25 of the best things to do in our area
FUN FOR ALL THIS SUMMER, WITHOUT VENTURING TOO FAR
THERE is never a dull moment in the Grimsby and northern Lincolnshire area - with a wealth of activities to do and places to go, whatever the weather and no matter what ages you are intent on entertaining for a few hours, this summer can be as action packed as you want it to be.
There is plenty of things to do in Grimsby itself, which will keep the young and not so young from being bored, and you won’t have to look too far further afield if you want to ring the changes and introduce the kids to all manner of attractions and activities. Lots of what is on offer is free to enjoy too, from a meander around some of the region’s most picturesque beauty spots to learning about some of the area’s fascinating history.
You can get close to nature in all sorts of wonderful places, or you can head indoors if the weather takes turn for the worse and have fun in leisure centre pool or let the little ones’ imaginations run riot in a miniature world that is built just for them. Animals are popular with all ages and feature in a number of the attractions listed here.
Exploring an historic house or an old windmill, stretching your legs in a parkland setting or cooling down with a skating session on ice are all fine examples of fun things to do that will keep everyone amused for a good few hours.
A MAGICAL little indoor world where big ideas can come to life in the themed play areas that are filled with props and furnishings to create a stimulating, fun and educational environment. Budding builders, actors, doctors and shop assistants can get curious about the world around them and feel free and safe to explore.
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A MIX of outdoor and indoor play opportunities and an animal trail to follow. Pink Pig offers animalholding sessions at 11am each day (extra slot at 2pm in school holidays) and there is The Greedy Pig Cafe when hunger pangs strike.
Meridian Leisure Centre, Louth
MERIDIAN Leisure Centre
a modern facility in Louth offering jam-packed fun activities including swimming, exercise classes, junior sessions and lots more. The fully accessible centre boasts a leisure pool with a pirate ship and flume and also includes a multi-use games area, a fitness suite and a 25m pool; there is specialist fitness equipment for people with a disability, along with accessible toilets and changing.
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Play Avenue, Messingham Pink Pig Farm, Scunthorpe 2
AT Hall Farm Park, near Caistor, there are lots of friendly animals and fun indoor and outdoor activities for the whole family to discover. From rabbits and goats to pigs and ponies and donkeys and ducks, everyone can enjoy the animal encounters, plus there are play areas, gokarts, soft play, swings and sandpits among the other fun things to do.
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Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway
ONE of Britain’s oldest seaside miniature railways that has been delighting young and old for over 70 years, this 15in gauge railway experience offers you the chance to ride a steam train along a two-mile track overlooking the Humber Estuary. There are three stations along the way with something for everyone including a gift shop, tearooms and a pub – The Signal Box Inn – which is said to be the smallest in the world.
MEASURING around 40m
20m, the ice rink at Grimsby Leisure Centre is a fun way of getting a taste of winter in the middle of summer. The rink holds events and activities suitable for all ages, including sessions for skate tots and family discos.
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Hall Farm Park, Caistor Grimsby Ice Rink, Grimsby 5 Hubbard’s Hills, Louth 7
LOUTH beauty spot The Hills attracts visitors from all over the world. It’s the perfect spot for rambling, cycling and taking the dog on a peaceful and picturesque walk. There is a stream, trees and areas that are perfect for a picnic in lovely natural surroundings, where you might catch sight of a squirrel or two, lots of birds and butterflies.
National Fishing Heritage Centre, Grimsby
DISCOVER the fascinating story of Grimsby’s maritime past with authentic sights, sounds and smells among a range of immersive interactive displays. You can also step aboard and be given a guided tour of the Ross Tiger, an ex-working 1950s trawler. This multi-award winning attraction will transport you back in time to the heyday of this famous port, with carefully crafted sets and original preserved trawler interiors helping to capture the atmosphere and essence of a remarkable way of life in one of the most dangerous occupations in living memory.
8 Lincolnshire Wolds Railway, Ludborough
HEAD to Ludborough and you’ll find Lincolnshire’s only standard gauge steam railway open to the public.
You can ride on the train, enjoy some great food in the Steaming Kettle Buffet and find out more about the locos from experts in the engine shed. When you’re not chugging through the Lincolnshire countryside, you can take a walk around the station’s museum, which is packed with an enormous collection of railway history.
The Play Factory, Louth
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OFFERING colourful and fun soft play for kids, The Play Factory is open daily, with children under 12 months able to visit for free. There is a two-storey maze for climbing, weaving and sliding in for endless fun, come rain or shine - smaller tots will also have fun climbing and exploring all the animals in their own secure soft play area.
Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary and Wildlife Centre, Mablethorpe
of farm animals, including pigs, sheep, pygmy goats, Billy the miniature Hereford bull, Bernard the turkey and Meeka the raccoon dog., as well as an awesome array of birds, from owls and falcons to Phoenix the eagle.
North Lincolnshire Museum, Scunthorpe 14
THERE’S plenty to see at thME the North Lincolnshire
THIS wonderful sanctuMuseum in Scunthorpe. 11 ary is home to a wide variExhibits about the area’s ety of rescued animals, geology, natural history, archaeolincluding primates, repogy and social history run alongside tiles, birds of prey, meerkats, aviary regular community exhibitions. birds, as well as its loveable seals. In Families can visit Dudley’s Den, a the Time Walking Cave, you can dedicated under-fives space and search out hidden fossils and disjoin Dudley Bear in fun-filled activicover the prehistoric creatures that ties and crafts. have called Lincolnshire home over the past 100,000 years.
Immingham Museum, Immingham
THIS museum offers you the chance to see what life would have been like in Immingham over a century ago, the main theme being the story of the building of Immingham Dock and the involvement of the Great Central Railway. There are room settings depicting the Victorian/Edwardian era, grocers and chemist shops, the Pilgrim Fathers’ story and an archive of photographs and documents.
Rushmoor Farm Park and Falconry Centre, Louth
SET in six acres of Lincolnshire countryside just outside the market town of Louth is this small and friendly farm park and falconry centre where you can meet a wide range
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12 Elsham Hall Gardens and Country Park, Brigg
ELSHAM Hall Gardens and Country Park offers beautiful lakeside gardens, a contemporary walled garden, an adventure playground and a variety of animals and birds. Regular family events are held throughout the season, including circus and magic acts, car shows, art exhibitions and open-air theatre. The annual lambing is a particular favourite for families.
Back 2 Bear Outdoor Activity Centre, Louth
BACK 2 Bear offers exciting activities for memorable family experiences in 37 acres of the beautiful Lincolnshire Wolds countryside. From archery and laser tag sessions to shelter building and whittling, there are a host of outdoor activities to enjoy.
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Cleethorpes Discovery Centre, Cleethorpes
CLEETHORPES C Discovery 17
Centre C is nestled in beautiful lakeside la scenery, the perfect place p for families to enjoy all year round. It is free to enter and enjoy the latest art exhibitions and displays or discover what’s happening out at sea from the ABP Humber Observatory. Feed the resident ducks and take to the water on a pedalo or rowing boat; visit the sandpit and build a sandcastle fit for a king and let the kids run wild on the shipwreck adventure playground, or make a splash at the nearby paddling pool.
Normanby Hall Country Park, Scunthorpe
SET within 300 acres of North Lincolnshire’s picturesque countryside, Normanby Hall Country Park is home to the historic Regency Hall, the fascinating Farming Museum and Britain’s only totally period-correct Victorian walled garden. You also enjoy the extensive woodland and take a walk through the Deer Park with its herds of Red and Fallow Deer.
HOUSED H within the grade 19 two tw listed St John’s Church, the th 20-21 Visual Arts Centre is home to five gallery spaces showcasing inspirational works by some of the leading artists in the UK. Alongside the gallery is a shop and a cafe; an ARTivity table is available for free family art and crafting on Saturdays, and daily during school holidays.
THIS impressive Queen 20
Anne period building was the th boyhood home of John Wesley, W founder of World Methodism and his brother Charles who wrote over 700 hymns. You can follow the story of the house including the ups and downs of family life, arson and even a ghost.
Scawby Hall, Brigg 18 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, Scunthorpe Epworth Old Rectory, Epworth
THIS T early Jacobean manor 21 house h was begun by Richard Nelthorpe of Glandford Brigg (1569—1640) in 1605 and has been lived in by members of the Nelthorpe family ever since. The building is grade one listed and contains a number of important paintings including five by George Stubbs. Today the house is at the centre of a working estate, and is open to the public on selected days each summer, with tours led by a guide.
Ropewalk Museum, Barton
THE Ropewalk Museum pays tribute to the history of the rope making factory, Hall’s Barton Ropery, which opened in 1767 and its workers. The grade two listed building stretches for a quarter of a mile along the length of Barton Haven and contains displays, artefacts and other memorabilia associated with the history of the factory and its workforce. Its on-site coffee shop s is open daily; public workshops in various v crafts are held regularly.
Waltham Windmill
FROM 1666 to the present 23 day there has always been a mill m in the village of Waltham; W the present one, which was built in 1878 - 1880, is fully restored and operational as a six sail working windmill. It’s not just about grinding grain here, though – there is a miniature railway and McMillers Sweets Emporium on site, plus the Museum of Rural Life.
The Jungle Zoo, Cleethorpes 22
CREATED with the aim of being the best small family zoo in the country, The Jungle Zoo is home to a wide variety of exotic creatures, and a centre for rescued and endangered species. You can meet toucans and tortoises, armadillos and meerkats, among the many resident animals. The zoo’s tropical house is an impressive jungle-like setting which is home to an array of weird and wonderful inhabitants.
24 Waters’ Edge Country Park, Barton
SET on the banks of the 25
Humber estuary with spectacular ta views of the bridge, Waters’ W Edge Country Park is North Lincolnshire’s “greenest” attraction. The visitor centre features a spectacular curved glass front and inside you’ll find a number of interactive displays, live images, games and activities. You can also take a walk through the meadow and woodland and across the reed beds and ponds.