Whether it’s sand castles, games or paddling there’s always something to do on Lincolnshire beaches.
Lincolnshire's coastline offers families endless cost-free entertainment throughout the year. Children delight in constructing elaborate sand fortresses at Skegness, complete with moats that fill with the incoming tide. At Sutton-on-Sea, the shallow waters create perfect paddling conditions for tiny explorers, while Mablethorpe's wide golden stretches provide ideal terrain for cricket matches and kite flying. Pack buckets and spades for fossil hunting along Anderby Creek, where youngsters might discover ammonites or belemnites among the pebbles. During quieter seasons, families collect shells for art projects, challenge each other to sand-drawing competitions, or simply enjoy picnics while watching container ships on the horizon. The beaches near Louth provide particularly good rockpooling opportunities at low tide, with crabs, tiny fish, and sea anemones waiting to be discovered in natural aquariums formed among the stones.
Lincolnshire's grand estates open their parklands to visitors without charging a penny for outdoor exploration. At Burghley House near Stamford, families roam freely through ancient oak woodlands and along lakeside paths where children spot ornamental bridges and hidden sculptures. Gunby Hall's grounds near Spilsby invite picnickers to spread blankets beneath century-old cedar trees, with marked routes suitable for even the smallest walkers. For cyclists, Grimsthorpe Castle offers traffic-free trails winding through deer-populated parkland—bring binoculars to spot red kites circling overhead. The grounds of Lincoln Castle remain particularly generous, opening their gates daily without charge so local families and visitors alike can walk the medieval walls, picnic on the grassy slopes where seasonal wildflowers bloom, and let children race around the open spaces within sight of the magnificent cathedral. Pack sketchbooks for young artists to capture the historic surroundings or simply enjoy these breathing spaces tucked within Lincolnshire's busy towns.
Spark a lifelong passion for wildlife at Lincolnshire's remarkable bird sanctuaries without spending a penny. Children become natural collectors when armed with a homemade spotting journal and borrowed binoculars—their excitement visible when ticking off first sightings of kingfishers along the River Witham or marsh harriers above Frampton Marsh. Gibraltar Point Nature Reserve near Skegness offers free entry and child-height viewing windows where little ones might spy migratory waders probing mudflats. Introduce young ornithologists to dawn chorus walks in springtime, when Snipe Dales Country Park erupts with birdsong from chiffchaffs newly returned from Africa. Even garden birds become subjects of fascination when children learn to identify different calls. See our Nature Notes for Children.
The gentle, traffic-free paths crisscrossing Lincolnshire offer perfect cycling adventures for families seeking cost-free days out. The Water Rail Way between Lincoln and Boston follows the River Witham, where children count distinctive metal sculptures inspired by Tennyson's poetry. The Spa Trail that starts from Horncastle features wooden artworks that emerge unexpectedly from surrounding greenery—from carved owls to abstract forms that change with the seasons. These artistic installations transform ordinary bike rides into treasure hunts, giving even reluctant young cyclists a series of destinations to discover along the route. Pack a picnic to enjoy beside the giant Lincoln Pike sculpture or challenge children to sketch their favorite artworks in a trail journal. These former railway lines provide flat, accessible cycling ideal for beginners, with regular benches for rest stops and nature spotting along the way.
Museum of Lincolnshire Life has always been popular with children. It houses the interactive Victorian schoolroom where children sit at wooden desks while costumed interpreters demonstrate strict 19th-century teaching methods—complete with inkwells and slate boards they can actually use. Young engineers marvel at the working steam engines and agricultural machinery that once powered the county's farms, with weekend demonstrations bringing these metal giants thunderously to life. Just a short walk away, the Lincoln Museum combines archaeology and art under one roof, where youngsters hunt for Roman artifacts and Saxon treasures through well-designed activity trails. Their regular "Mini Explorers" sessions invite pre-schoolers to handle real historical objects while developing storytelling skills. Also, the Usher Gallery encourages artistic expression through free sketchbooks and pencils, allowing children to create their own masterpieces inspired by the paintings and sculptures on display.
In Louth, the Louth Museum charges no entry fee for its captivating displays of local history, including the Louth Panorama—a 19th-century painting showing the town's rooftops in remarkable detail that children enjoy exploring like a Georgian "Where's Wally."
Grantham Museum welcomes families free of charge to discover Isaac Newton's local connections, with interactive science displays demonstrating his principles of gravity and light.
In Gainsborough, the Old Hall occasionally offers free entry days where children can explore one of England's best-preserved medieval manor houses, climbing the narrow stone staircases and peering through arrow slits. Boston's Guildhall Museum invites young history detectives to discover the cells where the Pilgrim Fathers were imprisoned, complete with period costumes to try on.
