolsover Castle: Stephen G Taylor, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lincoln Castle: Dmitrij M, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Belvoir Castle: Nancy, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Belton House: Wehha, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.