Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, England · England
The Petwood Hotel
Edwardian grandeur with RAF heritage in Woodhall Spa.
Overview
The Petwood Hotel
The Petwood Hotel is the most characterful hotel in Woodhall Spa — a grand Edwardian country house set in 30 acres of woodland gardens, with a distinguished history as the wartime officers' mess of the famous 617 Squadron (the Dambusters). Its combination of historic character, generous grounds, and a position close to the Hotchkin Course makes it a compelling base for the Heritage East Lincolnshire programme.
For travellers who want more space and a stronger sense of historic character than a smaller boutique hotel can offer, it is the most distinctive choice in Woodhall Spa. The sections below explore what makes it work and how it fits into a Heritage itinerary.
Why We Recommend It & How It Fits
Why We Recommend It
RAF Heritage and Historic Character
The Petwood served as the officers' mess of 617 Squadron — the Dambusters — during the Second World War. The Squadron Bar, the memorabilia, and the sense of history give the hotel a character that is quite unlike any other in the region.
Edwardian Grandeur and Grounds
The grand Edwardian building, set in 30 acres of woodland gardens, creates an atmosphere of generous space and historic character. The grounds — with mature trees, formal gardens, and woodland walks — add a dimension to the stay that smaller boutique hotels cannot match.
Proximity to the Hotchkin Course
The Petwood sits close to the Hotchkin Course in Woodhall Spa village — a short drive from England's finest inland golf course. For a trip built around the Hotchkin Course, the position is practical and well-placed.
Dining and the Squadron Bar
The Squadron Bar — with its RAF memorabilia and historic atmosphere — is one of the most distinctive bar experiences in Lincolnshire. The restaurant serves a seasonal menu in a room of genuine Edwardian character.
Scale and Flexibility
The larger scale of the Petwood makes it well-suited to groups — private dining rooms, meeting spaces, and the generous grounds give it a flexibility that smaller boutique hotels cannot offer.
How It Fits Into a Heritage Itinerary
The Woodhall Spa Golf Stay
Its primary use is as a base for a Woodhall Spa programme built around the Hotchkin Course. The proximity and the quality of the stay make it a strong choice for this kind of focused golf trip.
The Heritage East Lincolnshire Extension
For travellers extending their Heritage East programme west from Norfolk into Lincolnshire, the Petwood provides an ideal one- or two-night base for the Woodhall Spa extension — with more space and character than a smaller boutique hotel.
A Group Stay
The larger scale, the private dining rooms, and the generous grounds make the Petwood particularly well-suited to groups. The Squadron Bar and the historic character give a group stay a genuine sense of occasion.
A History-Focused Stay
For travellers with an interest in RAF history and the Dambusters, the Petwood is a genuinely unique destination — a hotel where the history is embedded in the building itself, not simply displayed on the walls.
This is the most historically distinctive hotel in Woodhall Spa — a grand Edwardian country house with a genuine RAF heritage, 30 acres of woodland gardens, and a character that is quite unlike any other hotel in the Heritage East programme. For travellers who want space, history, and a genuine sense of occasion alongside their Hotchkin Course golf, it is the most compelling choice in the village.
Rooms, Dining & Wellness
Rooms & Suites
The rooms and suites at the Petwood are individually designed with a warm, Edwardian country house character — quality fabrics, period features, and the kind of comfortable generosity that suits a larger historic hotel. Many look out over the woodland gardens, giving the stay a genuine sense of the Lincolnshire countryside.
Dining & Atmosphere
The restaurant serves a seasonal menu in a room of genuine Edwardian character — a proper dining experience that suits a golf trip well. The Squadron Bar, with its RAF memorabilia and historic atmosphere, is the most distinctive bar experience in Woodhall Spa and gives the evenings a genuine sense of occasion.
Spa, Wellness & Leisure
The 30 acres of woodland gardens provide a restorative setting for walks and relaxation — a different kind of wellness experience that suits the historic character of the hotel. The generous grounds and the woodland walks add a dimension to the stay that smaller boutique hotels cannot offer.
The Petwood Hotel
Official Website
For full property details and further information about The Petwood
Position & Access
Location & Access
The Petwood Hotel sits in Woodhall Spa village, close to the Hotchkin Course and the National Golf Centre. It is the most spacious and historically distinctive hotel in the village, well-placed for a Woodhall Spa golf programme.
Courses Within Reach
Arrivals & Transfers
Lincoln is approximately 20 miles north, with rail connections to London King's Cross via Newark. The East Midlands Airport is approximately 50 miles south-west. Woodhall Spa is most easily reached by car, and the hotel is well-placed for a self-drive itinerary that combines Lincolnshire with the wider Heritage East programme.
Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, England · England
Plan Your Woodhall Spa Stay
If the Petwood feels like the right base for your Woodhall Spa itinerary, we can build the right version of the journey around it.