The ancient market town of Sleaford lies along the River Slea in Lincolnshire, some 30kms from the county town of Lincoln and 20kms from Grantham. Until recently, agriculture was the path of its development from a tiny Anglo-Saxon hamlet in the 9th century to a major trading centre with a famous cattle market by the 19th century. Nowadays, the town is concentrating on tourism and local crafts. Old Sleaford lies to the east of the modern town and contains a broad high street lined with 18th and 19th century terraced homes, shops and pubs. Excavations near an old Roman road in the old town revealed burial sites and a large stone-built villa. Several Roman and Saxon cemeteries have also been excavated. The old town centre is especially charming, bisected by the river with its tiny bridges. Homes dating to the 18th century are set right on the banks and several Sleaford hotels are set in old coaching inns. St Denys parish church, built in the 12th century, holds one of the oldest spires in rural England, and the 17th century Cogglesford Mill is the county's last working water mill.

other spellings: sleafordhotels, slioford otel, eslaforde' hotell, hote in sleafort, sleafrod hotes, slaeford