Surprising UK seaside spot once home to world’s tallest building, where you can ride in steam train cabs & spot seals
If you’re a history buff or nature lover, look no further than Lincolnshire.
After all, this is a county that is not only home to some of England’s most historic buildings and documents, but also has a coastline packed with nature reserves rolling into the unspoilt countryside of the Lincolnshire Wolds.
A great starting point for your deep dive into history would be Lincoln with its impressive Cathedral and rare Magna Carta status, or a Georgian market town like Louth.
For something more out-of-the-ordinary, you could hop onto a vintage steam train or discover the small, family-run that dates back 300 years (tip: seasonal opening, closed in winter).
And to embrace nature, you could simply gaze at the sea and birdlife from the comfort of a marine observatory, explore a nature reserve or even witness seal pups being born.
We’ve spoken to Sun readers who have visited Lincolnshire on £9.50 Holidays to get their recommendations of the best local natural and historic attractions to visit.
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We’ve also asked local experts and holiday park staff for their top tips, and have our own suggestions, with options that are all within easy reach of your £9.50 Holiday.
Here’s what you need to know…
Explore Louth
Around half an hour inland, Louth is a historic market town that’s home to the tallest mediaeval parish church spire in England.
Alex Trembath, creator of the blog, said: “You can climb 199 steps to the top of St James’ Church with its 55-metre-high tower for views all the way to the coast.”
A great way to keep costs down is to use the , which runs six days a week (Monday to Saturday).
Joanne Green, General Manager at, said: “You can call or use the app and they will pick you up from the park and take you to Louth for £2 for a single ticket.”
Once you’re in Louth, Joanne recommends the weekly markets that sell everything from fresh bread to local meats and crafts.
She added: “Louth is lovely. It’s quite an oldie woldie town with little trinket shops, delicatessens and locally owned businesses.”
Housed inside a 19th-century sports pavilion in Woodhall Spa, it’s the UK’s only fully functioning cinema in the UK to use back projection, and watching a film here is like heading inside a time warp.
Sarah Al-Aidi, General Manager at, said: “They have old-fashioned confectionery and during the intermission, an organist comes up through the stage – so it's a real event.
Cathedrals and castles in Lincoln
For a dose of culture, it’s worth making the hour’s drive inland to Lincoln.
This compact city has a rich history, with Roman waterways, Viking street names and a Medieval Bishops’ Palace to discover.
It’s also home to the , which was the world’s tallest building for two centuries and , which was built by William the Conqueror and contains one of only four surviving original copies of the Magna Carta.
"I like the , too – it has a good restaurant.”
He said: “You can ride on an old steam train through the picturesque Lincolnshire Wolds.
"You can pick from a themed event, like a Santa Special or Father’s Day experience, or even ride in the cab of a steam locomotive from Ludborough to North Thoresby and back.”
While some of the experiences, like riding the footplate and operating a signal box, are for over-18s, kids will love the Santa experience, which includes a journey accompanied by elves and Santa, plus a gift at the end.
More than 2,000 seal pups are born every year on this remote stretch of sand – and you can see them in the breeding season (October to December).
Tip: Make sure you stick to the viewing area. It’s located at the foot of the sand dunes, to minimise disturbance to the seals and keep visitors safe.
Abandoned or injured pups are cared for 12 miles away, at . Come here afterwards to meet rescued seals, seabirds and other animals.
Stretching for five miles along the coast from Sandilands to Chapel St Leonards, it incorporates eight nature reserves and numerous beaches.
The vast, open coastline and sand dunes provide the perfect habitat for wildflowers, reptiles and birds – keep your eyes peeled for oystercatchers, short-eared owls and swifts arriving from Africa.
Walking routes range from coastal strolls to long-distance treks inland and there are routes by Lincolnshire County Council you can follow.
Alex Trembath recommends this for a day out with the kids, saying: “Gibraltar Point is great for families.
It’s a nature reserve with educational activities on beach, sand dune and saltmarsh habitats.
There is lots of signed information and volunteers so you can ask questions.”
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Linda said: “It’s a great place to go and watch the birds and wildlife, and it’s indoors so good even if it’s raining.”
It’s also a bargain – completely free to enter (although it costs around £1 for two hours parking).