Louth Attractions

Top 5 Things to do in Louth

1. Shopping - Eastgate

2. Visit St. James Church - Climb the Tower

3. Louth Museum - Perfectly formed

4. Hubbards Hills - Local Beauty Spot

5. Round Louth Walk - Illustrated leaflets available

Spotlight on Eastgate Shops

Featured in the Daily Telegraph, Eastgate in Louth is fast becoming recognised as one of Englands finest "real food" streets. No fewer than 5 butchers survive along its length attributed mainly by the quality of the meat they sell and the loyalty of local customers and an ever increasing number of tourists visiting "the capital of the Wolds".

The street is a fascinating window into days gone by with Victoriana shop fronts along its entire length and hundreds of Georgian terraces. Eastgate is bisected by the Greenwich meridian line separating the north and south hemispheres and boasts the site of the former printing works of one of Alfred Lord Tennysons first publications.  At the top of the street is the impressive landmark of St James church, its spire the tallest parish church spire in England with King Edward VI grammar school nearby (former scholars include Captain John Smith of Pocahontas fame and Tennyson). A number of fine examples of Georgian architecture exist especially Louth Mansion house and further down the Manor House.  

Visitors have been attracted to Louth in recent years by a number of articles in the national press. All Seasons Holidays, the self catering holiday of the year for the region opposite the Louth manor house was featured for its restoration work and the entire town came 4th as the best place to live in the UK in a recent Daily telegraph article.

Eastgate has a number of delightful shops for the visitor with "Dragonfly" selling gifts and some stunning and unusual mirrors and soft furnishings, an excellent clothes boutique for men and women at Forbes and a number of shoe and handbag shops specialising in designer goods.  

Louths museum is on Broadbank and has been several years in the making.

 Re-opeed in March 2006 the museum is a far cry from many stuffy Victorian town museums. 

Louths museum has had  considerable time and money spent refurbishing and extending and it is now a museum to be proud of.  

 The museum is small but will still entertain the visitor for an hour or so. The panoramic was painted in 1840 by William Brown who was a house painter and reporter and took the opportunity to paint the views from the scaffolding around the spire during some restoration work. 

Click on below for a closer look at Browns work

Also featured are a working printing press, artifacts from Roman and Medieval period and many items associated with the Georgian and Victorian period.

 Of particular interest is the wonderful architecture of this quirky Edwardian building including the internal balustrade and the fine display featuring the 1920s flood disaster.

Louth Museum, 4 Broadbank, Louth Lincs, Lincolnshire, LN11 0EQ

telephone 01507 601211

St. James Church

The parish church has the tallest spire (295 feet) of any medieval parish church in the country. It is featured in Sir Simon Jenkin's book, England's 1000 Best Churches.

Visitors are welcomed by a guide and can enjoy tea and cake in the cafe under the tower. St Stephen's chapel is set aside for reflection and prayer with aids to contemplation and prayer available there.

Of Particular Note is the tower which one can climb for £1 the view is fantastic and is a photographers dream. caution is needed though as the steps are steep and uneven and they go on and on and on .....

View from Tower along Eastgate.

Opening Times:-

Lincolnshire Wolds Railway

Situated near Ludborough just 5 miles north of Louth off the A16 to Grimsby. 

The Lincolnshire Wolds Railway is the only standard gauge steam railway in Lincolnshire open to the public. 

The location is part of the original Great Northern Railway, which opened in 1848. 

The line has now been extended towards North Thoresby and are continuing to lay more track as money allows.

Telephone 01507 363881

Situated at North Cockerington. A great family day out set in the 5 acre grounds of a Grade II listed farmhouse. 

Visitors will find an extensive collection of rare, ornamental and traditional breeds of domestic fowl. There are herb gardens, a children's play area and also many baby animals to hold. The wildlife pond is a haven for wild birds and many different species. Amongst the regular visitors to the pond are dragonflies, water vole and moor hens. 

As well as a picnic area, there are tearooms, and surplus stock and plants are available to buy.

 Open Easter to end October daily 10am-6pm/ November to Easter: weekends 10am-4pm 

Tel: 01507 327184

Louth Navigation Trust

The trust is based at the Navigation Warehouse along the canal adjacent to the Woolpack Public House.

The trust has an ambitious project to one day re-open the canal. The canal is an ideal spot for a leisurely walk from Louth to Alvingham, the Pub is an ideal finishing point and the walk is about 6 miles there and back

The Secretary,
Louth Navigation Trust,
Navigation Warehouse,
Riverhead Road,
Louth Lincs, LN11 0DA

email
Telephone:01507 600655

As the name suggests this ancient street stretches from upgate and leads on towards the East side of town. Eastgate is the back bone of the town and features many of Louths most famous shops and establishments. Along the way one can find one of Louths oldest public houses, Ye Olde Whyte Swan and the Townhall.

At 112 Eastgate is a blue plaque commemorating the first currys electrical store which started life as a cycle shop at 112 and a half Eastgate. 

All Seasons Holidays are situated along Eastgate opposite The Louth Manor House. 

The meridian line bisects the street nearby and further out towards the East past the war memorial was the former house of Correction which are now peaceful almshouses surrounded by doves. 

Nearby is the Priory Hotel Louth were the artist and architect, Thomas Espin is buried in his own mausoleum in the grounds. Further down is the Lincolnshire Poacher Hotel Louth.

There are a huge range of shops along this street in particular Forbes & Son ladies and menswear , Lakins and Jacksons the butchers and the cheese shop as well as a host of others. The street is well served with places to eat and drink including the Tai Pan Chinese Restaurant, Serendpity Restaurant, The Woodman pub and packhorse pub. 

Bargain of the day has to be the small fish and chips for under £2 to take away at Parkinson fish and chip shop on Eastgate, the haddock melts in your mouth - lovely and locally sourced from Grimsby too!.

Standing majestically for all to see near the town end of Westgate is St. James Church with its enormous spire. From the tower one can get a splendid view of all the houses.

View of Westgate from St. James tower..

Within its shadow is the Wheatsheaf Pub and the towns tennis courts. The pub is a favourite meeting place and is often busy.

 A stroll along Westgate will lead one to an alley called Westgate Place which is a delightful pedestrian back lane filled with little private back gardens with potted plants and Victorian lanterns along its whitewashed walls.

Westgate house is situated opposite as well as a number of other delightful Georgian properties.  

Continue along towards the west were one comes to Westgate fields. Here the path takes you to Hubbards Hills and into the Wolds.

In association with English Heritage. Recently opened to the public an outstanding Grade II property following restoration to a dwelling.

 Grade II* Georgian town house in brick and stone, with 1775 neo-classical additions and proto-Regency remodelling c1799 on the Westgate façade. Interior contains fine plasterwork, mahogany doors, Carrara fireplaces and other fine details. Used as a school 1937-1980s but now in course of restoration as a residence by the present owners, after dereliction.

Open: Easter Monday to end of September Wed and Sat only 11.30-4.30

telephone. Mr and Mrs Byrne 01507 354388

Cadwell Park is one of British motorsport's best-kept secrets, despite the fact it has hosted car, bike and kart races since its creation.

The land on which the circuit stands was originally purchased in 1926 by Mr. Mansfield Wilkinson, who bought the land for shooting upon. However, his son Charles persuaded his father to let him run a motorcycle meeting on the land in 1934, and this was the first circuit used at Cadwell Park. The corners of Charlies, Chris and Mansfield all celebrate the founders in the Wilkinson family, who once had Cadwell park offices at 140 Eastgate, Louth -  now All Seasons Holidays.

For 1952, the circuit was extended to one and a quarter miles with the addition of Mansfield Corner. Some of the motorcycle meetings also featured Formula 3 races. However, regular car meetings didn't take place until May 1962, after Charles Wilkinson purchased some adjoining land and extended the circuit length to 2.176 mile/ 3.49 km. Cadwell Park was then purchased by Grovewood Securities, before becoming part of the Brands Hatch Leisure group.

A combination of long fast curves and some very tricky tight bends, hills with a nasty hairpin. The track can be split into two main sections, the section from Coppice through to Chris Curve (Club Circuit) is fairly simple but the section from Gooseneck through to Barn requires a lot of concentration, a lot of accidents occur at this section.

As well as the VSCC's annual visit in June and the Radical Festival in August, Cadwell's highlight of the season will be the British Superbike meeting on the August Bank Holiday weekend. This is when the circuit's true character comes out. Car or bike, Cadwell sorts the men from the boys.

Cadwell Park Circuit
Louth Lincs,
Lincolnshire LN11 9SE
Tel: 01507 343248
Fax: 01507 343519

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