RSPB Sherwood Forest and Budby South Forest Reviews Summary

Visitor Centre

Pros:

• "The new visitors centre was nice, spacious and bright."
• "The new visitor centre is wonderful and now gives a new starting point for walks and also a place to experience outdoor theatre."
• "The Visitor centre is lovely, and the people who worked here were really helpful and friendly."
• "Great new visitor centre, managed by RSPB with good car parking a short walk away."
• "The visitor centre is well prepared. Food is great."
• "Visited today for the robin hood festival and was very impressed with the new visitors center."
• "The new visitors centre is well designed & has a well stocked gift shop, the cafeteria is light, bright & beautifully designed, all of the staff at the centre were extremely friendly & helpful."

Cons:

• "Old visitor centre was closed which was very disappointing for my kids as they were looking forward to seeing the museum."
• "The visitor centre is not very informative though just a bit of information on oaks for children."
• "Very disappointed with the new visitor centre which consists of a shop and a cafe."
• "The new Visitor Centre was very disappointing... there was just the shop and the café."
• "The new building is just an overpriced shop and cafe - where is the visitor information, where is Robin Hood and Sherwood forest information."
• "Not keen on the new visitors centre. It's just a shop and cafe now, no charm."
• "Really disappointed in the new visitors center."

Parking

Pros:

• "Overall we enjoyed our time, £4 parking for the trip seemed reasonable."
• "Even parking isn't bad, at £4 for the full day."
• "If you are a member of the RSPB, there is no charge for the car park."
• "Parking was £3 which is a good price and happy to pay to support our heritage site."
• "Car parking £4.00 is well organised and secure."
• "Parking is £4 all day or free if you are a member of RSPB."
• "Parking was very reasonable at £3 and there was lots of spaces."

Cons:

• "Told a 40 min wait for food... took 1hr and 5 mins to arrive."
• "There were massive pot holes that were really a danger to the welfare of your car."
• "The disabled parking was shocking we were told it was full and directed to main parking so struggled to get wheelchair out of the car."
• "Steep price for parking and limited spaces."
• "£4.00 to park (even with a blue badge) and quite a distance from the major Oak."
• "The new surface of the carpark isn't very car friendly."
• "Parking is expensive."

Walking Trails and Accessibility

Pros:

• "Really nice oak forest... Great place for a long walking in nature."
• "A great place for a day out."
• "Great place for walking with more to do as well. Odd activities throughout the year and organised events such as nature walks."
• "It's pleasant, with plenty of well-signed trails."
• "Lovely walks through ancient woodland."
• "Paths are well maintained so you don't even have to get much although there are also many off route walks to be taken if you wish to take longer walks."
• "Beautiful walk that was wheelchair accessible."

Cons:

• "The area has a few bottle necks where social distancing is hard mostly on the narrow pavement coming up from the new car park."
• "Disappointed grandchild on discovering the former playground had been removed."
• "The new playground was suppose to be opened but it wasn't finished and was fenced off."
• "Unfortunately, I did find the slight incline (4/500 yards) challenging pushing a wheelchair over such bumpy ground, and we certainly wouldn't have made it to the main attraction without the helpful assistance of a strong volunteer."
• "New car park is a trek before you get to walks - our old dog found it too much."
• "Signage poor for walks - they are there but then when follow route not easy to see where it goes next."
• "The parking is much further away and this was a problem for me and will be for others I'm sure."

Family and Children's Experience

Pros:

• "Suitable for wheelchairs."
• "A great day out.robin hood festive period.lots to see and do for all the family."
• "Thoroughly enjoyable day out! Adults and children alike loved it!"
• "The Robin Hood days/activities add to the experience."
• "We had a brilliant day walking with our two small children, there are different adventure courses scattered around the forest and a cafe where we had our lunch (tuna cob) which was delicious."
• "A good place to go for a walk with the family, there is a park for the children next to the new visitors centre."
• "The kids playground is brilliant with carved wooden owl statue and falcon perched on the top of the equipment."

Cons:

• "The forest itself is beautiful but has lost the Robin Good feel which is the reason I took my kids in the first place."
• "Old visitor centre was closed which was very disappointing for my kids as they were looking forward to seeing the museum."
• "Disappointed to see you can't go to the old village shops.cafes.or the robin hood walk through experience.or see the statue."
• "The forest has lost it's way and lacks the original enchanting atmosphere we always experienced."
• "Not as good as it used to be. Miss the Robin Hood Story walk through and now no toilet facilities at that end."
• "The visitors centre looks more like a community centre, all mention of Robin Hood is gone."
• "The place (visitors centre) is a little dated and wasn't the greatest for pre-schoolers."