Tattershall Lakes Country Park review: are these the coolest caravans in the UK?

Our verdict

If you like the idea of a holiday park break but shudder at the thought of static caravans and chintzy furnishings, Tattershall Lakes might just win you round. 

With its lakeside setting, boutique-style caravans and rooftop bars, it offers a stylish take on a UK holiday park. From the TriBeCa caravans – complete with roll-top baths, private hot tubs and kid-friendly bunks – to the huge range of activities, it’s brilliant for a weekend of family fun. 

There’s loads to do, from high ropes and water sports to playgrounds, an outdoor cinema and, our particular highlight, the Art Deco-style heated lido. But you need to be organised: swimming sessions book up fast, and most activities come with an extra charge, which can quickly add up. Restaurants get busy at weekends too, so expect to wait a while for food or consider self-catering as the accommodation is well equipped.

I loved the layout of the site with the main hub set around a large lake and appreciated all the design details from the retro-caravan-turned bar to the circus-style big top tent and grown-up gin bar. It’s also dog-friendly and open all year round (most holiday parks close between November and March). 

I prefer boutique hotels to budget caravans but also love having access to kid-friendly pools, activities, entertainment and sports courts, so Tattershall Lakes is perfect for a mix of adventure, comfort and wow-factor features. That said, the luxe accommodation doesn’t come cheap and the activities are pricey, but it’s a top choice for an alternative to a classic coastal caravan site and makes it onto our list of the best UK holiday parks.

What’s the accommodation like?

Sleeker than your average holiday park! Accommodation is grouped into three different categories: Exclusive, Classic and Lodges. All set in neat little neighbourhoods between the lakes. 

We stayed in The TriBeCa (part of the Exclusive range) which has a striking striped exterior and the look and feel of an urban apartment. Bold wallpaper, distressed wood, a Smeg-style fridge and rainfall shower keep things looking stylish, while the master bedroom’s roll-top bath and the private outdoor hot tub turn it into something really special. 

It has a grown-up vibe but the second bedroom is built purely for kids and my son and daughter loved the quirky bunk beds, play space and in-built screens (although the setup felt a little childish for my 12-year-old nephew - something to bear in mind if you’re travelling with older kids). 

With two bedrooms at either side of a lounge and kitchen area and bi-fold doors leading onto a terrace, it was super spacious for our family of four but it sleeps up to seven thanks to a pull-out sofa in the lounge. 

We took advantage of the sunny weather during our stay and had breakfast with the doors flung open, which also meant we saw some of the local wildlife (including geese and rabbits) roaming around and lucked out with a few flypasts from the neighbouring RAF Coningsby. 

There’s ample space between each caravan but there was quite a bit of noise late into the night when we stayed. We had to keep the windows open to create a breeze as it was incredibly hot and UK caravans aren’t currently set up for heatwaves. I’d recommend taking a fan to help with hot weather sleeping. 

The Lodges are great for large groups with some types sleeping up to 10 guests. Décor varies depending on the grade, from simple two-bed options to two-storey Scandi-style log cabins complete with their very own fishing jetty. 

The Value caravan is the cheapest option with traditional features like corner sofas and small galley-style kitchens. 

Note that pets are allowed to stay in all grades of accommodation and there are wheelchair-accessible caravans available. 

What activities are on offer?

Water-based activities dominate the schedule and there are lakes set up for jet skiing, water sports and fishing. The largest lake has an inflatable aqua park and a water sports centre where you can try your hand at canoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. 

And there are loads of options on dry land, including a high ropes adventure course, laser tag and archery. It’s an impressive roster of activities - one of the best I’ve seen at a UK holiday park, especially as there’s a fun mix of high-energy pursuits and more sedate activities for younger kids like the superhero academy, slime workshop and pottery painting. 

That said, we were put off by the pricing. All bookings made via Away Resorts include Guest Passes which gives families access to the site and facilities but most of the activities incur an extra charge. The zipline experience seemed a little steep at £24 and our £34 canoe session was hard to swallow, although it did keep three boys busy and refreshed for 45 minutes. Even a basic 20-minute pedalo ride felt overpriced at £20. 

Our pockets weren’t deep enough to book back-to-back activities, but we did enjoy a round of crazy golf and a table tennis tournament, and we made use of the free sports courts (we loved the interactive football wall) and the excellent outdoor playground. 

Our highlight was the outdoor lido, a stylish Art Deco-style spot overlooking the main lake. We were unable to reserve a slot via the app (fully booked), but we lucked out with two walk-in sessions (we queued for about 15 minutes) and enjoyed a full hour of swimming, splashing and sunbathing on both Saturday and Sunday. There’s loads of loungers, the facilities were clean and the heated pool temperature was perfect. Although it closed at 4pm which felt far too early. 

We weren’t quite as lucky with the indoor pool (again, fully booked via the app) but the indoor splash park looked like lots of fun for little ones and didn't need to be pre-booked. 

The 'beach' is free to visit and there are two small sandy spots close to the water for a bit of sandcastle building and paddling, although the water was very much a puddle when we visited. 

And what’s a holiday park stay without a trip to the arcade? We visited a few times over the weekend and appreciated the fact that the neon-lit space didn’t dominate the site in a way that’s typical at most UK holiday parks. 

What are the food options?

We made breakfast on both mornings and took snacks and drinks with us (we were grateful for the jumbo fridge-freezer in the TriBeCa caravans). We also took a picnic into the site and loved that there were plenty of tables dotted around the main lake area and near to the outdoor playground and splashpark. 

There’s a fish and chip shop just outside the main site for takeaways and outdoor dining (there’s a covered section too) and a few street food-style spots for things like pizza and dirty fries. We loved the cute-and-colourful Pimms pop-up and the bar serving drinks from a retro caravan (expect to pay posh indie coffee shop prices though). 

We dined at the Spitfire Bar on the Saturday evening as it’s dog friendly so it meant we could sit inside and take advantage of the air con. It’s a good looking space with an industrial-chic design, exposed brickwork and tons of tables (as well as a jeep that kids can sit on). The dog-friendly section is small and sits right by the entrance to the main outdoor hub so it was a busy and noisy thoroughfare. 

The staff were pleasant and the food was decent - I loved the tacos and the kids’ menu was incredibly good value at £10 for three courses and a drink. However, it took 90 minutes for our food to arrive which was hugely frustrating with four hangry kids in tow, especially as we weren’t informed at the start and had to keep asking every 15 minutes. 

Frustrations aside, we had a grand old time at Bar 49, a stylish rooftop spot overlooking the lake that serves an impressive selection of cocktails and feels a world away from a holiday park pub. And there’s an adults-only gin joint called the Giggling Goose that looks like the kind of sultry cocktail bar you’d find at a luxury hotel. 

We stocked up on supplies and some ice creams at the handy on-site shop. Oh, and we need to return to try the bubble waffles from the Good Grub summer pop-up stall. 

What’s the entertainment like?

There’s classic holiday park fun in the form of bingo and mini discos but there’s a whole range of entertainment options that set Tattershall Lakes apart, including an outdoor stage by the main lake that hosts live music and outdoor cinema screenings. 

The Spiegeltent is a huge circus-style big top tent with wooden booths and a stage that hosts themed activities for kids and stage shows, as well as ticketed events like tribute shows and a winter pantomime. I love the fact that it’s set apart from the main hub so that you can opt in or out of the entertainment rather than it taking over the site and dominating noise levels in the evenings. 

What’s included in the price of a stay?

• Accommodation with kitchen facilities 

• Linens and pillows 

• Gas/electricity

• Guest Passes for access to the site’s main facilities including pools (Away Resorts direct bookings only) 

• WiFi

• Parking 

What is there to do nearby?

If you’re at Tattershall Lakes on a short break, it’s unlikely you’ll leave the site as there’s so much to do within the grounds. If you’re planning a longer trip or you’re looking to stop off on the way, Lincolnshire Wildlife Park can be reached within 30 minutes, the historic city of Lincoln is a 40-minute drive away and you can get to Skegness - with its arcades, huge beach and theme park - within 40 minutes. 

Tattershall Castle is just next door and offers rural views from the battlements. 

For supermarket supplies, the Tattershall Co-op is within walking distance, and there’s a Lidl and an Aldi in nearby Sleaford, around a 20-minute drive away. 

How we reviewed Tattershall Lakes Country Park  

I stayed at Tattershall Lakes with my husband and two kids (5 and 8) for two nights over a sunny summer weekend. We travelled from south London and it took us around six hours (four on the way back). We met my brother, his wife, two kids (9 and 12) and their dog at the site and stayed in adjacent TriBeCa caravans, each with two bedrooms. We booked activities using the app and took food with us, as well as making use of the on-site shop and food outlets. 

I had access to a discounted media rate but this review is an honest depiction of my experience at Tattershall Lakes.

About the author 

Rachel Erdos is an Editor at Mumsnet where she commissions, edits and writes content with a focus on family travel.

She has written hotel reviews, features and destination guides for top publications including the Guardian, Four Seasons Magazine, Travelzoo, Visit Britain and Visit London. She loves nothing more than researching and writing about fun things for families to do in destinations near and far, as well as trawling the Mumsnet holiday forum for inspiration for her next trip away with her husband and two kids. 

She’s a big fan of holiday parks and has reviewed Combe Haven in Hastings and Eurocamp Duinrell in the Netherlands with her family.