Nestled in the east of England, Lincolnshire is the second-largest county, boasting oodles of space for a rich history, stunning countryside, and award-winning coastline.
A major settlement for the Romans and later the Normans, the county offers plenty of things to see and do during your stay. For history lovers, there are ancient sites and buildings aplenty, as well as the county’s more recent historical importance during the two World Wars.
Lovers of the great outdoors will find a smorgasbord of things to do here too, from bracing coastal paths, hiking through rolling countryside, and meandering through country parks - whether on foot, bike, or horse. You can also explore pretty market towns and the historic city of Lincoln, while little ones will love the zoos, wildlife centres, and aquariums.
To inspire your next adventure here, here’s our list of the best things to do when visiting Lincolnshire on holiday.
Lincoln Castle
An impressive example of a major Norman castle, Lincoln Castle was built in 1068 by William the Conqueror shortly after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. It was seen as imperative to control the rebellious north of the country.
With far-reaching views, the castle sits atop a former Roman fortress and, over the centuries, has witnessed many major battles right up to the Civil War in the 16th century. During the Georgian and Victorian times, it was used as a prison and courthouse, with criminal trials still taking place here in the Gothic Revival courthouse built in 1826.
Between 2010 and2015, the castle underwent a massive £22m restoration project, making it a fab place to visit and explore. Highlights include the Medieval Wall Walk, which takes you through the history of Lincoln and offers impressive city views, the Victorian prison, where you can explore and hear what it was like to be a resident convict, and the Magna Carta Vault, home to one of four copies in the country and kept here since its creation in 1215. Events and exhibitions take place throughout the year, so check out their website to see what’s on. There’s a café, gift shop, and guided tours available too.
Lincolnshire Wolds National Landscape
Blessed with endless rolling hills, tucked-away valleys, and charming villages, it’s no surprise that the Lincolnshire Wolds is a National Landscape, having become an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1973. Covering an area of 216 square miles, its chalky uplands create vast grassy plains that are home to the highest point in eastern England between Kent and Yorkshire.
With so much natural beauty and space to explore, the area is beloved by walkers, cyclists, and equestrians. The Viking Way is a 149-mile walking route that passes through the National Landscape, perfect for those looking to explore the area. Don’t worry, you don’t need to do the whole thing as it’s handily broken up into shorter circular walks that are suitable for all.
There are also beautiful villages to explore, such as the market towns of Alford, Horncastle, and Market Rasen. Louth celebrates local produce at its weekly food market, and Caistor is popular with walkers, with the Viking Way running through it. A more leisurely way to discover the Wolds is via the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway, a stunning heritage steam railway line running between Ludborough and North Thoresby, with its very own Steam Kettle Buffet, offering fantastic food.
Lincoln Museum
Nestled in the heart of Lincoln, Lincoln Museum is a fascinating visit for those keen on delving into Lincolnshire’s rich history. Showcasing archaeological finds from over 300,000 years ago, from the Stone, Bronze and Iron Age right through to the Roman, Saxon, Viking and Medieval times, it’s a fascinating place to spend an hour or two.
Discover displays, hands-on activities (such as building your own mosaic and creating your own Medieval creature), and screens showcasing ancient tales - little ones can even dress up in traditional costumes!
The museum is also home to the Usher Gallery, Lincolnshire’s most important art gallery, which opened in 1927 and is home to works by L.S Lowry, Turner, and Grayson Perry. You’ll also find a superb collection of ceramics, glass, jewellery, and enamels, as well as a gorgeous sculpture garden to stroll in too. A children’s activity centre, café, and shop round off your visit, ensuring there’s something for everyone. The museum is currently closed for an exciting new renovation, but is to open its doors again in 2027 – please do check out their website for exact dates.
Lincolnshire’s beaches
Ensuring you get your daily dose of vitamin sea, Lincolnshire boasts mile upon mile of gorgeous coastline to explore, with over 50 beaches along the North Sea. Skegness is probably the county’s best-known beach with its Blue Flag status, offering miles of golden sand for sandcastles and magical waters for swimming. For a bit of seaside fun, head to the Pleasure Beach after your swim for a fairground, arcades filled with games, and a bustling promenade.
Mablethorpe has similar vibes (and also sports a Blue Flag), while Sutton-on-Sea offers a more peaceful ambience with stunning Victorian and Edwardian architecture and pretty Pleasure Gardens. Cleethorpes meanwhile has a huge beach and boasts the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway, Britain’s oldest seaside miniature railway.
For a wilder feel, head to Anderby Creek with its dune-backed beach and nature reserves for a lovely winter walk. Home to the Cloud Bar, the only cloud-watching building in the world, you can enjoy the sky’s rolling beauty without craning your neck thanks to the clever set-up of mirrors.
Belvoir Castle
A stunning example of a Regency castle, Belvoir Castle in Grantham is the ancestral home of the Duke of Rutland, with an unbroken line of almost 1,000 years. You can explore the many beautiful rooms of the castle, from the guard room with its fine collection of arms and armour and the grand ballroom with its gorgeous ceiling based on Lincoln Cathedral to the state dining room, which played host to royalty, and the King’s room where Queen Victoria and King George IV slept.
The castle also has its own Animal Park where little ones can get up close to sheep, goats, pigs, and chickens – they can even feed them during guided feeding sessions. There’s also a selection of shops to visit, whether you’re after local goodies from the farm shop, boutique clothing, something special for the garden, or a book all about the castle. If you’ve worked up an appetite, there are lots of eating choices too, from wood-fired pizza to bistro dining, and there’s a fab Balloon Bar, stocked with craft beers, wines, and cocktails - you are on holiday, after all.
Lincoln Cathedral
Built in the 11th century following the Norman invasion, Lincoln Cathedral is one of the most impressive examples of a Gothic-style cathedral, holding the world record for the tallest building for two centuries. Standing for over 1,000 years, it’s been host to kings and queens and even held off armed attacks.
Take time to wander through the cloisters and aisles of this magnificent building, discovering such wonders as the Medieval and Wren libraries – designed by Sir Christopher Wren and home to books from the 15th century. Other highlights include wonderful examples of embroidery, jewel-like stained glass windows, intricate carvings (including a friendly lion), ancient graffiti, and the notorious Lincoln Imp.
There’s a Discovery Centre where you can learn all about the cathedral’s history in a fun and interactive way, while the exhibition gallery houses an incredibly important and protected Romanesque Frieze. Children under 16 get in for free, which is great if you have younger ones with you, while a café, shop, and toilets have you covered during your visit.
North Sea Observatory
Located near the seaside village of Chapel St Leonards, the North Sea Observatory opened in 2018 and is the UK’s only purpose-built marine observatory. Perched on the dunes, it offers spectacular views over the beach and out to sea and is a great place to stop off after a walk on the beach at Chapel Point. Boasting its own café, enjoy early morning sunrises through the immense windows or perch on the sunny terrace to watch the local birdlife (the café has binoculars on hand for just such occasions).
There’s an exhibition and art space, which has ever-changing displays, while the visitor centre is home to a host of information on the local wildlife, geological features, and delves into conservation efforts around Lincolnshire’s stunning coastline. Open all year, it’s a unique place to visit and a fab add-on at the beginning or end of your coastal walk.
Go wild at Lincoln Zoo
A must for any wildlife enthusiast, young and old alike, head to Lincoln Zoo for some fascinating fun. Home to a huge variety of rare and endangered animals (over 200 animals and 70 different species) and plants, it’s a haven for conservation (it’s a part of the International Breeding Program) and offers the chance to get up close and personal with the animals you love the most.
From tigers, white wolves, penguins, and red pandas to crocodiles, butterflies, sloths, and tapirs, there really is a whole ark of incredible creatures to discover. And it’s not only animals – you’ll find a huge array of plants too, which feed the local bees, insects, and birds. There’s a tropical house with birds, reptiles, monkeys, and even a sloth, and daily interactive displays where you can watch the expert keepers interact with the animals.
Celebrating something special like a birthday? You can book a VIP animal experience where you can get up close to penguins, the resident sloth, tigers, meerkats, lemurs and wolves. There’s also a tea room, play area, and shop on site so you can take a memento of your unforgettable day home with you.
Doddington Hall and Gardens
This impressive Elizabethan manor house, completed in 1600, is well worth a visit for any history buff visiting Lincolnshire. Famed for its fine collection of Flemish tapestries, Doddington Hall also has stunning walled gardens that offer a spectacular floral display throughout the year. Owned by the same family for over 400 years, it's a unique insight into one family’s collection of objects unchanged for centuries.
Gaze at the historical furniture, textiles, weaponry, and ceramics, or explore one of the bedrooms for an Egyptian Khayamiya tent. Made in Cairo in the 1900s, it’s one of only fifteen in the world. Outside, there are five lovely acres of gardens to lose yourself in, with the east and west gardens staying true to the formal style of the Elizabethan era, and a pretty wild garden and kitchen garden filled to the brim with produce – a must for any keen gardener.
There’s always lots on here, so check out their website for upcoming events, or visit one of the two cafés or the restaurant for a bite to eat. The farm shop and other artisan shops are made for browsing, and stock lots of local goodies to take home. There are seasonal opening times, so plan before you go to make sure you don’t miss out.
International Bomber Command Centre
The only place in the world to commemorate the huge losses of the Bomber Command during the Second World War, the International Bomber Command Centre is a memorial to the 58,000 men and women from 62 different nations who died serving this hugely important part of Britain’s defences. With 23 walls listing the names of those who lost their lives, there’s also a poignant memorial spire, built to the exact wingspan size of the Avro Lancaster Bomber and the width of a Lancaster wing.
Not just a memorial, it also offers a wealth of information with three interactive exhibition areas and free tours so you can learn all about their vital role during the war, what it was like serving as aircrew or providing support, what it was like to take part in an operation, and how life was for the civilians who built the planes. Alternatively, you can download their app and follow their interactive trails should you wish to do things at your own pace, or take part in any of the free family events. Afterwards, gather your thoughts as you walk through the beautiful peace gardens before heading to the café.
Skegness Aquarium
Immerse yourself in the subaquatic at Skegness Aquarium for a fascinating few hours, where you’ll enter the world of sharks, jellyfish, and stingrays, to name just a few of the residents. Learn all about sea life through the expert guidance of Long John Silver and his crew, with a chance to get up close to the critters in the underwater glass tunnel where you can watch all manner of fish swim above you.
There’s also an aqua theatre, plus sea caves where you might spot lionfish, moray eels, and moon jellies. As well as the aquarium, you’ll also find Jurassic Falls on site, where you can test your knowledge of all things Jurassic while coming face to face with a dinosaur. Watch out as you wander about – you might spot a velociraptor amongst the bushes, while the 14-metre-tall tyrannosaurus might be a little easier to find! Once you’ve had your fill of fun, there’s a soft play area for little ones to let off more steam, a bistro to grab a bite to eat, and a shop to pick up a souvenir of your visit.
Steep Hill and the Strait
Recently voted by The Telegraph as Britain’s prettiest street, this ancient road in Lincoln is, as the name suggests, steep! Originally built by the Romans when Lincoln was known as Lindum Colonia, the charming street connected the upper and lower parts of the city. Today, the street winds its way up towards the castle and cathedral, and its cobbled road is lined with boutique shops, coffee shops, bakeries, bookshops, and the like.
You’ll also find some historically important buildings such as the Medieval Norman House, a 12th-century building with iconic double-arched windows that’s one of the oldest domestic residences in Britain, and Jew’s House, one of only five medieval Jewish houses to survive in England. There’s also the much-loved ‘Wonky House’ on Michaelgate, as well as a host of other quaint and very photogenic houses to catch the eye as you wind your way up the hill. This is a lovely way to while away an hour or two, popping in the shops for a bit of retail therapy, maybe get a bite to eat, and generally soak up the historic atmosphere.
Baytree Owl and Wildlife Centre
This incredible owl and bird of prey centre in Spalding has been running for over 30 years and is home to over 60 owls and birds of prey, contributing massively to conservation through their breeding programme. Baytree Owl and Wildlife Centre (affectionately known as BORC) offers regular flying demonstrations during the peak seasons, where you’ll get the opportunity to watch owls and raptors in flight – truly a magnificent spectacle to behold – in purpose-built arenas so everyone gets the perfect view.
There are also fab events that take place throughout the year, such as Baby Day (which takes place over the weekends of both May Bank Holidays) when you can see the chicks and attend keeper talks, and their annual Conservation Weekend in late summer, which offers lots of activities such as build-your-own bug home and pond dipping. If you’re a passionate ornithologist, you can also book yourself onto an experience day, where you can fly and handle owls, birds of prey, vultures, and ravens, or maybe try your hand at wildlife photography. For the ultimate animal lover, there’s a VIP Keeper Day available too.
Feeling inspired? Take a look at our beautiful holiday cottages in Lincolnshire and start planning your getaway today.
