Located only a short walk from The Cley Hall Hotel is one of the finest examples of Elizabethan architecture in the country: the Grade I listed, Ayscoughee Hall & Gardens which draws visitors year-round from across the globe. Cinema and theatre highlights are provided by the South Holland Centre and children can let loose at the Baytree Garden Centre which features a huge indoor Fun Farm.

The tranquil River Welland, which runs parallel to the main town centre, provides a scenic backdrop for a riverside walk (don’t forget to feed the ducks!) and in the town centre you will find traditional markets every Tuesday and Saturday (with an organic farmers market every first Saturday of the month). The river also features a flotilla of Water Taxis which provide circular pleasure cruises and links to the lively retail park, Springfields where people can shop in a variety of fashionable outlet stores or stroll among the landscape gardens. The legendary Spalding Flower Parade is usually held within the first two weeks of May.

Stamford
Few can fail to be charmed by the beauty of Stamford’s charming streets and thoroughfares which are surrounded almost exclusively by Georgian architecture featuring local buff-coloured Stamford Stone. Just outside Stamford is Burghley House, a major attraction and not only when the horse trails take place (this year 3-6 September 2009).

Long Sutton & Sutton Bridge
Long Sutton is home to home to the wonderful Butterfly & Wildlife Park where they also have daily flying displays featuring exotic birds of prey. St Mary’s Church in Long Sutton also features the country’s oldest timber spire. Sutton Bridge is home to the UK’s oldest iron swing-bridge and it’s close proximity to The Wash coastline has cemented it’s appeal as an area of outstanding natural beauty and conservation.

Kings Lynn
Crossing the border into Norfolk, Kings Lynn offers another fine example of a historic Georgian town whose antiquated quayside area served as 1700’s New York in the 1980’s film Revolution starring Al Pacino.

Wisbech
A visit to this once thriving Fenland capital is not complete without a stroll along the Brinks riverbanks and through the house and grounds of the nearest National Trust property: Peckover House.