Discover Epworth

Epworth combines impressive Wesley history with gardens, archives and walking routes that can be explored in different ways. For families and other travellers who want to experience culture somewhere other than just a museum, the town offers specific places to visit: Epworth Old Rectory, St Andrew’s Church, Wesley Memorial Methodist Church and the Epworth History Trail. When looking for holiday accommodation in Epworth, you can therefore plan your trip around the experiences you would like to combine.

Between the Old Rectory, gardens and local history

Epworth Old Rectory is a listed former rectory in the Queen Anne style. Samuel Wesley built it in 1709. Its history is complemented by the gardens and other visitor attractions. The main gardens include woodland flowers and native species. They are open year-round and free for everyone to access. Visitors may also pick their own fruit in the orchard. Apple Day takes place there every October – a special occasion for anyone who wants to experience local traditions and the character of a garden through the changing seasons.

When planning your visit, note the different access arrangements: the ground floor of the Old Rectory is accessible, but the upper floor is not wheelchair accessible. The gardens therefore form a separate part of the visit. This allows you to consider in advance which areas are important for your group, without treating the garden and the historic building as the same experience.

Wesley churches and places of remembrance

St Andrew’s Church is a parish church dating predominantly from the 14th and 15th centuries; its chancel dates from the early 14th century. The church has a heritage room with books to browse, exhibition panels and an audiovisual presentation. Wesley Memorial Methodist Church opened on 15 September 1889 on High Street in Epworth as a permanent memorial to John and Charles Wesley. It contains a stained-glass window and a communion table that were previously used in St Andrew’s Church.

Another historical trace leads to the statue of John Wesley on Albion Hill. It faces his childhood home, the Old Rectory, in Epworth. A chapel opened in 1860 as a chapel of the Methodist New Connexion is also part of the town’s religious history. Anyone interested in church art, architecture or the development of Methodist traditions will find several different ways here to explore the town’s history.

Experience history on foot

The Epworth History Trail begins on High Street opposite Wesley Memorial Methodist Church. In addition, the Walk with Wesley leads to important places in Epworth, including St Andrew’s, Wesley Memorial Methodist Church and the Wesley Statue. The walk takes between one and one and a half hours. This gives you both a historical trail with a fixed starting point and a walk that connects several Wesley-related places. Choose the option that best suits your preferred sightseeing pace.

The Houghton Archive in the Epworth Mechanics’ Institute Library complements the impressions gained on site. It contains original editions of the newspaper Epworth Bells dating from 1872, as well as books, documents, photographs and maps relating to local history. For a stay where not every activity needs to be outdoors, the archive offers another way to get to know Epworth.

Choose accommodation to suit your interests

If you would like to rent a holiday house or holiday apartment in Epworth, first consider whether your trip will focus more on historic buildings, garden visits, archives or walks. The experiences described differ in format and can therefore be combined into an individual stay. Accommodation in Epworth provides a base for your own planning; you should check the specific facilities, availability and prices with the current listing in each case.

Discover more destinations

For further travel planning, you can also explore Cleethorpes, Sudbrooke, Friskney, Ancaster, Horncastle, Lincoln, Winteringham and Ulceby.

Return to the overarching travel overview: Lincolnshire.