Hotels in Southwell

Southwell's hotels and inns lean heavily on the town's long history, with several central options occupying genuinely old coaching houses rather than purpose-built blocks. The Saracen's Head Hotel, a 14th-century former coaching inn on the Market Place, is the standout choice for anyone wanting a stay steeped in the town's past, having sheltered Charles I on his last night of freedom in 1646; its bedrooms mix exposed beams and uneven floors with modern comforts, and its restaurant and bar make it easy to eat well without leaving the building. Beyond the Market Place, Southwell has a small but useful spread of bed and breakfasts in Georgian townhouses and converted farm buildings, many run by locals who are happy to point guests towards the Minster's quieter corners or a good riverside walk along the Greet.

Because Southwell is a small town, hotel numbers are modest compared with nearby Nottingham or Newark, so it is worth booking ahead, particularly around race days at Southwell Racecourse or during the Minster's seasonal events. Staying in the town centre puts the Minster, the Workhouse and the Bramley Apple Heritage Trail within a short walk, while a handful of countryside guesthouses just outside Southwell suit visitors planning to spend more time exploring Sherwood Forest or the surrounding villages by car. For those who prefer a wider hotel choice, Nottingham and Newark-on-Trent are both under half an hour away by car, though staying in Southwell itself gives a much better feel for the town's unhurried, history-steeped character than a day trip ever could.