7 Reasons to be Happy in Woodhall Spa
Exploring new places is exciting but there's something ever-so reassuring about visiting familiar favourites. As a Lincoln-based writer, I'm spoilt for choice when exploring local tourist gems.
As I post this blog, this week included not only the International Day of Happiness (20th March) but belonged to the 10-day English Tourism Week 2025 (14-23 March). So what better way to celebrate than spending a sunny day in Woodhall Spa, combining art history with tourism in this gem of Lincolnshire?
Come with me as I tour this charming former spa town before watching a movie at a cinema with a difference.
This former sports pavilion is still going strong after 100 years.
But First, Where is Woodhall Spa?
Located approximately 18 miles from the cathedral-castle heritage hotspot that is Lincoln, Lincolnshire, this verdant village has a different feel altogether. Surrounded by lush woodland and unexpected visitor attractions, it has a lush inland resort feel characterised by Edwardian architecture.
What is Woodhall Spa famous for?
Once a 19th-century spa town and popular holiday destination given the reputed healing powers of its spring mineral waters, ‘The Jewel of Lincolnshire’ has a fascinating history beyond taking the waters.
The Petwood Hotel, a stylish venue adorned in Tudor-style cladding, once housed the 617 squadron of Guy Gibson and his fellow Dambusters. These heroes played a pivotal role during World War II and Gibson led his squadron aged just 24 years old, on a perilous raid to destroy dams in the German Ruhr Valley in 1943.
Thankfully, Woodhall Spa has a much more peaceful vibe today.
Woodhall Spa in 2025
There are several must-see places to shape your Woodhall Spa itinerary. The weather when I visited echoed the day’s theme of happiness, creating a feeling of springtime optimism in the air. But there's plenty to do in different English weathers on your visit.
Here's a snapshot of seven touristy treasures waiting to be explored.
The Cottage Museum
As the local tourist information office, this community-run museum is an ideal starting place to stock up on informative leaflets about the area. But it's so much more.
Upon entry, you’ll be tempted to explore the exhibitions on Woodhall Spa's development. From the bathhouse where Victorians once flocked, to other local social histories, it's worth the reasonable price of admission to immerse yourself in the area's history.
Once the home of spa bath employee Mr Thomas Wield, you'll be greeted by a metal donkey as you walk down the garden path. This is a nod to this previous resident’s manufacture of donkey and hand-drawn bath chairs during the Spa's heyday. A keen photographer, Wield took many of the images displayed around the property.
A building of note
Notably, the museum’s official website promotes the structure alongside the exhibitions inside, saying “The cottage not only houses the Museum's collection but is itself the major exhibit”. Originally a ‘flat pack home’ consisting of corrugated iron and a timber frame, these types of buildings were chosen from a catalogue.
2. The Broadway
After leaving the museum, why not venture a few yards to the central street in Woodhall Spa? The Broadway has a collection of inviting fashion and home interior boutiques, cafes with outdoor seating perfect for people-watching.
It also has the country's smallest shoe shop. Fans of the TV series Susan Calman’s Big Day Out may remember her visit here.
My personal favourite was Clock Tower Crystals, where gemstone fans can peruse before purchasing geodes, jewellery and crystal tumble stones.
3. The 617 Squadron Memorial
Beside the main war memorial at the other end of The Broadway, you will discover a dedication to the 617 Squadron. A sleek black memorial, it honours the bravery of the Dambusters crew.
Stay awhile and read the inscriptions to pay your respects. This important monument honours the multinational band of brothers who flew to complete Operation ‘Chastise’ from RAF Scampton, just north of Lincoln.
You can find out more about the county’s links to the 617 squadron on the Visit Lincolnshire website.
4. Jubilee Park
When the sun is out, it makes sense to take refuge from its rays in an outdoor swimming pool. Great for cooling down, Jubilee Park is a wonderful asset to Woodhall Spa.
While there are no facilities in the village to take the mineral waters anymore, this 10-acre park is similarly good for wellness. Wander around the park and you'll discover the heated lido, great for all-year swimming, a cricket pitch and a croquet lawn. Not to mention an idyllic caravan park and campsite you can make your base while exploring this county.
The sensory garden is another way to recuperate from today's busy lifestyle. If possible, their Film and Swim evenings are worth booking, with movies such as The Little Mermaid and Jaws being shown in 2025.
5. The National Golf Centre of England
Tee off on two highly regarded courses, the Bracken and Hotchkin. Part of the English National Golf Centre, this is the home of amateur golf in England where all abilities can play.
Not only is there the ancient remains of a red brick hunting lodge (the Moor Tower), which acted as a lookout spot for Sir Ralph Cromwell of Tattershall Castle. The Hotchkin Course was voted 58th in the GOLF Top 100 World Rankings for 2023-24. Just be sure to watch out for the notoriously deep bunkers.
Other facilities include a floodlit 16-bay driving range, its golf shop and the Clubhouse Restaurant and Bar.
6. The Kinema
Based among towering Scots pines, this enduring 1920s Vintage cinema is the definition of happiness. Not only does its charming cream and beamed exterior (pictured below) beckon you inside, but glimpsing the nostalgic interior of film memorabilia and movie posters is worth the price of admission. Certain generations should be warned, that a stationary replica Dalek can be seen in the lobby.
Depending on your film, you will be seated in one of three auditoriums. Screen One has housed the beautiful Compton organ for decades. Exuding 19th-century glamour, this revered instrument displays an Eastern design with gold and red lacquer. You feel like you're being embraced by the Golden Age of Hollywood after taking your seat.
The film I had booked tickets for, Dawn of the Impressionists: Paris 1874, was shown on Screen Two. this cosy space is decorated with countryside murals and trompe l'oeil painted drapes that appear to be three-dimensional at first glance. But the Kinema shows more than art history films; modern releases, event screenings and even pre-recorded concerts, England’s Unique Cinema has to be on your Woodhall Spa itinerary.
The Viking Way
Anyone looking to burn off their popcorn can explore walking the nearby spa trail from nearby Sandy Lane, two miles from Woodhall Spa’s centre. A redeveloped railway line, nature and art lovers can admire several wooden and metal sculptures dotted along the route.
One depicts a Viking longboat, where this artwork refers to the 149-mile route that starts at the Humber estuary and meanders through Lincolnshire and Leicestershire into Rutland. Nestled among picturesque villages and countryside, you can discover more about the entire Viking Way route.
Set off on your quest the next time you arrive in the village.
Be Happy in Woodhall Spa Whatever the Date
Whether you wanted to explore this area virtually during English Tourism Week or have gained inspiration for your own visit, spending a few hours or days here always makes sense.
England has a wide variety of tourism gems to explore, some small and relatively unknown and others more famous. And who needs an excuse to book a staycation when we live such busy lives? I can’t promise any Vikings, though.
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