Thorpe St Peter

Thorpe St Peter is a small village and civil parish in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, sitting around a mile north-west of the market town of Wainfleet All Saints and only a few miles inland from the North Sea coast at Skegness. It is properly rural: flat, fertile farmland stretches away on every side, drained by dykes and crossed by quiet lanes, with the low rise of the Lincolnshire Wolds visible to the west and the wide skies of the Lincolnshire coast to the east.

The village has been here a long time. Thorpe appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 with 33 households, two mills and a church, and its Grade I listed parish church of St Peter still stands at the heart of the settlement today, parts of it dating back to around 1200. A former railway halt, Thorpe Culvert station, opened here in 1873 and served the village until the line closed in the 1960s, a reminder of how the Lincolnshire coast once welcomed Victorian and Edwardian holidaymakers by train. Today Thorpe St Peter is a peaceful base for exploring both the coast and the Wolds, popular with visitors who want somewhere quiet to stay within easy reach of Skegness's beaches and amusements.

Top things to do near Thorpe St Peter

The village itself is tiny, but it sits within easy striking distance of some of Lincolnshire's best-known coastal and countryside attractions.

• Skegness seafront and beach — the classic Lincolnshire seaside resort, with a wide sandy beach, pier, amusements and the Jolly Fisherman, is around six miles east.
• Gunby Hall and Gardens — a National Trust-owned 17th-century red-brick house with walled gardens, parkland and woodland walks, a short drive north-west.
• Wainfleet All Saints — the neighbouring market town, home to the Batemans Brewery windmill and visitor centre, just over a mile away.
• Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve — a wild stretch of dunes, saltmarsh and mudflats south of Skegness, excellent for birdwatching and coastal walks.
• RAF Coningsby and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Visitor Centre — for a look at Lincolnshire's deep RAF heritage, roughly half an hour inland.
• Lincolnshire Wolds — the gentle hills and villages of this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty lie a short drive to the west, offering quiet walking and cycling routes.

Getting to Thorpe St Peter

Thorpe St Peter lies just off the A52 between Skegness and Boston, making it straightforward to reach by car from the Midlands or Yorkshire via the A16 and A52. The nearest railway station is at Skegness or Boston, both around 20-30 minutes away by road, with connecting bus services running along the A52 corridor. There is no railway station in the village itself since the old Thorpe Culvert halt closed decades ago.

Best time to visit Thorpe St Peter

Late spring through to early autumn is the most popular time to visit, when the Lincolnshire coast and the Wolds are at their best for walking, cycling and beach days in nearby Skegness. Summer brings the busiest roads and fullest campsites along the coast, so those wanting a quieter break may prefer May, June or September. Winter is very peaceful here, with birdlife at Gibraltar Point and the surrounding marshes a particular draw for those wrapped up warm.

Where to stay near Thorpe St Peter

Accommodation in Thorpe St Peter itself is limited, as befits such a small village, but the surrounding area around Wainfleet and Skegness has a good range of options, from campsites and static caravan parks to guesthouses and hotels aimed at the traditional Lincolnshire coast holiday trade. Self-catering cottages can also be found scattered through the surrounding villages.

Food and drink near Thorpe St Peter

Thorpe St Peter itself has no pub or restaurant of its own, but Wainfleet, a little over a mile away, has a handful of pubs and cafes, plus the Batemans Brewery visitor centre where the local XXXB ale is brewed. Skegness offers the full range of seaside chip shops, cafes and restaurants a short drive further east.