Nottinghamshire’s central location enables easy travel to anywhere in the country. With direct rail access to London from Newark-on-Trent and major road links to Nottingham, Sheffield, Derby, Leicester and Lincoln, it is the ideal destination for commuting to the city if you are still looking for life in the countryside.
What makes a great commuter village in 2026?
A great commuter village offers the best of both worlds, easy access to the city without sacrificing the space, comfort and countryside of village life. With rush-hour trams and tubes often making city commutes longer and less comfortable than expected, Nottinghamshire’s villages offer an appealing alternative, with many towns and cities less than an hour away.
Whether you commute two days a week or travel in daily, the right village can provide a more relaxed pace of life while keeping city living within easy reach. For families, good schools, leisure facilities and access to nature are also key, creating the perfect balance between countryside and city life.
Fast transport links
Fast transport links are a key feature of a great commuter village, with well-connected train stations offering easy access to major towns, cities and airports. Newark-on-Trent has two stations, with Newark Castle providing direct services to Nottingham, Derby, Leicester and Lincoln, while Newark Northgate connects directly to London, Edinburgh, York and Leeds.
Further south, East Midlands Parkway via Nottingham offers direct access to East Midlands Airport, while frequent local bus services connect nearby towns and villages such as Southwell, Burton Joyce and Bingham to key rail links. For those driving, many of the county’s smaller villages are also within an hour of major transport hubs.
Local amenities
Traditionally, countryside towns and villages have lacked local amenities such as shops and health and wellness centres but many villages across Nottinghamshire have all these and more. In Bingham, you can enjoy an abundance of shops, restaurants and pubs, as well as multiple highly rated schools and sports facilities, making it perfect for families and those looking for a sense of community.
Schools and family appeal
A key consideration for those looking to relocate to the countryside is primary schooling and catchment areas to high performing secondary schools. In Southwell, The Minster School has consistently been rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted with an impressive display of annual results at both GCSE and A Level. The same standards are echoed at Toot Hill School in Bingham with its sixth form achieving outstanding Ofsted results. These schools, alongside many others, make these towns and villages the best places for growing families in Nottinghamshire.
The best commuter villages in Nottinghamshire for 2026
Bingham
Bingham is a great town for growing families and young professionals alike. It has strong bus links and a train station that can take commuters direct into Nottingham in a short 15 minutes. The town is situated right on the A46 meaning Lincolnand Leicester are all only a 30-45 minute drive away. Home to great schools, shops, gyms, pubs and green spaces, it is a brilliant place to settle down.
Burton Joyce
Only a 20-minute drive away from central Nottingham, Burton Joyce is a highly desirable location for those working in Nottingham. It also houses a small train station that takes passengers into the city in as little as ten minutes. The village has an attractive mix of newer homes, character properties and riverside locations. It is known for lovely individual homes and a lot of green spaces.
Southwell
Southwell is a historic market town with all of the benefits of village-style living. It is widely regarded as having some of the highest achieving schools in Nottinghamshire, a strong sense of community and year-round events calendar. With regular buses into Nottingham and Newark-on-Trent, it offers convenient connections for commuters while retaining the charm and tranquility of market town living.
Nottingham’s emerging best commuter villages in 2026
Bleasby
Bleasby offers the best of rural village living with excellent rail connectivity, sitting on the Nottingham to Newark line with its own station. It also offers significantly better value than nearby Burton Joyce and Lowdham, making it an appealing choice for buyers looking for a peaceful countryside setting without compromising access to the city.
Cropwell Bishop
Set in the attractive Vale of Belvoir, Cropwell Bishop combines strong village character with convenient access to Nottingham via the A46 and A52. Its location makes it particularly popular with hybrid workers who want a rural lifestyle but do not need to rely on a daily rail commute.
Sutton Bonington
Sutton Bonington is ideally positioned between Nottingham, Loughborough and Leicester, with excellent access to East Midlands Airport and major road networks. Its location also makes it popular with professionals connected to the University of Nottingham’s Sutton Bonington Campus, while offering the appeal of village life.
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