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 for your £9.50 Holiday this year.
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 Claythorpe Watermill 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.
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 Lincoln and Beyond 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.”
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A great way to keep costs down is to use the Callconnect Bus Service, which runs six days a week (Monday to Saturday).
Joanne Green, General Manager at Sunnydale holiday park, 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.”
HOW TO BOOK WITH HOLS FROM £9.50
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- Book with Codewords: Simply collect FIVE codewords printed in The Sun daily from Saturday, January 10 to Thursday, January 29. Then enter them at thesun.co.uk/holidays to unlock booking from Wednesday, January 14. Previous hols bookers can book a day early on Tuesday, January 13 by using the bonus codeword sent via email.
- Book with Sun Savers: Download the Sun Savers app or register at sunsavers.co.uk. Then go to the ‘Offers’ section of Sun Savers and click ‘Start Collecting’ on the ‘Hols From £9.50’ page. Collect FIVE Sun Savers codes from those printed at the bottom of the Sun Savers page in the newspaper from Saturday, January 10 to Thursday, January 29. Then enter or scan the codes on Sun Savers to unlock booking from Wednesday, January 14. Or if you are already a Sun Savers member, use the bonus Sun Savers code we will send you to book from Tuesday, January 13.
- Book by post: Collect FIVE of the codewords printed in The Sun each day from Saturday, January 10 to Thursday, January 29. Cut the codeword out and send it back with the booking form – found in paper on Saturday, January 10 or online at thesun.co.uk/holidays.
- Book with The Sun Digital Newspaper: Sign up to The Sun Digital Newspaper at thesun.co.uk/newspaper. Then download the Sun Savers app or sign up at sunsavers.co.uk, log in to Sun Savers with your Sun account details (the same email and password you use for your Digital Newspaper) and enjoy automatic access to Hols, without the need to collect Sun Savers codes daily. Booking opens on Tuesday, January 13.
Vintage woodland cinema
How about a cinema experience with a difference? The Kinema In The Woods is an old-fashioned, two-screen cinema dating back to 1922.
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 Southview Holiday Park, said: “They have old-fashioned confectionery and during the intermission, an organist comes up through the stage – so it’s a real event.
Just around the corner, there’s the vintage Tea House in the Woods so you could go for a cream tea before a movie night (cream teas cost £7.50).”
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 Lincoln Cathedral, which was the world’s tallest building for two centuries and Lincoln Castle, which was built by William the Conqueror and contains one of only four surviving original copies of the Magna Carta.
Sun reader Linda McDonnell, 71, is from Lincoln and recommends the historic Bailgate area.
She said: “Have a look at what we call the Bail. It’s got a Roman arch (Newport Arch) and lots of nice cafes and independent shops. There’s so much history there.
“I like the White Hart Hotel, too – it has a good restaurant.”
Lose track of time on a vintage steam train
Alex Trembath recommends the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway for a blend of history and nature.
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.
See seals at Donna Nook
North of Mablethorpe, Donna Nook is one of the UK’s largest grey seal colonies, and one of only four in England.
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 Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary and Wildlife Centre. Come here afterwards to meet rescued seals, seabirds and other animals.
Explore the coastal nature reserve
The Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park is not to be missed, especially if you enjoy wildlife and walking.
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.
Head further south, passing through Skegness, and you’ll reach another nature reserve by the sea – Gibraltar Point.
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.”
North Sea Observatory
Linda McDonnell recommends the North Sea Observatory as a wet weather option.
Opened in 2018, it’s the UK’s only purpose-built marine observatory. Inside, you’ll find maps and info boards about the surrounding nature, and there are pop-up art exhibitions.
There’s also a cafe, which provides binoculars so you can get the best views of the sea life, which could include wild swans in winter, breeding species in summer and swallows in September.
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).
