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HOW IT RATES

A busy market town since the 8th century, Louth is located on the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds and the banks of the River Lud. It became a major trading area in the 1770s with the construction of a canal. In 1920 the river and canal flooded, wrecking large areas and killing 23 people; the canal was closed in 1924. Today the town is a microcosm of rural life, with open-air street stalls and one of the busiest cattle markets in the country.

ARCHITECTURAL GEMS

The 295ft spire of St James, a 16th-century parish church, dominates the skyline. Other historic buildings include a number of coaching inns and some fine period houses, including Westgate House, which occasionally opens to the public.

WHAT’S NEW

Stamford Homes has a new development, Aspire, of two, three and four-bedroom homes in the eastern part of Louth. Prices start from £132,500. For details, contact 01507 610404, www.stamford-homes.co.uk.

QUALITY OF LIFE

Pretty good. Louth is a warm and welcoming town, with many shops selling local produce. Hubbards Hills, on the edge of town, is a pretty valley with parkland; the riverside setting makes it a good picnic area. Walking is popular in these parts: the annual walking festival in May-June is a huge event.

POPULATION

About 17,000 in the town, with a further 12,000 in the surrounding area. Those aged over 55 comprise more than 40 per cent of the population. Women outnumber men by 700.

TRAVEL

A car is vital. There is no railway station – the nearest mainline station is in Grimsby, 14 miles away. The traffic-free roads at least mean that Skegness and Lincoln are both only a short drive away.

SMARTEST STREETS

Some of the best property is to be found in the west of the town – Westgate, St Mary’s Lane and Crowtree Lane in particular. Houses here are close to parks, the golf course and in the grammar school catchment area.

BEST RESTAURANTS

Serendipity at The Priory Hotel comes highly recommended and serves a 16-course “degustation menu”. Mr Chips restaurant serves a mean fish and chips. Or take a step back in time at Chuzzlewit Tea Rooms, where you can sip loose-leaf tea and nibble on a homemade scone.

TOP NIGHTLIFE

The Riverhead Theatre has both professional and amateur productions. The Art Deco-style Playhouse cinema has a spectacular staircase. The Louth New Orleans Jazz Club is also worth a visit. Other than that, there are some decent pubs – The Woodman opened its doors 160 years ago, and the Masons Arms dates from 1725.

EDUCATION

There is a fair selection of primary schools locally, with the Scramblesby Church of England school coming out on top. King Edward VI Grammar School is excellent, with property prices soaring within its catchment area.

WORKING LIFE

The majority of local people work in the agricultural or tourist sectors. Unemployment is 4.2 per cent, which compares with the national average of 5.6 per cent.

UPSIDE

This is a true country market town, with local produce and markets every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The best way to discover this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is on foot. A quirk beloved by many locals is that Louth bridges two datelines: the Greenwich meridian line passes through Cordeaux High School.

DOWNSIDE

The town may seem a little twee to some people, and it’s not exactly in the most fashionable county. Louth was affected by the floods in June and July this year. Also, as a result of the new foot-and-mouth scare, Louth’s weekly cattle market has been cancelled until further notice.

£165,000 The average property price in Louth Source: Hometrack

11% The increase in property prices in Louth over the past year Source: Halifax

24% The increase in property prices in Louth over ten years Source: Halifax

1551 The year King Edward VI Grammar School was granted a royal charter Source: www.kevigs.lincs.sch.uk

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