Grantham is famous for being the birthplace of Sir Isaac Newton and Margaret Thatcher, but there is much more to this pretty Lincolnshire market town. Here you can stay in one of the world’s oldest hotels, see the church dubbed as having “the finest steeple in England”, or take a short trip to some of the county’s most magnificent stately homes. How does that sound for a great little day trip? We compile all of the town’s highlights in this guide to the best things to do in Grantham.
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Is Grantham worth a visit?
Grantham is a great place for a day out if you like exploring English history, eating great local food and soaking up the charm of independent shops and markets.
It probably isn’t at the top of your list for a weekend trip, but Grantham is one of Lincolnshire’s genuine undiscovered gems.
The location is perfect for a flying visit, with the town sitting just off the A1 near the border between Lincolnshire and Leicestershire.
Things to do in Grantham: sightseeing and activities
1. Explore Isaac Newton’s legacy
Sir Isaac Newton, one of the most important scientists and astronomers ever to have lived, was born and raised at Woolthorpe Manor in a sleepy village just outside Grantham.
We all know how the story goes. In the summer of 1666, while sitting in his garden, Newton saw an apple fall from a tree, a moment that inspired his work on developing the laws of gravity that would change the world forever.
That same apple tree still stands today in the grounds of Woolsthorpe Manor, and is one of the world’s oldest surviving apple trees. It even still produces apples!
Today, Woolsthorpe Manor is owned and maintained by the National Trust, and you can visit to learn all about Newton’s life and legacy. Open from Thursdays to Mondays, the manor is about a 15-minute drive from Grantham.
As well as seeing the famous apple tree, you can enter the historic house where Newton did his pioneering work, and explore the Science Centre to learn about more his achievements such as the invention of calculus or his theories on motion, optics and light.
Back in Grantham, Newton is recognised with 10-foot-high statue that stands majestically in front of the Guildhall Arts Centre and its clock tower.
2. Learn the town’s history at Grantham Museum
Another place where you can learn about Sir Isaac Newton’s legacy is at Grantham Museum, right next to the Guildhall near the town centre.
The museum is run by volunteers and tells a complete history of Grantham and the roots of the town’s culture, with a focus on the town’s most legendary characters.
In addition to Newton, there are dedicated sections to two groundbreaking women with strong connections to the town: Margaret Thatcher, the UK’s first woman prime minister, who was born and raised here; and Edith Smith, the UK’s first female police officer, who lived and worked here. Outside the museum you can also see a statue of Thatcher, a few paces away from the Newton statue.
Grantham Museum is open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 4pm.
3. Get creative at the Guildhall Arts Centre
The Guildhall Arts Centre is one of Grantham’s most striking buildings, topped by a magnificent white Victorian clock tower. Formerly the town hall and a jail, the building is now a multi-purpose community venue that is all about culture and the arts.
The building’s primary function is as a theatre, hosting various touring and professional shows. You can also participate in creative workshops at the centre to learn anything from dance steps to Lego model-making.
Take a look at the Guildhall Arts Centre website to see what’s coming up and book tickets.
4. Stay in one of the world’s oldest hotels
Few buildings have seen as much history as the Angel and Royal Hotel in Grantham. First built in 1203, the hotel has been at the centre of the town’s life for more than 800 years and has hosted many royal guests over that time.
Seven kings and various other royals have stayed at the hotel over the years, including King John, Richard III and Charles I. During the English Civil War, Oliver Cromwell quartered his troops at the inn.
The hotel remains open today, and you can book a night’s stay. Many of the hotel’s periodic features have been maintained through its restoration, so you will be sleeping among the town’s history! There is also a very good hotel restaurant to try.
For more great accommodation options around the town, check out our guide to the best places to stay in Grantham.
5. Go shopping at Grantham Market
Street markets are the life and soul of so many Lincolnshire towns. In Grantham, the town centre market has been the hub of community life for over a thousand years.
Grantham’s market is held every Saturday from 8:30am until mid-afternoon. It’s quite a small market these days, with around 30 traders setting up stalls around the Market Place square and along Westgate.
Fresh food produce is always the crux of Lincolnshire markets, and you can buy all sorts of yield from the farms and the sea here. But there’s also a lot more to be discovered, from vinyls to books and from boutique clothing to artisan craftwork and jewellery.
On every second Saturday of the month there is also an additional farmers’ market on Butchers Row, where we often see some of our favourite stall-holders from the Lincolnshire Show.
6. See St Wulfram’s Church
By far the largest and most impressive building in Grantham is St Wulfram’s Church, also known as the “Glory of Grantham”. With roots dating back over a thousand years, the church has stood in its current form since the 15th century, and it features one of the tallest spires in the UK.
Sir Simon Jenkins, former editor of The Times and the Evening Standard and former chair of the National Trust, described the church as having “the finest steeple in England”.
Standing 84 metres high, you can’t miss the spire. The church welcomes visitors, and you can take tours to see some of its unique features, such as the UK’s first public library. When you’re done, you can stop for a drink in the church’s coffee shop.
Events are also held at the church throughout the year, including CAMRA’s annual “Land of Hops and Glory” beer festival in September.
7. Shop for art, gifts and toys at Westgate Gallery
If you are an artistic soul, or if you are visiting Grantham with kids, then you must stop by at Westgate Gallery. This little shop and gallery is like a wonderland of creativity.
The upstairs of the shop features an art gallery where you can browse works by local artists. There is also a great selection of professional art equipment and supplies.
In the main shop downstairs you will find an absolute gold mine of toys, gift cards, puzzles and books. It’s a fabulous place to come if you’re looking for some inspiration or seeking a unique gift for someone.
8. Explore more charming independent shops
Grantham has among the highest concentration of independent shops anywhere in Lincolnshire. While chain establishments grow in their dominance in so many towns around the UK, small businesses are continuing to thrive here.
The Boutique is one such example. Local entrepreneur Debbie Rogers has been running this award-winning family-run boutique shop for well over a decade, selling women’s clothing and accessories for affordable prices.
Right next door is Holroyd’s, another of the town’s long-running independent stores, opened in 2010. This is a proper old-fashioned sweet shop that will take you right back to your childhood!
Around the town centre you will find many more quirky stores, whether you are looking for antiques, books, gifts, jewellery or clothing.
Things to do in Grantham: food and drink
9. Try the “King of Clubs” sandwich at Kings Walk Cafe
Kings Walk Cafe is a fabulous little independent eatery along a little alleyway in the middle of Grantham. I stopped here for lunch one sunny Saturday and I was probably quite lucky to get a seat at the busiest time of day. There is seating over two floors as well as a nice little outdoor courtyard.
The café has a varied menu of homemade food with very reasonable prices, and uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients. I couldn’t resist the “King of Clubs”, a triple-decker toasted club sandwich with chicken, crispy bacon, fried egg, cheese and trimmings. A great choice if you’ve got a hole to fill! I also ordered an extra side of sweet potato fries, which went with it perfectly.
If you are around earlier in the day, the café opens from 8:30am and serves a delicious homemade breakfast.
10. Drink a pint in one of Grantham’s last Tudor buildings
There was a time when several pubs in Grantham had the word “blue” in the title. This was because of a 17th-century political rivalry between two aristocratic families, Manners and Brownlow, who vied for the local parliamentary seat. The Manners family was affiliated to the Whig Party, and various pub owners in the locale declared their support by adding the party colour (blue) to their names.
The Blue Pig is the last standing among the blue pubs of Grantham, and if you have a pint here today it is no longer a sign of your political affiliation.
The pub building actually goes back many years before the Brownlow–Manners rivalry. It is set in one of the town’s last remaining wooden-framed Tudor buildings. Stepping inside, the ceilings are low, creating a cosy atmosphere, while the upper floor overhangs the lower in the typical style of the period.
While the Blue Pig is very much a local pub, it’s also a friendly one. And it’s very cheap! Drop in here for a pint and soak up the atmosphere for a while. The pub is also a good spot for watching live sport.
11. Have afternoon tea at Petticoats Vintage Tea Room
Pretty much every Lincolnshire town has at least one traditional English tea room. Petticoats Vintage Tea Room is an absolute beauty in Grantham, situated in the centre of town on Westgate.
The tea room has a nostalgic 1940s feel, with the interior walls hung with old poster art and newspaper clippings dating to pre-war days. A large vintage cabinet is laden with elegant china teapots, cups and saucers.
You can choose from a variety of freshly made cakes, sandwiches and other goodies, or go all-out and have the house afternoon tea, which is delicious and comes with generous servings.
12. Dine Al Fresco at Oblio’s Deli and Bistro
Another lovely spot for lunch on Westgate is Oblio’s Deli and Bistro. When the weather is nice it’s great to sit outside here in the sunshine, especially on Saturdays, when you can soak up the atmosphere of the market over lunch or a cuppa. There is also a seating area outside the back under a veranda.
Oblio’s is open seven days per week and serves great, simple food, hot or cold. The half soup half sandwich option makes the perfect light lunch. If you are around earlier in the day, the American pancakes are great for breakfast.
13. Stop for a proper coffee at Kitchen and Coffee
Looking for the best coffee in Grantham? Look no further than Kitchen & Coffee, a local family-run café. The team runs two sites, with the other being over in Melton.
The house coffee is made with a “Signature Espresso” blend of beans from Brazil and Colombia. Coffees come served in large, colourful mugs, and you can sit up with one by the window and watch the world go by, or in the outdoor seating area looking onto Westgate.
There is a very good hot food menu here as well, especially the breakfasts, and they cook a great roast if you’re looking for somewhere to eat on Sunday.
Places to visit near Grantham
14. Wander the magnificent grounds of Belton Estate
Grantham is set within the vicinity of some of Lincolnshire’s finest stately homes and country house hotels.
Belton House and Estate is a real standout, less than a ten-minute drive outside the town. This is a 17th-century Grade I listed country house set among beautifully maintained 1,300-acre gardens and parklands, where wild deer roam.
Belton Estate is run by the National Trust. There is a lot to see and do when you visit, including the opportunity to explore the house and its famous collections. There are activities for children as well, such as an adventure play area.
15. Discover a thousand years of history at Belvoir Castle
Just across the county border in Leicestershire, Belvoir Castle is an impressive stately home dating back to the 11th century, looming large over the picturesque Vale of Belvoir. I have many memories of coming on trips to the castle when I was growing up, and being spellbound by stories of how it was supposedly haunted!
Belvoir Castle has been the official family residence of the Duke of Rutland throughout its near-thousand-year history, but the building has changed form and appearance over the centuries.
Like Lincoln Castle, Belvoir Castle was built in the years following the Norman Conquest in 1066 by order of William the Conqueror. Belvoir Castle has been rebuilt and restored several times as it progressed from protective fort to Tudor manor to country house. The version you see today is a faux castle built in the early 1800s.
You can take tours of the grounds, and there are often events and activities held on the estate. Check the Belvoir Castle website for how to visit.
You can reach Belvoir Castle in about a 20-minute drive from Grantham or in less than an hour from Lincoln.
How to get to Grantham
Grantham is about 30 miles from Lincoln, and very easy to reach by car or public transport.
If you’re driving, there are two main routes. You can either take the A46 to Newark and then hop on the A1 down to Grantham (this is usually quickest outside of busy traffic times), or take the A15 and A607 (Sleaford Road).
The quickest way to get from Lincoln to Grantham is by train. The direct LNER service takes about 40 minutes. There is also a direct bus, the Stagecoach 1 InterConnect, which takes about an hour and 20 minutes.
Map of things to do in Grantham
You can click the map below to see the locations of the things to do in Grantham featured in this guide:
Have you visited Grantham before? We’d love to hear your own thoughts on the best things to do in Grantham in the comments below.
For our top recommendations on how to spend your time in Lincoln, see our guide to 50 things to do in Lincoln.
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