Grantham is well known for the happy accident of an apple falling onto the head of one Sir Isaac Newton, inspiring his theory of gravity, and changing the course of history. A trip to Woolsthorpe Manor to see the tree is one of the top attractions in Grantham. What you may not know is that an even more historic moment occurred – again, entirely by accident – here in the pretty 12th-century town. In the year of 1740, a baker by the name of William Eggleston was making biscuits in his dimly lit kitchen one morning when he mistakenly mixed up his ingredients. Little did he know, this slip of the hand led to him creating the world’s first gingerbread, bringing unbridled joy to the people, and cementing his status as an absolute legend. Grantham Gingerbread isn’t your typical gingerbread; it’s more delicate, more buttery, and hollow with a honeycomb-like centre. It’s delicious and well worth hunting down during your stay at one of our Grantham hotels, in between ticking off the top activities, entertainment venues, restaurants, pubs, and attractions you’ll find here in our local guide.
Things to do in Grantham
Activities
There’s no shortage of great days out here in Grantham. For starters, there’s the birthplace of Sir Isaac Newton, where you can see arguably the most famous apple tree in the world. National Trust member or not, you’ll want to pay a visit to Belton House, the quintessential stately home. Or, you can take your pick from gardens, castles, or simply a spot of bowling.
Entertainment
If you’re looking for something to keep you occupied during the afternoon we have a couple of entertainment options for you to choose from. The Guildhall Arts Centre is the jack of all trades venue with a programme that caters for all tastes. While sports fans can make their way to the South Kesteven Sports Stadium to see Grantham Town play a home game.
Places to eat
Whether you want the reliability of one of Britain’s best chain steakhouses, or the uncharted territory of an independent Italian trattoria, we’ve gathered a wide range of eateries, including many of our favourite places for an evening’s meal in Grantham. Beyond that, your selection of cafés is quite marvellous, with plenty of opportunities to hunt down some Grantham gingerbread.
Nightlife
While Grantham may be lacking even the slightest hint of a club scene, we do have a solid selection of bars and pubs for you to sample during your stay. Whether you want beer, wine, cider or cocktails, we’ve picked out nearby nightlife options, as well as countryside pubs so you’re never far away from a little liquid refreshment. As a bonus, we’ve thrown some Sunday roasts in too.
Shopping
If you fancy a bit of shopping during your stay at our Grantham hotel then we have a couple of options to tell you about. In terms of shopping centres The George Centre has recently changed ownership, it’s set to become the place to go for designer fashion outlets and quality, independent shops and cafés. On the other end of the scale, the Isaac Newton Shopping Centre is great for budget options, including Wilko, Superdrug and CeX. You can also explore Grantham High Street, and the Market Place, however, no shopping trip is complete without a walk along Westgate. In recent years, increasing numbers of independent boutiques have popped up along this stretch of the town centre.
Getting Around
Grantham has always had strong transport links with the rest of the country. In the 12th-century, The Great North Road ran through the town. Today, Grantham sits next to the A1, which you can follow to London or Edinburgh. By water, the canals once linked Grantham with Nottingham. By rail, Grantham Railway Station is on the East Coast Main Line, again connecting London and Edinburgh, while offering direct trains to Peterborough, Doncaster, York, and Newcastle. You’ll find the train station south of the town centre on Station Road. If you’re travelling via bus, Grantham Bus Station is next to the Isaac Newton Shopping Centre. You can catch the bus locally. Grantham is also on the 447 coach route between London and Hull.
Grantham shopping
