Itinerary
Time to discover the unexpected
Arts, culture, coastline - a colourful destination full of life
Lincolnshire has a habit of surprising people, in the very best way. In North East Lincolnshire, expect everything from wide stretches of sand and soft scoop ice cream to dockside heritage, film-set moments, and a creative scene that breathes life into the area.
A classic seaside escape awaits every visitor. Easy, familiar, and instantly good for the soul.
Look a little closer, and you’ll find a cool, quirky coastal destination with a vibrant arts and culture scene, thriving independent businesses, and little details that will turn a simple day trip into a story you’ll want to tell.
It’s time to explore North East Lincolnshire - a traditional destination, with plenty of plot twists.
Find your happy place
At a glance
Time needed: A few hours to a full day
Best for: Day-trippers, couples, friends, solo travellers, and families of all ages
Getting around: Car, on foot, and easy hop-on public transport (depending on your route)
Route type: Seaside strolls, town exploring, and optional ‘go further’ bolt-ons
Best time to go: Spring onwards (but brilliant year-round for culture and food)
Follow your curiosity
You choose the pace - we’ll bring the plot twists
Seaside joy, dockside stories, and an infectious creative spark
Choose-your-own adventure in North East Lincolnshire. Opt for the classic coastal experience - think beach air, promenade wandering, arcades, fish and chips in Cleethorpes.
If the skies are blue and the sun is shining, lean into a seaside stroll and lunch with an unbeatable sea-view. Or, why not go for something more unexpected? Explore the Grimsby Heritage Fishing Centre and the industry that put the town on the map, as well as the film-tourism moments that have pulled the area back into mainstream focus in recent years.
Not forgetting an impressive culture of indie businesses, arts programming, and mural trails that add bite and beauty, uniting the two flagship neighbouring towns of North East Lincolnshire.
Seaside starter
Begin with salty air and summer holiday energy
Dive into classic seaside joy
Start in Cleethorpes and lean into the rituals and traditions that make a day out at the seaside feel instantly familiar. From the town’s wide beaches and big skies, to that first deep breath of salty air and sandcastles.
Stroll the promenade, a long stretch of unspoilt beach, ideal for family activities and beach sports. Located to the right of Cleethorpes Pier, the Central Promenade area has a traditional, yet vibrant feel and makes accessing the amusement arcades, and other activities such as bowling and crazy golf easy.
It wouldn’t be a trip to the seaside without an ice cream. From Scoops at the north end of the beach down to The Brew Stop and Cleethorpe Coast Light Railway, and countless stops in between, you’ll have no trouble finding a foodie hotspot to quell your cravings for your favourite seaside treats. Check out North East Lincolnshire’s dedicated food map to help narrow plan your pitstops.
And if tired legs pose a problem during the summer season, board the popular Lollipop Land Train for a fun ride along the seafront, and a lollipop!
Best for: A low-faff, high-reward reset that gets everyone smiling early
Don’t miss: Cleethorpes Seasiders, Lolly and Splash! Running every year, throughout the Summer, these hop-on, hop-off buses work hard to help make sure accessing the seafront is as easy as possible - on weekends during school time and 7 days a week during the holidays.
Event highlight: One of the borough’s largest annual events arrives in June - Armed Forces Day. Taking place over June 27 and 28 in 2026, this event is always a highlight in the area’s event calendar. For more than twelve years, Armed Forces Weekend - delivered entirely by volunteers - has brought an entire weekend of celebration, commemoration, and community spirit to the seafront.
Time to be surprised
Dockside heritage and modern culture, side by side
Fishing heritage, film-tourism moments, and an undeniably creative pulse
Grimsby’s story is bigger than many people expect. Its fishing heritage is powerful and remains relevant today; it’s the kind of history you can still feel in the air. But so is the present-day energy that has continued to build around its legacy. Independent ideas, bold visuals, and an arts and culture offering combine in this ever-evolving town. There’s a reason why Grimsby is bidding to become the UK Town of Culture 2028!
Take a couple of hours to explore the town’s heritage and culture, and if you’re into film tourism, keep your eyes open for those ‘wait… wasn’t Bodies filmed here?’ moments that add an extra layer of fun to the day.
Best for: Heritage, rainy-day flexibility, and proper ‘I can’t wait to tell people about this later’ discoveries
Don’t miss: A dockside story moment - the kind that makes you see the coastline differently. Head to the Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre, a multi-award-winning attraction which will transport you back in time to the 1950’s heyday of this famous port. Here, carefully crafted sets and original preserved trawler interiors capture the atmosphere and essence of a remarkable way of life in one of the most dangerous occupations in living memory.
Event highlight: If you’re a culture vulture, head to Grimsby this year as Our Future Starts Here takes over the region as it kicks off year one of a five-year arts programme, by bringing Luke Jerram’s ‘Helios’ to Grimsby Minster. Part of the ‘See the Light’ spring event programme, the installation shines a light on creativity, sustainability and opportunity in the region. Additional events for the remainder of 2026 are due to be announced soon.
time to find your happy place
Follow colour and the places locals love
Cool, fun, quirky — there's something around every corner
If you want to feel like a real local, make time to immerse yourself in Lincolnshire’s north east communities and let the small, independent places that give towns across this destination area their personality make your day.
Among cafes and foodie gems - including Riverhead Coffee (locations in Grimsby and Cleethorpes and Alfred Enderby Traditional Fish Smokers in Grimsby (home to the only Protected Geographical Status product in the county) - and boutiques, jewellery and galleries, nestle on Seaview Street in Cleethorpes.
Known as the oldest shopping street in the town, Seaview Street features a number of small independent shops and cafes, some of which first opened their doors in the early 1800’s.
The region’s creativity doesn’t just shine through in its flourishing indie business scene. The streets and buildings themselves have quite literally become a canvas, thanks to Paint to Town Proud.
An arts and heritage initiative, led by Creative Start Arts In Health CIC, Paint the Town Proud has, between 2021 and 2025, commissioned 19 murals that appear on buildings throughout Grimsby and Cleethorpes. Depicting creative and heritage scenes, local, national, and international artists have come together to carve a colourful path throughout Grimsby and Cleethorpes.
Best for: Friends, couples, and anyone who loves finding the new thing first
Don’t miss: Seagull spotting - and no, we don’t mean the kind that steal your chips! Walk the Seagull Trail, an urban art trail along Cleethorpes seafront developed by Dogma Art. Created to encourage positive wellness through exercise, it’s a great opportunity to stretch your legs and take in the town. Open all hours, it’s totally free to participate.
Time to dine
Make lunch mega
Comforting, fresh, and magnificently moreish
A day out here deserves a good mid-point meal. Keep it simple and satisfying, or make it a real memory-making moment: sea-views at lunch with proper fish and chips in hand, or a visit to somewhere that feels a little more like a treat!
From fish (and chips) to farming, artisan products to award-winning destinations, North East Lincolnshire has an international reputation for its food. It even has its own food map!
Looking for fine dining? No problem - for local Lincolnshire produce cooked to perfection, check out the Kingsway Hotel, Nasturtium and Figs Restaurant in Cleethorpes, and a little out of town, try the Stallingborough Grange Hotel. and The Pig & Whistle at Healing Manor
Craving traditional fish and chips? There is nothing better than tucking into a salt and vinegar-ed portion, sitting on a beach or on the Prom looking out to sea. Or you can eat in one of the many fish and chip restaurants, including on Cleethorpes Pier, home to Papa’s Fish & Chips, Ocean Fish Bar or the long-established Steels Cornerhouse Restaurant. Don’t forget the traditional fish and chips from The Pea Bung, one of the most famous destinations down Freeman Street that has been serving the people of Grimsby since 1883, and a top tipple at Docks Beers, one of the town’s more recent additions that arrived on King Edward St in 2018.
Best for: Stretching a half-day into a full day
Event highlight: If food is at the heart of your visit, you’d be wise to head to the area in July when The Great Grub Fest returns to Cleethorpes Prom, from Friday 24 to Sunday 26. Countless local businesses will be lined up, serving delicious food, drinks, art and goodies. Local musicians will be bringing the feel-good vibes, and the beer gardens will be open!
Don’t miss: A walk after lunch or before dinner, even a short one. Alongside traditional seaside fun, creative flair and fantastic food, North East Lincolnshire is renowned for its nature. Situated on the Humber Estuary, the area boasts a unique and diverse habitat. From the sandy beaches and natural sand dunes, to the salt marsh, mudflats and lagoons.
Time to get outside
Add a wild edge to your coastal adventure
Where the coast goes quiet, the experience gets bigger
If the weather’s playing nice, add an outdoors bolt-on to bring your day into balance: dunes, nature, open views across the ocean, and that slightly wild, coastline feeling that’ll leave you refreshed and rejuvenated.
The perfect counter to town culture, there are more than 50 parks and open spaces to enjoy, from Cleethorpes Country Park and People’s Park to Weelsby Woods and Homestead Park, to name a few. Whether you want to have a picnic, do a spot of fishing, or just wander round the woodland, there are plenty of options. And that’s not forgetting wildlife. Around the coastline, in the sand dunes and on the salt marshes, you can spot grey seals, skeins of brent and pink-footed geese, bitterns, bearded tits, and marsh harriers.
Best for: Families, walkers, and anyone who wants a moment to switch off
Don’t miss: The expansive view over the Humber Estuary towards Spurn Point that a stop at Ross Castle provides. While come high tide, the whale’s tail rock armour sea defence at the northern end of North Promenade is a good place to see resting/roosting herring/black-backed gulls and various shorebirds, particularly turnstone but also occasionally purple sandpiper.
Best for: Families, walkers, and anyone who wants a moment to switch off’
Don’t miss: A short loop that gives you a big-sky view without needing specialist gear
A big finish
Time to take the long way back
End the day with one last memorable moment
Before you head home, stick around until Golden Hour. A sundowner on the coast is absolutely a moment to make time for.