11 Of The Best Things To Do In Lincolnshire
Looking for the best things to do in Lincolnshire? The county is packed with historic sights, nature reserves and parkland, seaside resorts and museums – and it can keep you busy for weeks.
Explore Lincoln Cathedral or learn about the region’s fishing past, take the family for a wild day out to Fantasy Island or to visit the animals at Woodland Wildlife Park. Here are some of the best days out and attractions in Lincolnshire.
Lincoln
Historic city with a castle and cathedral
There are a lot of sights to see across Lincoln and the city is a great destination for kids and adults alike.
In the old part of the city, there’s Steep Hill, a cobbled street lined with old shops and houses that leads up to Bailgate. Here, take a tour of Lincoln Cathedral and see the stunning views across the county from the top of the Central Tower. Look for the Lincoln Imp in the cathedral too – legend has it that this naughty creature was turned to stone by the angels and now sits high up on a pillar. Lincoln Castle is in the same area and the Medieval Wall Walk gives you good views over the whole city.
See the High Bridge, the oldest bridge that still has buildings on it in the United Kingdom, which dates back to 1160 AD and the 16th-century Guildhall. For a more modern experience, walk along the Brayford Waterfront, which has lots of restaurants and entertainment options.
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Belton House
Country house and parkland
Belton House is a National Trust-managed property just outside Grantham. There are seasonal walking trails through wildflowers in the spring and to places where you can see the male deer clashing their antlers in the autumn. Walk further in the parkland and see an abandoned medieval village and pass through ancient woodland. You can go inside the 17th-century country house too.
It’s a popular place for families because it has an adventure playground and a list of '50 things to do before you're 11¾' that’ll keep kids entertained all around the estate. It’s dog-friendly too, as long as they are kept on a lead.
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Frampton Marsh Nature Reserve
Birdwatching and a walking trail
Want to get outdoors and go birdwatching? Frampton Marsh is home to a variety of animal and plant life in its wetlands, grasslands and reedbeds. Look out for avocets, which are the symbol of the RSPB, and the Brent geese that come here from Siberia to spend the winter in a relatively warm climate.
There’s a popular circular walk that takes a couple of hours and goes through the nature reserve, along the coast and back along the banks of The Haven. It can be muddy in places, but this is a flat and fairly easy route.
Museum of Lincolnshire Life
Explore everyday life in Lincolnshire over 350 years
Visit the Museum of Lincolnshire Life to learn about everyday life in the county from 1750 to the present day. See exhibits about commercial, industrial and agricultural life, as well as life at home and in the community with its recreations of old homes and shops.
There’s also a collection of tanks and farm machinery, and there’s a windmill to explore too.
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Skegness
Seaside resort with a theme park
If you’re looking for somewhere to go for a day out in Lincolnshire, Skegness is a great choice. This seaside resort has a Blue Flag beach with donkey rides, and there are lots of attractions along the seafront like funfairs, miniature golf and go-karting.
Just along the coast is Fantasy Island, a theme park with over 30 rides including rollercoasters and other thrilling options for bigger kids and adults, as well as gentler attractions for the younger ones.
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Elsham Gardens and Country Park
Gardens and a small animal farm
Elsham Gardens and Country Park is an excellent place to get outdoors. Spend time in the scenic lakeside gardens and visit the four-acre walled garden to see wildflowers in the spring. Around the lake, you might see giant carp, ducks and geese, and there’s a bird hide to look for a variety of more native British birds too.
There are lots of animals here too. See rabbits in the Secret Garden, visit the guinea pig village and come in March for the lambing season.
There are regular family events during the year and art exhibitions and open-air theatre shows too.
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Cleethorpes
Seaside resort and a railway
One of the best beaches in north-east Lincolnshire, Cleethorpes has a long, wide stretch of golden sand and a tide that sometimes makes it seem like the sea has disappeared. It’s a good beach for kitesurfing and paddleboarding if you’re into watersports, and there’s an attractive pier to sit and eat your fish and chips on too.
Ride the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway, one of Britain’s oldest seaside miniature railways. It goes for four miles along the coast, and Humberstone station at the end of the line has far-reaching views over the Humber Estuary. The hub of the railway is at Lakeside, where you can visit the pub or café.
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Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre
Learn about Lincolnshire’s aviation history
If you want to dive into Lincolnshire’s aviation heritage, visit the Aviation Heritage Centre to learn about Lincolnshire’s place in RAF history. There were so many squadrons here during World War II that it was called Bomber County, and you can really get a sense of what life was like for the people who worked here at this museum.
See rare aircraft, visit a World War II control tower and taxi across the runway in a Lancaster Bomber. This is a living memorial that pays tribute to over 55,000 men of Bomber Command who lost their lives.
There are a lot of other places to learn about Lincolnshire aviation, including the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Visitor Centre and RAF Scampton and Digby.
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Woodside Wildlife Park
Animal sanctuary and wildlife centre
An animal sanctuary and wildlife centre located five miles from Lincoln, Woodside houses endangered species of animals and plants from all over the world. Visit Julia the tiger, the Siamese crocodiles and white wolves, or head to the aviaries to see tropical birds and birds of prey.
There’s a tea room with local produce and a play area, plus a chance to get up close to the animals with the centre’s packages.
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Louth
Georgian market town
Walking the Lincolnshire Wolds and looking for a place for a break? Louth is a historic market town on the edge of the Wolds. Buy some local produce at the weekly markets, visit the independent shops, get a drink in the traditional pubs and see the streets of Georgian and Victorian houses.
Hubbard’s Hills, a popular picnicking and dog-walking area, are just outside Louth, so it’s a good jumping-off point for spending some time in the countryside too.
Check out some of the best walks in Lincolnshire.
Fishing Heritage Centre
Insights into Grimsby’s history as a fishing port
The history of Grimsby, like many places on the east coast, is intimately connected to fishing – and you can learn all about it at the award-winning Fishing Heritage Centre. The museum takes you back to the 1950s when Grimsby was known as ‘the world’s premier fishing port’.
Experience the sounds, sights and smells of life as a trawlerman as you leave your home in Grimsby and go out to the Arctic before returning to the comfort of the local pub. There are three historic fishing vessels to see here too.
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Want to spend more time in Central England? Check out our main camping guide for the Central England region to discover more about Lincolnshire and beyond.