Horncastle And District Indoor Bowls Centre

The indoor bowls centre in Horncastle is exactly what it sounds like - a proper venue for lawn bowls played undercover, which makes far more sense in the East Midlands than trying to do it outdoors half the year. It's the sort of place locals take seriously, with multiple rinks and the kind of quiet concentration you'd expect from people who care about getting their woods to within touching distance of a jack.

You won't stumble here by accident on holiday. This is for people who either play bowls themselves or fancy learning from scratch. If you're the latter, staff will teach you the basics - it's surprisingly technical and genuinely absorbing once you get the hang of it. An afternoon here won't break the bank and it fills a gap nicely if the weather's turned rough and you're staying nearby.

Horncastle itself is a small Georgian market town worth a wander around, and both Three Horseshoes Campsite and Oxcombe Campsite sit within six miles if you're based that way for a longer trip. Neither bowls nor Horncastle is a blockbuster destination, but if you're after something low-key and genuinely local rather than aimed at tourists, this works. Ring ahead to check times and whether you need to book - details are sparse online - and bring flat shoes.