Activities in Stamford

• Burghley House & Gardens – One of the most impressive Elizabethan houses in England, with eighteen treasure-filled state rooms. Boasting a world-renowned collection of tapestries, porcelain and paintings. Sculpture garden, garden of surprises and deer park.  Burghley Horse trials takes place every September.
• St Leonards Priory – Part of the precinct of St Leonard’s Priory, Stamford, a cell of the cathedral monastery of Durham. Includes the upstanding remains of the nave of the priory church and the buried remains of the north aisle, transepts, chancel and claustral buildings.
• Stamford Corn Exchange Theatre – Smartly refurbished venue run by volunteers, with live music, drama and comedy, plus pre-show meals.  Call the box office to book.
• Stamford Shakespeare Company at Tolethorpe Hall – A stage set in an enchanting glade, with fine actors, stunning sets and gorgeous costumes. The magic of Tolethorpe begins the moment you take your seat in one of Europe’s finest open-air theatres on a warm summer evening.
• John Clare Cottage – Widely regarded as one of the greatest of the English poets, John Clare lived in Helpston for his first forty years from 1793 until 1832.  The Cottage has been restored, using traditional building methods.

Nature and Walks

• Stamford Market – Friday see’s Broad Street transform into a bustling market. The main street market is on a Friday with a smaller Saturday market in Red Lion Square and High Street.  Once a fortnight there is a Farmers’ Market.
• Rutland Water Nature Reserve – Set around beautiful Rutland Water and covering 4,200 acres of open countryside. Walking, cycle hire, fishing, water sports, climbing and man-made beach. There is a fantastic nature reserve which is home to the Rutland Osprey Project. 
• Newtons Trail – A 15-mile walk starting from the village of Woolsthorpe by Colsterworth. Home to the house where Isaac Newton was born. The trail mostly follows quiet country lanes around south Lincolnshire, taking in picturesque stone villages and gardens. Along with churches, historic inns and pubs, many of which have changed little since Newton’s days.
• Barnack Hills & Holes – The Hills and Holes mark the site of a medieval quarry. This site of Special Scientific Interest is one of Britain’s most important wildlife sites. Covering an area of 50 acres, the grassy slopes are home to Marbled White butterflies, the pasque flower and eight species of orchid. The Hills and Holes are one of the best places in the region to see the strange green lights of the glow-worm, which occurs in large numbers on warm summer nights.
• Sacrewell Farm – Explore food, farming and the beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside on a visit to Sacrewell Heritage Farm and Country Centre. Plenty to keep the family entertained, with animals to meet, outdoor spaces to discover, a recently restored eighteenth century watermill and a large indoor soft play centre.