Chapel St Leonards

Chapel St Leonards sits on the Lincolnshire coast about six miles north of Skegness, where the flat farmland of the Lindsey Marsh meets a long, sandy beach backed by dunes and grassy banks. Locals often call it a village of two halves: an older inland settlement around the church and The Green, and a livelier seafront strip that has grown up around the caravan and holiday-park trade since the mid-20th century. It is quieter and less brash than Ingoldmells or Skegness itself, but still has enough arcades, cafes and a beachfront funfair to keep it firmly a traditional English seaside spot rather than a sleepy backwater.

The beach itself is the main draw: a wide stretch of golden sand, dog-friendly at the northern end, dotted with colourful beach huts and safe enough for swimming and paddling at most states of the tide. Away from the sand, the surrounding Coastal Country Park links Chapel St Leonards to neighbouring villages such as Anderby, Hogsthorpe, Huttoft and Sandilands via a network of easy coastal and countryside walking routes, with reedbeds, ponds and grazing marsh supporting a good range of birdlife. It is a place built around static caravans, touring pitches and holiday chalets as much as bricks-and-mortar housing, and that holiday-park culture shapes almost everything about how the village looks and feels.

Top things to do in Chapel St Leonards

Chapel St Leonards is not a destination for big-ticket attractions, but there is a good spread of low-key seaside and outdoor activities within easy reach of the beach.

• Chapel St Leonards beach — a broad sandy beach with beach huts, deckchair hire in summer and enough space to escape the crowds even on a busy bank holiday.
• North Sea Observatory — a striking modern building at Chapel Point with an observation deck and gallery giving panoramic views along the coast, plus the Seascape Café for breakfast and lunch.
• Chapel Point Nature Area — a small reserve with a central pond, good for a short wander and some birdwatching between the village and the sea defences.
• Coastal Country Park walks — waymarked routes running from Chapel St Leonards north to Anderby Creek and Wolla Bank reedbed nature reserve, and south towards Sandilands, taking in dunes, marsh and farmland.
• Lakeside Leisure — a family activity park with motorboats, quad bikes, crazy golf and coarse fishing lakes, popular with holidaymakers staying on the local caravan parks.
• The Green — the historic heart of the older village, hosting markets and community events through the summer season.
• Wolla Bank reedbed — a short walk north of the village, home to nesting reed and sedge warblers and, in season, marsh harriers.

Getting to Chapel St Leonards

Chapel St Leonards sits just off the A52 coast road, roughly six miles north of Skegness and around 30 miles east of Lincoln, so driving is by far the easiest way to arrive; the village has several pay-and-display car parks near the seafront. There is no railway station in the village itself — the nearest mainline station is Skegness, connected to Grantham and onward to London King's Cross, from where local bus services run up the coast to Chapel St Leonards. Regular buses also link the village to Skegness, Mablethorpe and other Lincolnshire coast towns, useful for holidaymakers without a car who are staying on one of the local parks.

Best time to visit Chapel St Leonards

Summer, from late May to early September, is when Chapel St Leonards is at its liveliest, with the beach huts occupied, the funfair and arcades running full hours, and most of the caravan parks at full capacity. School holidays and bank holiday weekends are the busiest periods, so booking accommodation well ahead is sensible. Spring and early autumn bring a calmer village with the beach still walkable and many facilities open on a reduced schedule, and are a better fit for anyone after a quieter coastal break or some birdwatching along the reedbeds. Winter sees most of the seasonal caravan parks close, leaving a much quieter, more residential feel.

Where to stay in Chapel St Leonards

Accommodation here is dominated by static caravan and holiday parks rather than hotels or guesthouses. Golden Palm Resort and several Laver Leisure sites offer static caravans and lodges with on-site facilities such as swimming pools, bars and entertainment, while smaller, quieter owner-only parks cater to those wanting a simpler stay. Touring and camping pitches are available at a handful of sites around the village and just inland, and self-catering holiday cottages can be found in the older part of the village and in nearby Anderby and Hogsthorpe.

Food and drink in Chapel St Leonards

Millers, a combined pub, café and amusement arcade on the seafront, is one of the best-known spots in the village and a popular stop for family meals. Marina Fish and Chips has built a strong local reputation and has picked up national quality accreditation for its fish and chips. Beyond that, the village has a scattering of independent cafés, takeaways and a bookshop-cum-café near the beach, plus further choice a short drive away in Ingoldmells and Skegness for anyone wanting a wider range of restaurants.