Skip the usual Nottingham day trip and point yourself at Retford instead. This market town in North Nottinghamshire sits about 25 miles east of Sheffield and 30 miles west of Lincoln, yet the train from London takes only around 90 minutes. That's a remarkably easy escape into 13th-century market tradition, Georgian streetscapes and a surprisingly strong craft beer scene.

The heart of town is Market Square, ringed by 18th-century buildings with classical stone facades. The market here received its charter from Henry III in the mid-1200s and still runs every Thursday and Saturday, selling everything from fresh produce to homewares. On Fridays it turns into an antique market — a good excuse to arrive a day early.

Shopping beyond the stalls is more charming than it has any right to be. The Hummingbird Collective is a retail space stocking handmade jewellery and home decor from local artisans, with a cosy little bookshop, Evie's Book Nook, tucked inside. Kings' Park Antiques on the east side of the square pairs vintage finds with a tea room, and Carolgate, the avenue leading off the square, is lined with cafes and independent storefronts.

Beer fans have two solid anchors. The Brew Shed, the canal-side pub from local Harrison's Brewery, has a terrace of picnic tables and a pub menu that runs from grilled skewers and vegan dishes to a £64.99 Tomahawk steak. For something more traditional, Retford Craft House is a small alehouse with a rotating selection of craft beers and proper hand-pulled cask ales — exactly the kind of place serious drinkers hunt for in Britain.

History runs deep here too. St. Swithun's Church just north of the market dates to the 13th century, was remodelled in Perpendicular Gothic style in the 15th, and rebuilt in the 17th after its central tower collapsed in a storm. A block away, the Bassetlaw Museum is free to enter and housed in a Georgian townhouse; its standout collection covers the Mayflower Pilgrims, who had strong local ties to this part of Nottinghamshire. There's also the 1927 Majestic Theatre if you fancy a show.

For green time, Kings' Park offers 24 acres of gardens along the River Idle right in town, with a playground and seasonal water play on the far bank — ideal with kids. Serious walkers should head 2.5 miles out to Idle Valley Nature Reserve, one of the region's largest at over 900 acres, with four trails ranging from wheelchair-friendly lakeside paths to two-hour marshland routes. Expect little ringed plovers by the water and possibly Longhorn cattle in the fields.

Retford works for couples wanting a low-effort weekend, antique hunters, real ale drinkers and families who want countryside walks without a car-heavy itinerary. Spring and summer suit the parks and reserves best, autumn brings colour, and winter brings a Christmas market and festival. Accommodation is straightforward, with hotels, inns and guesthouses in and around town, and the whole Sherwood Forest and Dukeries estate country is on your doorstep.