Woodhall Spa

RAF crews once spent their final nights before bombing missions in this elegant Victorian spa town, and you can still feel that poignant history in the quiet streets. Woodhall Spa sits in flat Lincolnshire countryside, surrounded by pine woods that earned it the nickname 'England's Kyoto' - though that's stretching it a bit.

The town's claim to fame is its role as home to 617 Squadron, the legendary Dambusters. Their story comes alive at Petwood Hotel, where Guy Gibson and his crew stayed before their famous raid. It's a proper slice of wartime history, complete with signed photographs and squadron memorabilia lining the walls.

Outside town, the Wellington Monument rises from the fields - a 40-foot tower marking where Arthur Wellesley once lived. Worth the walk on a clear day for views across the Wolds. The surrounding area is golf country too, with Woodhall Spa Golf Club hosting national championships on its heathland course.

Lincoln lies 20 miles northwest, easily reached by car through rolling countryside dotted with medieval churches. The spa town itself sits on the A153, well-connected despite its rural feel.

Staying at one of the nearby parks makes perfect sense for exploring this corner of Lincolnshire. Woodhall Country Park puts you right in the pines, while Tattershall Lakes Country Park offers a different vibe by the water. Both give you that countryside base without the town hotel prices, plus space for the kids to run about after a day soaking up Dambusters history.