Discover & Explore Gainsborough!
Here you will find leaflets, maps, newsletters, podcasts and videos.
These cover general information for visitors, plus details of town’s heritage, town trails, walking and cycling routes.
Please use the filter functions to find what you need by topic.
Walk the trail and discover the 10 designs inspired by ideas & drawings from children and young people in Gainsborough.
Supported by Leap.
Join in with Illuminate Gainsborough 2021 and make your own candle using our easy to use toolkit.
Events |
Many of the Pilgrim Roots projects come to fruition.
Explore the keys sites across the Pilgrim Roots region associated with the Separatists’ story.
A 6.5 mile (10km) walk from Gainsborough Lea Road to Knaith Park. This walk takes apprximately 3.5 hours and interconnects with bus and rail services.
Explore the area’s rich aviation heritage with the West Lindsey Aviation Heritage guide. Locating active RAF stations and former airfield sites.
An 8 mile (13km) walk from Gainsborough to Stow. This walk takes approx. 4.5 hours and interconnects with bus and rail services.
The West Lindsey Churches Festival (now in its 28th year) offers visitors a chance to discover buildings located across the stunning landscape of West Lindsey, just north of Lincoln and encompassing Gainsborough, Caistor and Market Rasen.
The first weekend (10-11 May) will see 52 churches take part in the west of the district, with 51 churches opening for the second weekend (17-18 May) to the east.
Each church offers a unique experience, that could include stunning architecture, stained glass, fascinating wood carvings, historic monuments, graveyards full of stories and traditional church organs (some of which the public are welcome to play). Many buildings are also located in the Lincolnshire Wolds National Landscape, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
And alongside all that heritage and landscape is the welcome church volunteers bring to the event, including their knowledge of local history, delicious homemade cakes and lunches, plant and book sales, flower displays, exhibitions and bell ringing.
Anyone interested in a spot of “church crawling” this May (the name given to the hobby of visiting churches!) should visit the website www.churchesfestival.info. There they will find a page for each church taking part (easily reached via the A-Z listing page) and a Google pin map to plan a tour. People can also browse a 44 page event brochure (via the website) or order a hard copy.
The story of the post WWII idea to construct and sail a replica of the ship, Mayflower.
Explore the Gainsborough Medieval Town Trail – 1st to 31st May 2025
Brought to you by Marshall’s Yard and West Lindsey District Council
Step back in time and uncover the medieval secrets of Gainsborough with our self-guided Medieval Town Trail, available throughout May. This family-friendly trail invites visitors to explore the town’s historic streets, guided by a specially designed Trail Sheet that brings the past to life through fun facts and playful medieval characters.
Start your journey by collecting a Trail Sheet from The Works at Marshalls Yard. As you follow the route through the town, look out for playful medieval characters and that capture the spirit of medieval Gainsborough. Your adventure ends at the magnificent Gainsborough Old Hall, where trail participants will be entered into a draw to win hamper.
Step Back in Time with the Gainsborough Medieval Town Trail.
This May, explore Gainsborough like never before with our Medieval Town Trail, running 1st–31st May 2025! 🗺️
📍 Start at The Works in Marshalls Yard to pick up your Trail Sheet
👀 Hunt for medieval characters across town
🎁 Finish at Gainsborough Old Hall and be entered into a draw to win hamper
PLUS — keep the adventure going with Medieval May featuring tours, workshops, crafts & more at Gainsborough Old Hall all month long! 🕯️💃✍️
📅 Find out more: Medieval May at Gainsborough Old Hall | English Heritage
#MedievalMay #GainsboroughTrail #FamilyFun #Heritageforeverybody #VisitGainsborough #discovergainsborough
Events |
A tour of the exhibition on the reconstruction of the ship, Mayflower.
Mayflower Reflections explores the momentous story of the Mayflower voyage of 1620 and it’s contemporary parallels.
Through the use of 360° video and VR, Mayflower Reflections takes you on a journey from the English churches of the 1600s to the deck of the Mayflower ship and the early settlements of the Plymouth Colony.
A short film for children: Join us on an adventure from Lincolnshire to America and find out what it was really like on board the Mayflower!
Greg Jenner is joined by historian Dr Misha Ewen and comedian Alex Edelman to take a trip back in time and across the Atlantic with the passengers of Mayflower.
A 90-minute walking tour past some of the most iconic sights and attractions of this market town.
Begin at the Gainsborough Heritage Centre, before passing landmarks such as the Old Nick Theatre, Marshalls Yard, Old County Court House, Gainsborough Old Hall and more!
Dan Snow is joined on his podcast by a series of historians, writers and storytellers, to talk about the 400th anniversary of the journey of the Mayflower.
Travelling from Southern England to North America in September 1620, they discuss why the settlers left, and they examine the contested legacy of the Mayflower for the descendants of North American communities.
This leaflet outlines the highlights of Gainsborough and provides links to websites for further information on travel option and places to stay, eat and drink.
Radical Routes is an online newspaper that takes a close look at the Mayflower story, its myths and legends, and aspects that may have been over-looked or need reinterpretation to include previously hidden history.
