Living in Spilsby

Community spirit is a defining feature of life in Spilsby. The town prides itself on its welcoming, neighbourly feel, which is reflected in numerous annual events held in and around the centre. The weekly market in the square is a focal point for residents to shop and socialise, with stalls selling local produce, crafts, and household goods.

Spilsby has an active town hall that hosts theatre performances, concerts, and local society meetings. The Franklin Hall, named after local explorer Sir John Franklin, is a community event space frequently used for everything from art workshops to charity fundraisers. The Spilsby Show, a celebrated annual summer fair, highlights local culture with agriculture displays, rides, and food stalls.

The wider area supports a variety of outdoor pursuits, from walks along public footpaths in the Lincolnshire Wolds to angling and cycling. Parks and green spaces such as Gunby Hall Gardens are popular for picnics and family outings. Overall, Spilsby offers a relaxed, community-focused lifestyle with a strong emphasis on local connections and rural outdoor activities.

Spilsby has a reputation as a generally safe market town, with lower crime rates compared to larger urban centres in Lincolnshire. The town benefits from a strong sense of community, and neighbours often look out for one another, adding to the overall perception of safety.

Policing is managed locally through the Lincolnshire Police with a visible presence in the town centre and outreach to surrounding villages. Recent years have seen continued investment in Neighbourhood Watch and other community safety initiatives. The main types of incident reported are typically minor anti-social behaviour and occasional petty theft, with more serious incidents being rare. As with any small town, vigilance is encouraged but overall, Spilsby is regarded as a secure place to live and raise a family.

Parking in Spilsby is generally straightforward, with several short and long-stay car parks available close to the town centre. Most residential streets offer on-street parking, and congestion is rarely a problem thanks to the town's size and rural location. There is a resident parking permit system in certain areas close to the high street, but parking-related restrictions are minimal compared to larger towns.

Spilsby’s main road access is via the A16, which connects directly to neighbouring towns and provides an accessible route north and south through Lincolnshire. The B1195 also links Spilsby to the Wolds and further to the coast. Key travel times for motorists include:
Boston – approx. 25 minutes via A16 (13 miles)
Skegness – approx. 25 minutes via A158 (12 miles)
Horncastle – around 20 minutes via A16 and A158 (13 miles)
Lincoln – approx. 50 minutes via A155 and A158 (32 miles)

Spilsby is ideal for drivers seeking hassle-free access to nearby destinations, with light traffic and quick journeys to both the coast and inland market towns.

Spilsby offers a well-rounded selection of traditional pubs, cafés, and independent family-run restaurants clustered around its historic town centre. Notable establishments include classic inns like The White Hart Hotel and The Red Lion, both of which serve local ales and traditional English fare. For casual dining, Spilsby’s cafés like Netty’s Tea Room and local bakeries provide fresh produce and home-cooked meals.

Takeaways range from fish and chips and Chinese cuisine to Indian and pizza outlets, ensuring a variety of options for residents. While Spilsby’s nightlife is low-key, social life revolves around community pubs rather than nightclubs or late-night bars. Occasional live music events, fundraising evenings, and themed dining nights add colour to the calendar.

For a more bustling nightlife scene, residents tend to travel to larger nearby towns such as Skegness or Boston, where a broader choice of bars, clubs, and entertainment venues can be found. Overall, Spilsby caters well to those who prefer a relaxed, friendly social scene with a strong focus on local hospitality.

School quality: Spilsby has both primary and secondary schools within easy reach. Ofsted rated schools such as Eresby School and King Edward VI Academy are valued for their inclusive environment and local reputation.

Parks and green space: Families benefit from access to multiple parks, community play areas, and the open countryside of the Lincolnshire Wolds nearby. These offer children and parents plenty of outdoor activities and exploration.

Childcare: The town hosts several nurseries and early years settings, with good access to registered childminders and afterschool clubs.

Safety: Spilsby’s relatively low crime rates and active community partnerships help families feel secure and supported.

Family activities: There are regular town events, library activities, and craft clubs for children. The ease of access to both the Wolds and the east coast means that days out and family trips are always close at hand.

Spilsby is well-suited to pet owners thanks to the abundance of local parks, recreation grounds, and surrounding countryside. The town is popular with dog walkers, who enjoy a network of footpaths through both rural and urban green spaces. The nearby Lincolnshire Wolds offer scenic walks suitable for dogs and active pet owners, with access points just a short drive from the town centre.

For pet care, Spilsby is served by local veterinary practices, as well as pet supply stores and grooming services. Many of the local pubs and cafés welcome well-behaved dogs, and landlords of residential properties are generally open to pets, reflecting the area’s relaxed culture. Public areas, parks, and green spaces tend to be pet-friendly and provide plenty of room for exercise and socialisation.

Spilsby is situated close to the A16, providing direct road connections to Grimsby in the north and Peterborough to the south. While the town no longer has its own railway station, residents rely on regular bus services linking Spilsby to surrounding towns such as Boston, Skegness, Horncastle, and Louth. The mainline railway stations in Boston (13 miles) and Skegness (12 miles) allow for broader regional and national travel, connecting with Lincoln and further to London King's Cross.

For regional commuting, key travel times include:
Boston – approx. 25 minutes by car (13 miles)
Skegness – approx. 25 minutes by car or bus (12 miles)
Lincoln – around 50 minutes by car (32 miles)

Humberside Airport is the nearest major airport, located around 48 miles north, and can be reached in roughly an hour by car. Public transport offers regular links to coastal towns and local bus routes are run by Stagecoach and other regional operators. For cyclists and walkers, the area boasts a network of lanes and footpaths through the Wolds landscape, enhancing accessibility to the local countryside.

Education in Spilsby offers both local schools and access to renowned institutions in the wider East Lindsey area. Spilsby itself has a solid primary and secondary provision, while nearby towns expand the options, especially for sixth form and further education.

Primary Schools
Toynton All Saints Primary School, located just outside the town, is a small, friendly school rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted in 2023. Halton Holegate CofE Primary School, also nearby, is known for its nurturing atmosphere. The Eresby School (rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted in 2019), near the centre of Spilsby, caters to students with special educational needs and has been praised for its dedicated staff and resources.

Secondary Schools
King Edward VI Academy is the main secondary school in Spilsby, offering education from 11–18 and is part of the David Ross Education Trust. It was last inspected by Ofsted in 2022 and found to be ‘Good’. QEGS (Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School) in nearby Alford and Skegness Grammar School are also accessible for those interested in selective education.

Sixth Forms and Colleges
King Edward VI Academy includes a sixth form provision. For broader college courses, Boston College (20 miles) and Skegness TEC offer vocational and further education opportunities.

Universities
No universities are based in Spilsby itself, but the University of Lincoln and Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln (around 30 miles away) are the main choices for higher education. Both are accessible by road and public transport, placing university options within reach for Spilsby residents.