Tattershall

Hotels in Tattershall itself are limited, with much of the village's visitor accommodation concentrated at Tattershall Lakes Country Park, where lodges and rental caravans overlook the lakes and offer a self-catering alternative to a traditional hotel stay. For those who prefer a proper hotel or inn, the Edwardian spa town of Woodhall Spa a few miles north has a good choice of hotels and guest houses set among its pine woods and gardens, while Horncastle, Coningsby and the market town of Boston all offer further hotel and B&B options within a short drive. Staying just outside Tattershall also puts you within easy reach of the Lincolnshire Wolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to the north, as well as the historic city of Lincoln with its cathedral and castle. Wherever you base yourself, Tattershall Castle and the surrounding lakes make an easy day trip, so it's worth weighing up whether you want to be in the thick of the water sports and family activity at the lakes, or somewhere quieter with a bit more choice of places to eat and drink in the evening. Booking ahead is sensible in summer, particularly around RAF Coningsby air displays and open days, when demand for rooms in the wider area picks up noticeably.

From medieval brickwork to modern-day water sports, Tattershall packs a lot into a small area.

• Tattershall Castle — A soaring 15th-century red-brick keep built for Ralph Cromwell, Lord Treasurer of England, and now cared for by the National Trust. Climb through six storeys of medieval brickwork, look out for the ornate stone chimneypieces and heraldic glass, and take in the 360-degree views across the fens from the roof.
• Tattershall Lakes Country Park — Over 350 acres of former gravel pits turned into a chain of lakes offering jet skiing, water skiing, wakeboarding, fishing and a sandy beach, alongside an 18-hole golf course and family entertainment.
• Holy Trinity Church — Lincolnshire's grandest Perpendicular-style church, built as a collegiate foundation from around 1465 under Ralph Cromwell's will. Look for its medieval stained glass, brasses and rare surviving rood loft.
• Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Visitor Centre, RAF Coningsby — A few minutes away, this working RAF station is home to the Lancaster, Spitfires and Hurricanes of the Memorial Flight. Guided tours take you into the hangar for a close look at these historic aircraft, and low flypasts are a regular sight over Tattershall in summer.
• River Witham and the Bain — Quiet stretches of river and drain popular for gentle walks, coarse fishing and birdwatching, with the flat fenland paths ideal for cycling too.
• Tattershall Market Place — The old heart of the village, overlooked by the church and castle, with a scatter of independent pubs and shops giving a feel for the village before the lakes and holiday parks arrived.
• Coningsby and Woodhall Spa — Neighbouring Coningsby has its own church and riverside charm, while Edwardian Woodhall Spa, a short drive north, offers golf, gardens and the Kinema in the Woods.

The Fortescue Arms on Market Place is the village's traditional pub, an old-fashioned local with real ales and pub food. The Tattershall Park Pub & Kitchen, close to the castle, offers a more contemporary dining menu in a converted setting with quirky themed rooms. For something different, the Millennium Dragon on Market Place serves Chinese food to eat in or take away. Tattershall Lakes Country Park also has its own on-site bars and eateries for those staying at the park, while Woodhall Spa and Boston offer a wider spread of cafes, restaurants and takeaways a short drive away.

Camping is one of the main reasons people come to Tattershall, thanks to Tattershall Lakes Country Park, a large holiday and touring site spread across more than 350 acres of former gravel workings turned into lakes, woodland and open grassland. The park offers touring and camping pitches, including tent pitches on a small peninsula surrounded by water, alongside static caravans and lodges to rent. On-site facilities run to jet skiing and water skiing lakes, coarse fishing, an 18-hole golf course, a sandy beach and a bar with views across the water, making it as much an activity centre as a place to pitch a tent.

As with the rest of England, wild camping without the landowner's permission is not legal here, so this fenland corner of Lincolnshire is very much a book-ahead-and-use-a-proper-site region rather than one for informal pitching. The gently reclaimed fen and heath landscape around Tattershall is flat and low-lying, criss-crossed by drains, rivers and old quarry lakes, which makes for easy, level cycling and walking but also means conditions can turn wet underfoot outside the summer months. Late spring through to early autumn is the best window for camping here, when the lakes are at their busiest for water sports and the long fenland evenings make the most of a pitch with a view.

For those who'd rather skip the tent poles, glamping options in the wider area include safari tents, pods and static caravans, several of them within or close to Tattershall Lakes Country Park itself, giving access to the same lakeside activities without needing your own kit. Nearby Woodhall Spa and the Lincolnshire Wolds also have smaller, quieter campsites for those who prefer a simpler rural pitch away from the water sports crowd, making Tattershall a good base whether you want an activity-packed lakeside stay or a calmer fenland escape.