Market Rasen

Market Rasen's hotel and guesthouse options reflect its size: a handful of traditional pubs with rooms, small independent guesthouses and farm bed and breakfasts rather than large chain hotels, which suits visitors after a quiet, personal stay rather than a big resort feel. The Olive combines a family-run restaurant with motel-style accommodation and is a popular choice for its food as much as its rooms, while other options are scattered through the market town centre within easy walking distance of the railway station and racecourse. Race days can push up demand and prices at the closest accommodation, so booking ahead for major fixtures such as the track's bigger autumn and winter meetings is worthwhile. For visitors who want a wider choice of hotels, from budget to boutique, nearby Lincoln offers a much larger selection just a short drive or train journey away, with the historic Cathedral Quarter within easy reach for a day trip back into Market Rasen and the surrounding Wolds. Villages around the town, particularly towards the Lincolnshire Wolds to the east, also have self-catering cottages and farmhouse B&Bs that make a good base for walkers and cyclists wanting to explore the AONB at a slower pace. Whichever option you choose, Market Rasen's compact centre means you are rarely more than a short walk from the market place, shops and pubs.

Market Rasen is a small town, so its attractions are proportionate rather than headline-grabbing, but there is a genuinely good spread of racing, walking and family days out within a short drive.

• Market Rasen Racecourse — Lincolnshire's only racecourse has been hosting National Hunt racing since 1924, with more than 20 jump-racing fixtures a year plus Ladies Days, family fundays and the on-site nine-hole pay-and-play golf course.
• Willingham Woods — a large expanse of pine forest a couple of miles east of town, criss-crossed by way-marked walking and cycling trails and a popular spot for picnics and family bike rides.
• Market Rasen Market Place — the historic heart of the town, still hosting a traditional street market every Tuesday, ringed by Georgian and Victorian frontages, independent shops and cafes.
• Lincolnshire Wolds AONB — the town sits right on the edge of this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with chalk streams, steep little valleys and quiet lanes ideal for walking, horse riding and cycling.
• Woodside Wildlife Park — a family-run wildlife park a short drive from town with animals ranging from big cats to reptiles and birds of prey, popular with families staying in the area.
• Rand Farm Park — a working farm attraction near Wickenby offering tractor rides, animal encounters and indoor play barns, a reliable rainy-day option for younger children.
• St Thomas the Martyr Church — the town's parish church, with a striking tower that acts as a local landmark and a peaceful churchyard worth a short detour.

The Advocate Arms in the town centre is the standout choice for a proper sit-down meal, an award-winning restaurant built around Lincolnshire produce. The Olive, a family-run restaurant with motel-style rooms, has a strong local reputation for its steaks and warm welcome, while Jossals on the high street and The March Hare on the market place both serve reliable cafe food, homemade cakes and a good spot for a coffee between exploring the shops. For a traditional pub evening, The White Swan dates back to the 1800s and offers real ales with live music on Saturdays, The George has open log fires and a landscaped beer garden, and The Aston Arms on the market place is a proper Lincolnshire local. Anyone after fish and chips to take away should head for Oxford St Fish Bar on the edge of the town centre.

Market Rasen and its surrounding Wolds countryside offer a genuinely rural camping experience, with pine forest, chalk streamlets and rolling farmland on the doorstep. As with anywhere in England, wild camping without the landowner's permission is against the law, so stick to licensed sites, of which there are a useful spread around the town. The racecourse itself runs a Caravan Club affiliated site, a popular option for touring caravans and motorhomes wanting to combine a stay with race days, while further campsites and caravan parks are dotted through the villages towards the Wolds to the east and the Ancholme valley to the west. Willingham Woods, just outside town, is a favourite for visitors who enjoy forest walks and cycling straight from their pitch, with its network of waymarked trails through mature pine plantation.

Summer is the peak camping season here, when long evenings suit a walk into the Wolds or a stroll around Market Rasen's market place, and the countryside is at its greenest. Spring brings quieter sites and fresher air, ideal for those who prefer to avoid the busiest weekends, while autumn coincides with a run of jump-racing fixtures at the track that can be combined neatly with a caravan stay. Winter camping is a minority pursuit here as in most of Lincolnshire, though a handful of all-year sites cater for hardy visitors chasing racing fixtures or simply a peaceful off-season break.

For those who prefer a roof over their head without giving up the outdoor feel, glamping options in the wider Wolds area, think shepherd's huts, safari tents and static lodges, have grown in recent years and offer a comfortable alternative within easy reach of Market Rasen. Many combine farm settings with views towards the Wolds escarpment, and some include private hot tubs or wood-fired stoves, making them a popular choice for a weekend break outside the traditional camping season. Whichever way you choose to stay under canvas, always book with a licensed site and never pitch on private land without first asking permission.