Harrowby

Harrowby is a small hamlet on the eastern fringe of Grantham in Lincolnshire, its name recorded as far back as the Domesday Book of 1086, when it was known as Herigerbi and had 18 households. For centuries it existed as its own parish before being split and eventually absorbed, in part, back into Grantham and, in part, into the modern parish of Londonthorpe and Harrowby. Today it is a peaceful residential edge to the market town rather than a destination in its own right, but that quietness is exactly its appeal: gently rolling Lincolnshire farmland begins almost as soon as the houses end.

The Church of the Ascension is the area's main landmark, an octagonal building dating from the early 1960s that replaced a wooden mission church first used in 1931. Beyond the church and its neat parish hall, Harrowby offers little in the way of formal sights, but its position just two miles from Grantham's historic centre, and a similar distance from Belton House, makes it a handy, low-key base for exploring this corner of south Lincolnshire.

Top things to do near Harrowby

Harrowby itself is residential, but some of Lincolnshire's best-known attractions are only a short drive away.

• Belton House — A Grade I listed Carolean country house built in the 1680s, now cared for by the National Trust, with 1,317 acres of parkland, formal gardens and the Bellmount Tower folly. It has featured as a filming location for Pride and Prejudice and Bridgerton.
• Grantham town centre — Home to St Wulfram's Church, one of the tallest parish church spires in England, and the Guildhall, which stands near a statue of Sir Isaac Newton, who studied at Grantham's King's School.
• The Angel and Royal — A historic coaching inn in Grantham reputed to be one of the oldest inns in England, with a history of royal visitors stretching back centuries.
• Woolsthorpe Manor — Isaac Newton's birthplace, a National Trust property a short drive south of Grantham, set in orchards said to include a descendant of the original gravity-inspiring apple tree.
• Lincolnshire countryside walks — The lanes and farmland around Londonthorpe and Harrowby give easy, flat walking straight from the edge of town.

Getting to Harrowby

Harrowby sits right against the eastern side of Grantham, just off the A607 towards Sleaford, with the A1 close by on Grantham's western edge for routes north to Newark and Lincoln or south towards Peterborough and London. Grantham railway station has direct East Coast Main Line services to London King's Cross in a little over an hour, making the area surprisingly accessible without a car.

Best time to visit Harrowby

Spring and summer bring the best of the surrounding countryside and make Belton House's gardens and parkland especially rewarding, while autumn colour in the estate's wooded park is also worth timing a visit around. Grantham's Christmas market and seasonal events add appeal in winter, though the flat, open farmland around Harrowby is pleasant for walking in any season.

Where to stay near Harrowby

Options range from Grantham's town-centre hotels and inns, including the historic Angel and Royal, to countryside guesthouses and B&Bs scattered around the surrounding villages, with Belton's parkland and the wider South Kesteven countryside offering a quieter, more rural alternative just minutes away.

Food and drink near Harrowby

Grantham's town centre, a short drive or bus ride from Harrowby, has a range of pubs, cafes and restaurants including the restaurant at the Angel and Royal, while Belton House's National Trust restaurant and tea room offer a reliable stop after exploring the estate. As with much of the surrounding area, options directly in Harrowby itself are limited, with most food and drink found in Grantham proper.