Activities in Grimsby

The job of a trawlerman is often rated as the most dangerous in the UK – and Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre brings to life the perils faced by these men in startling detail.

Celebrating Great Grimsby’s reputation as the world’s premier fishing port, this award-winning attraction gives visitors the chance to climb aboard the Ross Tiger, one of the oldest surviving diesel side-trawlers, to experience just how daunting conditions were.

The centre is located at Alexandra Dock, just a couple of miles from our Grimsby hotel. It gives you the opportunity to experience the sights, sounds – and yes, inevitably, the smells – of life for a typical 1950s trawlerman.

It will certainly change the way you think about your Friday teatime next time you treat yourself to chippy tea!

You’ve ticked off the fishing heritage centre – now the absolute must-see on a visit to Grimsby is the seaside. Lincolnshire might have some better-known resorts such as Skegness further down the coast, but a visit to Cleethorpes Beach is well worth the effort.

Only four miles from our Grimsby hotel and even closer – 15 minutes’ walk – if you’re staying at our Cleethorpes hotel, the beach offers over a mile of soft sand that’s perfect for young families keen of making sand castles. If the weather’s not so good or you’re out of season, there are still plenty of reasons to make a beeline for the beach. It’s ideal for a bracing walk, although dog owners should note that your pets are not allowed between Wonderland Groyne and Cleethorpes Leisure Centre from Good Friday to 30 September each year.

Cleethorpes first became a popular resort in the 19th century because of its golden sandy beaches. Today, the whole coastline remains a haven for wildlife. The North East Lincolnshire Coast has international recognition as a special site for migrating birds and rare plants.

The beach also has its own pier, which dates back to 1873 but at only 102m long is one of the shortest in the UK. It’s endured a chequered history in recent years and has been closed several times but was re-opened in 2017 after being bought by the Papa's Fish and Chips chain.

If you have young family in tow, make sure you give the Time Trap Museum a go. It’s not always easy to interest young children in local history, but this splendid attraction housed within the former police cells of Grimsby Town Hall is as likely as anything to spark their fascination.

The museum takes visitors on a time travel journey through Grimsby’s colourful past, tracing its rapid growth from the early 19th century to the peak of its prosperity in the 1950s when it held claim to the title of the largest fishing port in the world.

If nothing else, kids will love the museum’s dark, twisting corridors, intriguing nooks and crannies and winding stairs. Admission prices are very reasonable and the museum's themes include Law and Order, Disease and Death and The Violence of Politics. It's also possible to arrange a tour of the Town Hall, Council Chamber and Mayor’s Parlour.

Granted minster status as recently as 2010, Grimsby Minster is based at the ancient site of St James Church, which can trace its origins to 1114. The central tower dates back to 1365, and St James became the parish church of Grimsby in the late 16th century. If you’re planning a visit to this historic building, make sure you admire the inspiring stained glass windows.