Grimsby

Grimsby, contrary to its name, is a picturesque seaside town located on the north coast of Lincolnshire between London and Hull. It was named after a Danish Viking war lord, Grim, who founded it in the 9th Century AD, and today you can read about its humble beginnings in the Domesday book.

Originally a thriving fishing port, Grimsby has now established itself as one of the country’s major food processing areas and is becoming a popular tourist resort. Parts of the town can be quite rough, but the local council has been given a grant of £13 million to give Grimsby a facelift, so watch this space.

Activities/Attractions

Grimsby is very big on 19th Century architecture and a variety of impressive buildings and structures adorn its skyline. Grimsby’s famous Humber bridge, for instance, is one of the longest single span suspension bridges in the world, at 1,410 metres.

The ruins of Ross Castle make a nice location for a walk– it’s actually a mock ruin dating back to the 18th Century but looks genuine, covered in ivy and looking out over the sea. The windmill at Waltham is always a favourite too.

At 350 feet, the Dock Tower dominates the quay and looks like a vast industrial lighthouse. It was originally built on masses of cotton wool. To find out why, go to Grimsby and ask!

Apart from architecture, Grimsby has a couple of must-see museums and exhibitions. Experience Grimsby’s legacy at the [http://www.nelincs.gov.uk/AtoZ/atozDetail?ID=7241 National Fishing Heritage Centre]. Step aboard a real trawler with a moving deck and explore the sights, sounds and smells of a 19th Century fisherman’s life. Based on Alexandra Dock (01472 323345). Alternatively travel the [http://www.nelincs.gov.uk/leisure/museums/timetrap.htm Time Trap] based in the Town Hall Prison Cells, to see just what they did with smugglers.

Grimsby’s neighbouring town Cleethorpes, is only a bus-ride away and is a tourism hot-spot. Like it’s sister town, Cleethorpes is a British sea-side resort with a sandy beach, donkey rides, a boating lake and a light railway. Cleethorpes has loads of modern attractions including a theme park, a Laser Quest and a ten-pin bowling alley. Take the kids to the indoor pool complete with wave machine, or Fantasy world, an indoor wonderland for tiny tots. Admire the bright flowers in the promenade gardens or marvel at the local wildlife at the Discovery Centre.

Shopping

Grimsby shopping is great, extending out towards Hull in the North, Sheffield in the West, Lincoln in the South-West and Peterborough to the South. All the shopping areas are well serviced by buses and have large car parks.

The [http://www.freshney-place.co.uk/ Freshney Place Shopping Centre] with its 70 different shops is the place to go for just about any retail needs you may have. It has several huge department stores including Bhs, House of Fraser Marks & Spencer and Wilkinsons.

The Victoria Mills retail park is another shopping hotspot, with Next, B&Q, Sainsburys, Morrisons and Tesco as just some of its long list of stores.

The Abbeygate Centre off Bethlehem Street is home to a number of sophisticated restaurants and designer clothes stores. The town has two markets which are worth a visit, one next to Freshney Place and the other in Freeman Street.

Louth is an unspoilt, quaint little market town near Grimsby, with winding narrow streets and a pretty church, St James’. The village is based in Lincolnshire historic Poachers Country and boasts a great indoor and outdoor market every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. One of Louth’s charming idiosyncrasies is that its shops close early on Thursday, so be warned!

Nightlife/Eating Out

Food-lovers, you’ve come to the right place. Believe it or not, Grimsby is known as the UK Food Town, after winning an award for the European Food Town of the Year. It is said more pizzas are produced in Grimsby than anywhere else.

As a port, Grimsby specialises in fish and seafood, which you’ll find along with every other type of food possible in the various eateries around town. Visit a traditional smokery on the docks or eat on board the m.v. Lincoln Castle, moored close to the Fishing Heritage Centre. [http;//www.thebarge.co.uk/ The Barge], moored close the Freshney Place shopping centre also does outstanding food.

The Grimsby night scene is one of the best in that part of the country, and socialites flock from many of the neighbouring towns to boogie in the town’s hotspots.

For students the best places to go are situated in the centre, around the river Freshney. Here you’ll find pubs like The Barge and Lloyds, which play lots of rock and indie music. The drinks here are cheap, the jukeboxes banging, and the atmosphere friendly.

Gullivers nightclub, or Gullies as it is affectionately known, is widely considered Grimsby’s cream of the clubbing crop. Gullies offers a variety of music depending on which night you go; eighties on Wednesday, Cheese and RnB on Friday and Saturday, rock and Indie on Monday and Old skool on Tuesday, which is also student night.

The other side of town around the railway attracts a slightly rougher crowd. The Exchange, Huxters, and The Parity are the three most popular bars and are big on dance music and alcopops. This area is notorious for fights, so take care.

A few funpubs have recently been added to the Grimsby social spectrum, Chicago’s, Ice Barque and Walkabout, all three of which serve decent food during the day too.

Tourism Information

Tourist Information Centre42-43 Alexander Road, Cleethorpes,DN358LE

• TEL: 01472 323111

Airport

The nearest airport is [http://humberside-airport-guide.co.uk/ Humberside Airport], 10 miles west of Grimsby. Humberside is great for charter holidays and domestic flights.