Belton House and Belton Park
Belton Park is a beautiful place to visit for any age group. With the surrounding woodland, you may get a chance to see some deer grazing. Not only is this a nice place to walk, but there is also an outdoor adventure playground for your children and a café for a pit stop.
Within Belton Park sits Belton House, which was built in the 1680s by Sir John Brownlow. In the 1980s, Belton House was listed as a Grade 1 country house and then in 1984, due to financial difficulties, the house, with most of its contents, were donated to the National Trust.
The adventure playground was built in 1976, to attract families, however, due to a number of issues with root compaction, flooding and lack of toilet facilities, this underwent a revamp. To ensure the original features were not completely destroyed, they were incorporated with the new additions, providing children with the opportunity to connect with nature through fun and games.
Within the house you will be able to find collections of art, silver, and ceramics.
Did you know that some of the backdrop scenes from ‘Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story’ were provided by Belton House?
Easton Walled Gardens
The Cholmeley family took up residence at Easton Estate, in 1561. As a rural estate the whole community worked together on the growth of the estate. The Cholmeley’s are still at the heart of everything that happens and in recent years, with the community, have been dedicating their time to restore the Estate’s historic spaces.
The gardens were previously walled enclosures framing the manor house. But over the years the gardens have been modified with the times, from being Tudor and Jacobean tastes to Victorian designs that created borders, glasshouse and ornamental stonework.
In World War I the Estate Hall and grounds provided a natural sanctuary for injured soldiers to convalesce. Then in World War II, the Estate was used as a barracks. During this time the Estate sustained a large amount of damage, which led to the demolition of the Hall in 1951.
During the early 2000s restoration has brought Easton and its Walled Gardens back to life, offering beautiful walks through the grounds and the chance to get back in touch with nature. The Courtyard provides the opportunity to sit and have refreshments, as well as visiting their salon and shop. If just visiting for the day isn’t enough for you, you can book to stay in one of their garden holiday cottages giving you the freedom to roam through the grounds at your leisure.
Grantham Museum
Grantham Museum aims to educate and inform its visitors on the history of Grantham and its surrounding areas, by providing physical and digital exhibits and experiences.
In March 2011, Grantham Museum closed by Lincolnshire County Council, who said they were unable to afford its funding. This prompted a group of local volunteers to form the Grantham Community Heritage Association (GCHA) to save the museum. Thanks to them the museum was re-opened just in time for the Queens Jubilee and remains open to this day.
The museum displays the archaeological and social history of Grantham and shows displays from Anglo-Saxon times. Among the exhibits are the renowned local people, Sir Isaac Newton, and Baroness Margaret Thatcher.
There is no need to make a booking to visit as walk-ins are welcome and entry is free.
Wyndham Park
Wyndham Park was created in 1924, on the banks of the river Witham, as a World War I Memorial Park and was renamed in honour of Lt. Hon. William Reginald Wyndham, 1st Life Guards, who died in action in 1914. Wyndham Park was then officially opened in 1924 by Lady Leconfield, Wyndham’s mother, who had donated £1,000 to the Memorial fund.
Over time more and more facilities have been added to the park enabling activities for all ages and abilities to be enjoyed. Wyndham Park really is a great place to explore, relax or have a picnic.
Here’s a list of activities you can do when visiting:
- Riverside walk
- Visitor Centre
- Sensory Garden
- Bowling Green
- Playing Fields
- Toddlers Play Area
- Tennis Courts
- Model Boat Lake
- Tea Rooms
Fun Farm Grantham
If it’s a rainy day or you just want to entertain your children while having a cup of coffee, the Fun Farm is a great choice. With the variety of ball pools, tunnels, and roller squeezes your children will be able to explore their physical, social, and mental development. It’s a soft, safe place for them to practice climbing, balancing, and jumping, letting them burn off their energy and feeling like they’ve made achievements with the various obstacles.
Grantham Bowl
Grantham Bowl is an independent bowling centre which provides great fun for all the family and friends. The centre has 12 bowling lanes and can provide bumpers and/or ball rollers for the youngest members, if required. When you’ve finished your game, there is also an American Diner where you can enjoy hot or cold beverages and food.
Jump Revolution Trampoline Park
Jump Revolution Trampoline Park is a great way to burn off some extra energy, providing ‘Open’, ‘Toddler’ and ‘Family Toddler’ Jumps.
The Open Jump sessions enable the full use of the trampoline area, dodgeball court, air bag, battle beam, cardio wall and basketball court. Each session is for an hour and only suitable for children aged 4+ (children aged 4 and 5 must be accompanied by an adult).
The Toddler Jump sessions are perfect for you and your little one(s) providing the freedom to jump around at your own speed without older children around. It will provide your child with the skills and free play with others within their age group. This session is suitable for toddlers, who are walking, up to the age of 5.
The Family Toddler Jump sessions are for families who have at least one child under 4 years old, who cannot jump during normal open jumping times. Families of 2 or more can book a session.
Guildhall Arts Centre
The Guildhall Arts Centre is situated in what was once Grantham’s town hall, jail, and sessions hall. The original Guildhall and jail building (dating back to 1787) stood on the corner of Guildhall Street and the High Street. This was then moved to St Peter’s Hill in 1866 after a criminal, Jesse Dale, who was serving 15 years for stealing, had escaped from the original building twice.
Today the venue brings in professional touring shows, as well as hiring out the building. In addition to this, amateur groups from around the area hire the venue for their productions and, for the past 18 years, an annual Christmas Pantomime has been held to entertain audiences.
Alongside the shows, the Arts Centre is also used for workshops and community activities. There are workshops available for a range of ages and rooms are also used by businesses and individuals for meetings, conferences and parties.
Savoy Cinema
Grantham received a new multiplex cinema when Grantham Savoy opened its doors on Friday 19th July 2019.
With the latest in cinematic technology and comfortable spacious seating you can fully allow yourself to be immersed into the film you’re watching. Not only can you go to watch the latest films that are showing, you can also hire the venue for children’s parties, private screenings or game console parties.
Ancaster Leisure
Ancaster Leisure is one of Lincolnshire’s largest outdoor activity centres located just outside Ancaster, near Grantham. At the venue you can enjoy karting, quad biking, paintball, archery, airsoft and laser tag.
Their karting track can be used all year round, with floodlighting available for darker days / evenings. Its two tracks allow for many visitors to race at the same time. Although karting is available for 8-year-olds+ it’ll be a good idea to call ahead to ensure they have a suitable session.
The paintballing can be experienced by children from 10-year-old+, with a range of battles such as ‘capture the flag’ and ‘hold the fort’. All games are played on their purpose-built fields and woodland.
Airsoft is also played in their woodlands and is suitable for children aged 12 years+, while laser tag is suitable for those aged 7 years+.
