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Allington Manor - Allington, Lincolnshire

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Beautiful Lincolnshire manor house

The small Lincolnshire village of Allington is the perfect rural retreat, with its pub, church, village green and cute cottages – in fact, it’s all very Dibley-esque. But the gem of the village has to be Allington Manor, a beautifully-restored Jacobean building, with views over the village and the tranquil Vale of Belvoir.

For all its grandeur, the Manor House keeps itself to itself, and you would never know about its fantastic B&B welcome if we hadn’t kindly let the secret slip. Still a cosy, if spectacular, family home, guests never feel as if they are encroaching. Owner Garth Vincent has achieved the best mix of homeliness and relaxation, while allowing his guests all the privacy that they require.

Allington Manor’s three en-suite guest rooms keep that laid-back, home-from-home feeling with some luxuriously sumptuous boutique-y trimmings. Huge double beds – one a four-poster – original fireplaces, gorgeous sash windows with fantastic views and brilliant bathrooms (two of the rooms have lovely free-standing roll-top baths in the bedrooms), make for a historic stay, worthy of the Lord of the Manor himself.

But the sumptuous bedrooms are the icing on Allington Manor’s cake. The house, steeped in history, with suits of armour and priest hidey-holes-a-plenty, is worth the trip alone. Guests have access to the cosy, firelit drawing room, the uber-grand Main Hall and reach their bedrooms from the jaw-dropping Jacobean staircase, which has helped the Manor achieve Grade II listed status. The Manor’s gardens are stunning and great for a post-breakfast wander.

Where is it?

Allington sits 5 miles from the bustling town of Grantham (birthplace of two British icons – Sir Isaac Newton, and The Iron Lady herself – Maggie Thatcher), while the Bright Lights and Green Tights of Nottingham are just a half an hour’s drive away.

Nevertheless, it’s the neighbouring Vale of Belvoir (pleasingly pronounced as beaver, apparently due to the fact that early Anglo Saxons couldn’t cope with the French tongue… or didn’t want to, at least) that is the real draw. Including parts of Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, the miles and miles of tranquil farmland, country lanes, pretty villages, all lorded over by the ridiculously grand Belvoir Castle, are perfect for weekend strolls, pub lunches and picnics. But the best way to enjoy the Vale is undoubtedly by bicycle – even the lardiest couch potato will be able to cope with the distinctly hill-less landscape.

Belvoir Castle (www.belvoircastle.com Tel: 01476 871000) is a real must-see. Ancestral home to The Duke and Duchess of Rutland, a castle of some description has stood on the site since Norman times, but the fairytale edifice that you can see today is distinctly nineteenth century. Open from March to September (but check times before you go as they can be a bit random), it’s a great place to wander around, and the gardens are huge and magnificent. Visit in May for the Castle’s jousting festival, which, well, does what it says on the tin.

Further afield, but still within the Vale, the town of Melton Mowbray – famous for its pork pies - is a half-an-hour’s drive away. Unsurprisingly, it’s one of the best places in the UK to pick up picnic supplies! Visit Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe (www.porkpie.co.uk Tel: 0)1664 482068), the last authentic Melton Mowbay pork pie producer in the town. The gorgeous little town of Stamford is also a good place to aim for – about twenty minutes’ drive from Allington. Lauded as ‘the finest stone town in Britain’, its conservation status has left Stamford in a bit of a picturesque timewarp. Just outside the town is the awe-inspiring Burghley House (www.burghley.co.uk Tel: 01780 752451), used as a location in countless films, including Pride & Prejudice, Elizabeth and The Da Vinci Code.

Where can I eat?

Allington’s village pub, The Welby Arms (www.welbyarms.co.uk Tel: 01400 281361) is a friendly, and super-convenient, place for good quality pub grub (including fantastic fresh Grimsby fish and chips) and a good range of real ales.

Further afield, The Manners Arms in the tiny village of Knipton, part of the Belvoir Castle Estate, (www.mannersarms.com Tel: 01476 87922) is a fantastic country inn, with fresh and vibrant lunch and dinner menus. Lovely décor, roaring fires and lots of local ingredients make for a really special evening’s dining. Oh, and their Sunday lunches are amazing…

For a restaurant experience with style and colour, visit Langar Hall (www.langarhall.co.uk Tel: 01949 860559), an easy twenty-minute drive from Allington. This cute and friendly country hotel offers a lovingly-produced a la carte menu, with local dishes in abundance, including yummy Belvoir partridge, and puddings to die for. It’s a very popular choice for locals looking for that something special, and is excellent value to boot.

Top of page

The small Lincolnshire village of Allington is a fantastic rural retreat, with its pub, church, village green and cute cottages – in fact, it’s all very Dibley-esque. But the gem of the village has to be Allington Manor, a beautifully-restored Jacobean building, with views over the village and the tranquil Vale of Belvoir.