Tattershall

Tattershall is a small Lincolnshire village strung along the River Bain and the old Horncastle to Boston road, its skyline dominated by the vast brick tower of Tattershall Castle rising above the flat fen and heath countryside of the Lindsey Marsh. This is a part of England shaped by water and reclamation, where the River Witham and the Bain thread through fields, fens and man-made lakes carved from old gravel workings, and where the horizon runs long and uninterrupted in every direction.

The village itself is modest, a scatter of houses, a market place and a grand collegiate church, but it punches well above its weight for visitors thanks to two very different draws: a genuinely remarkable medieval castle in the care of the National Trust, and one of the largest holiday and touring parks in the East Midlands built around a network of former quarry lakes. Add in the roar of fast jets from nearby RAF Coningsby and the pull of the Lincolnshire Wolds and Boston close by, and Tattershall makes a surprisingly varied base for a short break.

Top things to do in Tattershall

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.

Getting to Tattershall

Tattershall sits just off the A153, roughly midway between Sleaford and Horncastle, and close to where it meets the A155 and A1121. Boston is around 12 miles to the south-east and Lincoln about 20 miles to the north-west, both reachable in well under an hour by car. There is no railway station in the village itself; the nearest mainline stations are at Lincoln and Boston, from which onward travel is by bus or car, as public transport links directly into Tattershall are limited. Given the rural, fenland setting, a car is by far the easiest way to get around and to reach outlying attractions such as RAF Coningsby and Woodhall Spa.

Best time to visit Tattershall

Summer (June to August) is the busiest and liveliest time, with the lakes at Tattershall Lakes Country Park in full swing for water sports and the castle grounds at their greenest. Spring and early autumn are quieter and can still bring good weather for walking, cycling and exploring the castle without the peak-season crowds. Winter is much quieter, with shorter opening hours at some attractions, though the castle's brick tower and the bare fenland landscape have a stark beauty of their own, and it's a good time for birdwatching along the drains and rivers.

Where to stay in Tattershall

Accommodation in and around Tattershall is dominated by Tattershall Lakes Country Park, a large holiday park offering lodges, static caravans and touring and camping pitches set around its lakes, alongside on-site bars, a golf course and family activities. Beyond the park, options are limited within the village itself, with a broader choice of pubs with rooms, guest houses and hotels in nearby Woodhall Spa, Coningsby, Horncastle and Boston, all within easy driving distance.

Food and drink in Tattershall

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.