Grimsthorpe Castle Park & Gardens

If you’re going to drive out to one spot in Lincolnshire for a day out, make it this one. The grounds around the castle are genuinely gorgeous — rolling open fields, woodland trails, and a lake that makes for a proper backdrop while you eat your packed lunch at one of the picnic tables. Kids have room to actually run around, which counts for a lot. The staff are friendly and clearly take pride in the place, and with decent parking and loos on site, it’s easy to just show up and settle in for a few hours.