If you go South on the A1 towards Newark you will be looking at a reasonably pleasant area with a drive of around 35 - 45 mins to Fin.
If you go East, avoid Gainsboro: Lincoln is around 45 minutes away. The villages to the North are maybe 35 minutes if you push it.
Further West, Sheffield is OK and Wakefield isn't too bad.
Depends how close to the airport you want to be. Lot of RAF guys lived Westwoodside way and even more in Lincoln.