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Lincolnshire

Photo: Tilman2007 (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons

Holidays in Lincolnshire

From first-visit essentials to local favourites, this is our honest guide to holidays in Lincolnshire: where to stay, what it costs and what not to miss. Big-sky beaches, the Wolds and traditional resorts.

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Holiday ideas in Lincolnshire

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All places to stay in Lincolnshire

Must-have facilities
Brandon

Brandon

🏖️ 0.89 miles from Sutton-on-Sea (Excellent water quality)

Mablethorpe, Central England

Sleeps 10

£1,017 per break

Check availability
The Elms

The Elms

✓ Family-run caravan park where countryside meets the coast

🏖️ 1.81 miles from Ingoldmells (Excellent water quality)

Skegness

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More around Lincolnshire

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From the blog

Getting your bearings

Lincolnshire is a county of big skies and long horizons, and the two towns most people build a trip around are Skegness and Cleethorpes. Skegness has the lion's share of the family attractions; Cleethorpes gives you a second seaside base if you want a change of scene. Inland, the county turns quiet and historic, with castles and manor houses scattered between the villages. There are 777 places to stay on BritStays across the region, so you can pick a coastal base for the children or something further inland if you'd rather have the countryside on the doorstep.

Best for families

Skegness does the heavy lifting here. Natureland Seal Sanctuary is the one most families put top of the list — seals, and a sensible amount of time needed rather than a whole day. Captain Kids Adventure World is the indoor-play option when legs are tired or the weather turns, and Fantasy Island is the full theme-park day if you've got older children who want rides rather than rock pools.

On hot days, Fairy Dell Paddling Pool in Skegness is a cheap, cheerful hour or two, and Skegness Water Leisure Park gives you water-based fun with a bit more room to spread out. Over at Cleethorpes, Play Factory Louth covers the same ground for younger children when you want somewhere warm and contained.

  • Under-fives: Fairy Dell Paddling Pool, Play Factory Louth
  • Primary age: Natureland Seal Sanctuary, Captain Kids Adventure World
  • Teenagers: Fantasy Island, Skegness Water Leisure Park

Rainy day plans

You'll want a wet-weather list on the Lincolnshire coast, because the wind comes in off the sea whatever the forecast says. Indoor play at Captain Kids Adventure World or Play Factory Louth buys you a few hours. For something quieter, the Gordon Boswell Romany Museum tells the story of Romany life through vardos and photographs, and the Chadwick Centre is another small Lincolnshire museum worth an hour out of the rain.

If you're happy to cross the county line on a washout day, Woolsthorpe Manor — Isaac Newton's birthplace — is a genuinely interesting indoor visit, and Melton Carnegie Museum, Flintham Museum and The Gainsborough Heritage Centre are all modest, low-cost museum stops. VR Escape, Escape 2 Play and Urban Wolf Axe Throwing sit together as indoor activity options for a group of teenagers or adults who want something more active.

Outdoors and wildlife

Beyond the beaches, wildlife is the strongest outdoor draw. Natureland Seal Sanctuary is the obvious coastal one. A little further afield, Rutland Falconry & Owl Centre runs on flying displays, which gives a visit a natural shape, and Fun Farm and Mini Monsters suit younger children who need to run about. Gunby Hall is worth a mention here as much for its grounds as its house — gardens are often the saving of a day when nobody wants to be inside.

Heritage worth your time

Lincoln Castle is the headline act: a proper Norman castle with walls to walk. Tattershall Castle is the other big one, a red-brick tower that reads very differently from Lincoln. Both Tattershall Castle and Gunby Hall are National Trust, so membership pays for itself quickly if you're doing both. For something lower-key, Somerton Castle and Folkingham Manor House fill out a heritage-minded afternoon.

How to group them into a day

  • Classic Skegness family day: Natureland Seal Sanctuary in the morning, lunch on the front, then Fairy Dell Paddling Pool or Captain Kids Adventure World depending on the sky.
  • Big day out: Fantasy Island, and nothing else — don't try to bolt anything on.
  • Heritage day: Lincoln Castle first thing while it's quiet, then Tattershall Castle in the afternoon.
  • Rainy day: Gordon Boswell Romany Museum, lunch, then the Chadwick Centre or indoor play.

Where to eat

Be straight with you: we don't currently list any places to eat in this region with a five-star food hygiene rating, so we're not going to point you at one. The practical answer is to check the Food Standards Agency rating before you book or walk in — it's free, takes seconds on your phone, and the rating sticker is usually in the window. On the coast, seafront cafes fill up fast between noon and two, so eat early or late. If you're heading inland to the castles, pack something, as the gaps between villages are longer than they look.

Making it a short break

Three nights works well. Give day one to Skegness and Natureland Seal Sanctuary, day two to a castle pair — Lincoln Castle and Tattershall Castle — and day three to whatever the weather allows, with Gunby Hall as the fair-weather option and the museums as backup. Book your stay for a Friday arrival if you can; Saturday changeovers are the busiest and you'll lose half the afternoon to traffic. Check seasonal opening before you travel, as coastal attractions often run shorter hours outside the school holidays, and take cash for parking at the smaller sites.

Frequently asked questions

Which towns make the best base for a Lincolnshire holiday?

Skegness and Cleethorpes are the two main bases. Skegness has the greatest concentration of family attractions, including Natureland Seal Sanctuary, Fantasy Island, Captain Kids Adventure World, Fairy Dell Paddling Pool and Skegness Water Leisure Park. Cleethorpes is the alternative coastal base and is where Play Factory Louth is listed. There are 777 places to stay in the region on BritStays.

What is there to do in Lincolnshire if it rains?

Indoor play at Captain Kids Adventure World in Skegness or Play Factory Louth near Cleethorpes works for children. For quieter indoor visits, try the Gordon Boswell Romany Museum or the Chadwick Centre. Slightly further afield you have Woolsthorpe Manor (Isaac Newton's birthplace), Melton Carnegie Museum, Flintham Museum and The Gainsborough Heritage Centre, plus activity options such as VR Escape, Escape 2 Play and Urban Wolf Axe Throwing.

Are any of the attractions National Trust properties?

Yes. Of the landmarks listed for this region, two are National Trust: Gunby Hall and Tattershall Castle. If you plan to visit both, membership is worth considering.

What are the best castles and heritage sites to visit?

Lincoln Castle is the main one, with walls you can walk. Tattershall Castle is the other major castle and feels very different, being a red-brick tower. Somerton Castle and Folkingham Manor House are lower-key heritage stops, and Gunby Hall is worth visiting for its grounds as well as the house.

Where should we eat in Lincolnshire?

We don't currently list any places to eat in this region that hold a five-star food hygiene rating, so we won't recommend one. Check the Food Standards Agency rating before you sit down - it's free to look up and the sticker is usually displayed in the window. Seafront cafes get busy between midday and two, so eat either side of that.

What can we do with very young children?

Fairy Dell Paddling Pool in Skegness is an easy option on a warm day, and Play Factory Louth gives you an indoor space for toddlers. Natureland Seal Sanctuary suits small children because it doesn't need a full day, and Mini Monsters and Fun Farm are geared towards younger ones who need room to run about.

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🎭 Theatres near Lincolnshire

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Blackfriars Theatre & Arts Centre

Blackfriars Theatre & Arts Centre

Boston · 11.3 mi

 The Lion Theatre

The Lion Theatre

Lincolnshire · 8.3 mi

 Spilsby Theatre

Spilsby Theatre

Spilsby · 13.2 mi

🎭 Venues with something on in Lincolnshire

What's on at each, with tickets and places to stay within walking distance.

🎪 What's on in Lincolnshire

Events from SkiddleSkiddle

Bang Face Weekender

Fri 13 Nov · 11:00

Bang Face Weekender

Butlins Family Entertainment Resort, Skegness · 23.4 mi

Tickets on Skiddle ↗

 Lincoln Audio Tour: Unveiling History's Treasures

Fri 13 Nov · 12:00

Lincoln Audio Tour: Unveiling History's Treasures

Lincoln Drill Hall, Lincoln · 16.6 mi

Tickets on Skiddle ↗

 Lincoln Audio Tour: A Timeless Journey Through History

Fri 13 Nov · 12:00

Lincoln Audio Tour: A Timeless Journey Through History

High Street, Lincoln, Lincoln · 16.6 mi

Tickets on Skiddle ↗

 Bed By 10pm - Lincoln

Sat 14 Nov · 16:00

Bed By 10pm - Lincoln

Circle Lincoln, Lincoln · 16.6 mi

Tickets on Skiddle ↗

 Christmas Party Bookings - Buzz Bingo Lincoln

Fri 4 Dec · 18:45

Christmas Party Bookings - Buzz Bingo Lincoln

Buzz Bingo Lincoln, Lincoln · 16.7 mi

Tickets on Skiddle ↗

 Lincoln Audio Tour: A Timeless Journey Through History

Fri 4 Dec · 12:00

Lincoln Audio Tour: A Timeless Journey Through History

High Street, Lincoln, Lincoln · 16.6 mi

Tickets on Skiddle ↗

 Lincoln Audio Tour: Unveiling History's Treasures

Fri 4 Dec · 12:00

Lincoln Audio Tour: Unveiling History's Treasures

Lincoln Drill Hall, Lincoln · 16.6 mi

Tickets on Skiddle ↗

 Christmas Party Bookings - Buzz Bingo Lincoln

Sat 5 Dec · 18:45

Christmas Party Bookings - Buzz Bingo Lincoln

Buzz Bingo Lincoln, Lincoln · 16.7 mi

Tickets on Skiddle ↗

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