A storied hotel where history meets heartfelt hospitality
A grand 19th‑century coaching inn, The White Hart stands proudly by the River Witham at the heart of Boston, its timbered façade warmed by log fires and a bustling courtyard bar. Inside, seasonal menus celebrate Lincolnshire produce in a riverside restaurant overlooking the majestic St Botolph’s “Boston Stump”. Twenty‑six stylish, ensuite rooms blend period charm with modern comfort, free Wi‑Fi, crisp linens, thoughtful tea‑and‑coffee trays. The staff are unfailingly friendly. Whether sipping afternoon coffee, al fresco in summer or lingering over supper by the hearth, you feel Boston’s history and hospitality intertwine.
Take a walk with us, back in time
Boston, Lincolnshire is an absolute gem of a town, steeped in history and charm, nestled amid the whispering fields of the Fens. Its name, rather delightfully, harks back to “Botolph’s Town,” after the saintly St Botolph, a 7th-century monk whose spiritual presence still seems to linger in the air. By the 11th century, Boston was a proper little settlement and it blossomed in medieval times. With the River Witham flowing gracefully through and the Wash just nearby, it became a vital port in the 12th and 13th centuries. Picture it, bustling markets, ships laden with wool bound for the Low Countries, Flemish merchants bringing a European flair. By the late 1200s, it was second only to London in customs revenue.
The crown jewel, of course, is St Botolph’s Church, fondly called “The Stump.” Towering an elegant 83 metres into the Lincolnshire sky, it’s one of the largest parish churches in all of England. Started in 1309, it rises majestically over the flat Fenland, guiding travellers home and reminding us of Boston’s glorious past.
Then there’s the rather stirring tale of the Pilgrim Fathers. In the early 1600s, a group of brave souls from Boston sought freedom from religious persecution. Though their first attempt to flee to Holland landed them in prison, many succeeded, and their descendants sailed on the Mayflower in 1620. They founded the Boston across the Atlantic, forever linking these two towns in spirit.
In time, the river silted, trade moved on, and Boston’s days as a port began to fade. But it found its strength anew in agriculture, especially after the Fens were drained in the 17th and 18th centuries, transforming the land into some of the richest farmland in the country.
Today, Boston remains a glorious patchwork of past and present. The market still bustles, the Witham still glides by, and the Stump still watches over it all. It’s a town with heart, history, and a quiet grandeur that simply takes your breath away.
Boston & Lincolnshire
This historic market town sits by the Witham River and is famed for the towering Boston Stump. Surrounded by rich Fenland farmland, it blends medieval charm, maritime heritage and quiet countryside with echoes of Pilgrim Fathers journeys.
