WHEN I was growing up in Grantham, it wasn’t uncommon to hear the word ‘boring’ thrown around – and not just because I was a sullen teenager,
In fact, the south-west Lincolnshire town where I whiled away my childhood had been branded dull on a number of occasions.
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It was dubbed the ‘most boring town in Britain’ in a 1980 Radio One survey, when its most famous former resident, Margaret Thatcher, was prime minister.
It still makes me chuckle that when Grantham received its ‘Golden Yawn Award’ almost half a century ago, one local suggested ‘the only thing that ever came out of [it] was the A1’ – and it ‘s a sentiment of tediousness that ‘G-Town’ residents have long internalised.
That the town is still shorthand for ‘monotony’ is an unfortunate fact raised again by a new Daily Telegraph round-up that has made headlines in the past few weeks.
Grantham sits amongst Stevenage, Surbiton and Swindon in the list of ‘Britain’s most boring towns’.
However, now in my 30s, I can’t help but disagree that, from things to do to sites to see, my hometown isn’t so uninteresting after all.
If you’re into history, then Grantham has centuries of it – with sites arguably as impressive as nearby Stamford or Lincoln if you’re after a weekend getaway in the area.
There’s the blue plaque to spy on the side of a shop on the town’s North Parade where Thatcher was born in 1925 – which also happens to be a chiropractic clinic and natural therapy centre, called Living Health, if you fancy a massage too.
There’s likewise the Angel and Royal hotel – aged 821 years – which is believed to be one of the oldest hotels in the world, and has hosted no fewer than seven kings and queens.
Even if you don’t stay in one of its 31 bedrooms, you still pop in to the The Kings Room restaurant, as well as The Angel Bar – which serves cocktails and tapas.
Just outside town, in the village of Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth, is the National Trust property Woolsthorpe Manor – the former home of Sir Isaac Newton.
It was from a tree at the premises that he famously saw the apple drop, leading to the discovery of gravity in 1666.
Grantham has certainly had its brush with celebrity over the years, and usually as a filming location for iconic films and Netflix series.
Belton House, a grand National Trust property on the edge of town – and a must-see in its own right – was famously enlisted for the 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth.
More recently, the 17th-century mansion was used for the Bridgerton spin-off Queen Charlotte – in which it doubles up as the interior for Kew Palace and the exterior for Buckingham House.
Another fancy residence close by that is well worth a visit, Belvoir Castle was used to film The Da Vinci Code – with Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou and Ian McKellen spotted on set.
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As well as A-list royalty, plenty of real royalty have also passed through – including King Charles, who stayed over at Belton House during his training at RAF Cranwell in 1971.
Currently, the most famous local residents are arguably Rebekah Vardy and her husband, Leicester City player Jamie, who live in a 12-bedroom mansion just outside of town.
If you like a good catch-up over a cappuccino, things have come a long way since I was a kid when the best place for a caffeine hit in town was Costa.
Westgate Bakery is just off the Market Place, which hosts a market every Saturday selling all manner of lovely local produce, from honey to veg.
The 14th-century Grantham House, yet another National Trust property, is currently the talk of the town since opening a new cafe within its five acres of walled gardens in April.
Other local favourites for a cuppa include Kitchen and Coffee and the café at Belton Garden Centre.
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The aforementioned Belvoir Castle’s Retail Village is also great spot to spend an afternoon, and you can also pick up some nice bits from the farm shop too.
Fancy something stronger? The Blue Pig, a 16th-century watering hole, is perfect for a pint, while The Tap & Tonic is unrivalled for cocktails.
If you’re after a way to blow off some steam – and perhaps have little ones in tow – then Grantham actually has plenty of things to do.
The Grantham Meres Leisure Centre boasts a semi-Olympic-sized swimming pool, along with three leisure pools and its very own big windy slide.
Feeling competitive? Grantham Bowl has 12 lanes and an American-style diner for refreshments, while you can go go-karting at Ancaster Leisure which has one of the biggest tracks in the region.
In fact, for kids, you also can’t go wrong with a trip to Belton House’s adventure playground, which is the National Trust’s largest in the country.
For adults who fancy a bit of relaxation, then the country hotel Belton Woods is home to a popular spa and golf course.
When I was growing up the cinema had just two screens and was a bit tired – however the shiny new five-screen Savoy Cinema multiplex was built on the same site and opened in 2019.
One of my favourite free activities? A rural hike up to Belmont Tower – just a ten-minute drive outside town – from which you can see for miles on a clear day.
So with the historic hotels, famous castles and new attractions – Grantham is anything but boring.
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