Grantham House — Attraction in South Kesteven

I had mixed views on this location at first, mainly because of the car parking hassle. Grantham House only has a very limited amount of disabled car parking spaces, which have to be pre-booked. All other car drivers have to find an external car park somewhere in the town. I failed to spot this fact on the Web site (partly my fault), so my first attempt here ended in frustration, & a quick decision to visit Belton House instead. My second visit to Grantham House was better planned, having gone straight to a car park 2 streets away. There isn't too much to see in the house, having turned the ground floor into the cafe, bookshop & seating area. The upper floor was out of bounds. However, the garden was exceptional. It initially looks like a fairly small garden, but extends through openings and around shrubbery where you'd least expect it. There is a lovely small orchard, which has many photogenic properties, as well as a couple of large open areas for children to run around, & picnicking. Several tables and chairs are dotted around, allowing teas, coffees & scones to be consumed inside and out. The car park we chose was just opposite Lidl, so we also grabbed some shopping before we headed home. This was a lovely day out, and reasonably cheap, given that we took our own picnic & the car park was only £2.50...

Perhaps I'm a bit spoiled by other National Trust properties, but I found the gardens here, in late September, to be lackluster. We saw many other spectacular gardens in nearby properties during the same visit. The house had no rooms open to "visit". There was a cafe and a small children's play area. The other two rooms had staff sitting behind desks, busily working. Nothing like any other house that we had toured. So, I can say that we left very disappointed. The "gardens" include a good sized walled garden, and the remainder is stretches of green lawn with shrubbery. The cafe was very busy. There was no entry fee, so one could come and enjoy the National Trust fare without having to pay to get into the place. That might be the one positive reason for visiting. But don't expect much of a house tour, or acres of ground to ramble about. The National Trust Guide book gives a false impression of glory that is definitely lacking. If you do choose to visit, parking is at a Pay & Display lot a couple of blocks away...

This National Trust site is free to visit and offers a charming combination of heritage and nature. The grounds include a small historic house with a café that provides both indoor and outdoor seating, beautifully maintained gardens—including a walled garden filled with apple trees and rose bushes—and plenty of benches for visitors to relax and take in the surroundings.

While there is no traditional children’s playground, the site makes a thoughtful effort to engage younger visitors. Outdoor activity tools such as binoculars, magnifying glasses, and a colouring station kept our 3-year-old happily entertained. We especially enjoyed exploring the garden together, spotting ladybirds and other small discoveries.

Highly recommended for a gentle and enriching outing. Please note, there is no on-site parking, but several pay-and-display car parks are available nearby in Grantham. The site is conveniently located opposite Wulfram’s Church, making it easy to combine...