Old Leake

Old Leake sits in the flat, fertile Fenland of south-east Lincolnshire, around eight miles north-east of Boston on the A52 between Leverton and Wrangle. This is drained marsh country, reclaimed over centuries from the East Fen, and the landscape still shows it: long straight drains and dykes cut between fields of wheat, potatoes and brassicas, with the tower of the parish church visible for miles across the open ground. The village itself dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, when it was recorded as Leche, and its wealth in the medieval period came from the same rich arable land that surrounds it today.

The village grew substantially in the nineteenth century following the enclosure of over 1,500 acres of the East Fen, and by 1851 its population had swelled to more than 2,000 before declining again. Old Leake became its own civil parish in 1894, separate from neighbouring New Leake. What remains is a proper working Fenland village with a strong sense of community, a village hall, and two surviving pubs, the White Hart on Church Road and the Bricklayer's Arms on Wainfleet Road. Its real appeal for visitors, though, is as a peaceful, unhurried base from which to explore the Wash coastline, the market town of Boston, and the wider Fens.

Top things to do near Old Leake

Old Leake itself is a small village, so most days out involve a short drive into Boston or along the coast towards the Wash. Highlights nearby include:

• St Botolph's Church, Boston (the "Boston Stump") — one of the largest parish churches in England, its 272ft tower dominates the flat Fenland skyline and can be seen for miles around; climb it for views across the Wash on a clear day.
• Maud Foster Windmill, Boston — a working five-sailed windmill built in 1819, one of the tallest working windmills in the country, with a mill shop and tea room.
• Sibsey Trader Mill — a Grade I listed six-sailed windmill built in 1877, a short drive from Old Leake and one of the last of its kind still standing in the UK.
• RSPB Frampton Marsh — a wetland reserve on the edge of the Wash with reed beds, saltmarsh and hides, renowned for wading birds, wildfowl and, in season, huge flocks of migrating waders.
• Boston Guildhall Museum — a fifteenth-century guildhall in the town centre with cells once used to hold the Pilgrim Fathers, telling the story of Boston's long trading and maritime history.
• Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, East Kirkby — a former RAF Bomber Command airfield with a restored Lancaster bomber and wartime buildings, a poignant reminder of the county's wartime aviation past.

Getting to Old Leake

Old Leake lies on the A52, roughly nine miles from Boston and within easy reach of Skegness to the east. By car it is a straightforward drive along the A52 from Boston, with Wainfleet and Skegness a further twenty minutes beyond. The nearest mainline railway station is Boston, on the line to Skegness and onward connections to Grantham, Nottingham and further afield; from Boston station it is a short taxi or bus ride out to the village. There is no railway station in Old Leake itself today, though the village once had its own stop on the former Boston to Skegness line.

Best time to visit Old Leake

Spring and early summer bring the Fens to life, with fields of bright yellow oilseed rape and the first wading birds returning to Frampton Marsh. Late summer is harvest time across the surrounding farmland, while autumn and winter draw birdwatchers to the Wash coast for huge flocks of migrating geese, knot and other waders — a genuine spectacle at Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore. Because the area is so exposed and flat, be prepared for a stiff coastal breeze whatever the season.

Where to stay near Old Leake

Old Leake itself has limited formal accommodation, so most visitors base themselves in or around Boston, which offers a wider choice of pubs with rooms, guesthouses and small hotels within easy reach of the village and the coast. Boston's central location also makes it a convenient base for exploring both the Wash nature reserves and the Lincolnshire Wolds further north.

Food and drink near Old Leake

The village has two pubs, the White Hart on Church Road and the Bricklayer's Arms on Wainfleet Road, both serving as the social heart of the community. For a wider choice of cafes, restaurants and traditional pubs, Boston town centre is the nearest option, with its historic market place and riverside setting along the Haven.