Destinations
Lincoln
One of Britain's best cultural cities
visitor guide to Lincoln
Lincoln is a beautiful historic city full of heritage and culture - home to the magnificent Lincoln Cathedral, Lincoln Castle, Roman ruins, and medieval architecture. It is no wonder that Lincoln is a popular location for a city break in the UK. Wander along the picturesque cobbled streets and take in the spectacular sights of Lincoln's magnificent historic architecture. The city is full of fun attractions and activities for the whole family to enjoy, plus there are lots of delicious places to eat and drink.
Lincoln is home to two universities and the city sparks with student energy during term time. The two campuses are quite different: BGU is uphill and has just been voted number 1 for teaching quality. The University of Lincoln is downhill and sits beside the Brayford Pool; it was named the Modern University of the Year in 2021. There is a thriving range of cultural events with venues like the Cathedral, Engine Shed, The Lawn, Drill Hall, Theatre Royal and open-air events at Lincoln Castle. Each year Steam Punk brings a real spectacle to the Castle and uphill area and the Lincolnshire Showground on the edge of Lincoln has an events programme throughout the year. Lincoln also has a buzzing nightlife of restaurants, pubs and bars, both uphill and downhill.
Lindum Colonia was a Roman settlement founded as a legionary fortress around 58-68 AD. William the Conqueror recognising the strategic importance of the hilltop fortress, chose it as the site for his castle at Lincoln, reusing some of the remaining stone walls. Roman remains can be seen outside the Lincoln Hotel and on Bailgate and Newport Arch which is still used by traffic today.
SPECIAL TO Lincoln
Magna Carta
Museum of Lincolnshire Life, Lincoln Museum and the Usher Gallery
Roman Heritage
Aviation and Industrial Heritage
Brayford Pool, River Witham and Fossdyke Canal
Riverside paths and Nature Reserves
West and South Commons
Shopping
Lincoln Cathedral
Historic Buildings
Lincoln Cathedral
Discover Lincoln Cathedral, one of the most spectacular Gothic buildings in the world. The cathedral is a spectacular and globally iconic landmark that has been standing tall over the city of Lincoln for centuries and was the tallest building in the world for over 200 years.
Lincoln Castle
Lincoln Castle is an incredible must see historic attraction, with special events, Magna Carta Vault, Victorian Prison and spectacular views across the entire city from the Medieval Wall Walk.
£22m restoration
Between 2005 and 2015 Lincoln Castle was the subject of a £22m restoration. The collapsing medieval walls were repaired and a complete wall walk circuit created with partial wheelchair access. The early Victorian prison was opened up. The stories of prisoners are told; taken from the extensive archive of prisoner records. Lincoln Cathedral’s 1215 Magna Carta had been displayed at the Castle for many years and it was provided with a new secure vault and cinema auditorium telling the history of Magna Carta’s long life. The works were complete just in time to celebrate Magna Carta’s 800th anniversary. It was then the Cathedral’s turn and it received a £16m investment with new visitor facilities and restoration of the West Front of the Cathedral which completed in 2022. After years of being shrouded in scaffolding the craftsmanship can be seen in all its glory.
On the west side of the Castle is The Lawn. Set in extensive grounds this early 19th century Greek revival building with its imposing columns was originally built as a lunatic asylum. It was a pioneer of treatments that meant mechanical restraints and coercion could be dispensed with. It is now the HQ of Stokes Tea and Coffee and they run a café, restaurant and theatre here. In the café, viewing windows give the chance to see the coffee roastery at work. The adjacent former nurses’ home is now a hotel.
On the south side of the Cathedral is the medieval Bishops’ Palace with sweeping views over the city and beyond. As the administrative centre of the largest diocese in medieval England stretching from the Humber to the Thames, the bishops’ palace was once among the most important buildings in the country.
International Bomber Command Centre
During the Second World War Lincolnshire was known as ‘Bomber County’ for the sheer number of RAF bases. The International Bomber Command Centre at Lincoln commemorates the nearly 58,000 men and women from 62 nations who lost their lives supporting Bomber Command in World War II. The 31m tall spire is in direct sight of Lincoln Cathedral which provided an important landmark for crews both leaving and returning from missions. There is an Airmen’s Chapel in the cathedral. The Dam Busters raid was flown from Scampton, just outside Lincoln. Considered an “almost impossible” task – flying low at night over enemy territory to drop a new, untested bomb. The bravery of 617 Squadron and the ingenuity of aircraft designer Barnes Wallis and his revolutionary bouncing bomb is commemorated at Woodhall Spa.
Doddington Hall & Gardens
Elizabethan Doddington Hall, very close to Lincoln, was completed in 1660 and has never been sold since. Pretty house, lovely gardens, great farm shop and café together with holiday cottages and a range of shops including a popular bike shop and a bauble barn at Christmas. Sir John Delaval who inherited the house in 1749 was unusual in that he liked vintage and furnished accordingly – deeply unfashionable for the day, but on trend for our time! He re-used some tapestries, ruthlessly cutting them up to fit the rooms, they were recently refurbished following decades of coal fires. Today Doddington is at the forefront having just begun a nature recovery scheme on the 770ha estate. Not a process that happens overnight but a really exciting one to watch.
The Lincoln Museum
Discover this award-winning museum in the heart of Lincoln City. Enjoy exploring the huge variety of historic and art exhibitions, interactive displays and regular talks and events throughout the year.
Magna Carta Vault at Lincoln Castle
Visit the internationally renowned Magna Carta at Lincoln Castle. View the original document sealed by King John that changed the course of history.
did you know?
In 1915 Foster & Co of Lincoln designed the first track-driven armoured vehicle. The world’s first tank was created through the engineering brilliance of William Tritton & Walter Wilson.
To escape the noise of Foster’s factory, they worked in a suite at Lincoln’s White Hart. Commissioned by Winston Churchill to break the stalemate of the conflict, it was initially referred to as the ‘Landship’. This was thought to be too descriptive, so to ensure secrecy the new weapon became known as the ‘tank’ – under the deliberately misleading ‘water carriers for Mesopotamia’. An original World Way I tank can be seen at the Museum of Lincolnshire Life.
ideas for things to do in and around Lincoln
Being a cultural city with a rich history there is of course a great deal of museums and heritage sites in Lincoln. However, you will also find vibrant venues with exciting events programmes, opportunities for getting active on one of the city's excellent cycle routes or perhaps the chance to unwind with some retail therapy if that is more your style. Lincoln has a wide variety of attractions and activities for you to explore. Find something to suit everyone's preferences.
points of interest
Brayford Pool is a natural pool formed from a widening of the River Witham which flows through the centre of Lincoln. It was used by the Romans as a port and they connected it to the River Trent by constructing the Foss Dyke. Brayford Pool would once have been surrounded by busy warehouses, but it is now used as a marina and overlooked by hotels, cafes, bars, restaurants, a cinema and the University of Lincoln. The Brayford Belle runs popular boat trips around the Pool and up the Fossdyke Canal.
High Bridge carries Lincoln High Street across the River Witham. Built around 1160 it is the oldest bridge in the country on which buildings still stand. It has been known as the Glory Hole by generations of boaters and it sets the limit to the size of boats using the Witham. The row of timber framed shops that sit on High Bridge date from about 1550 and is home to local institution Stokes Tea and Coffee.
did you know?
The Battle of Lincoln Fair in 1217 is little known, as important as 1066 and the Battle of Britain and it is the reason we're not French!
King John died in 1216, his son Henry only 9. The rebel barons invited the French to take over. The deciding battle was at Lincoln Castle where the elderly Lady Nicholaa de la Haye, as constable was besieged by the French. Henry was represented by William Marshall, known as 'the greatest knight in all the world'. Heavily out-numbered, Marshall by creating a diversion took the French by surprise. The French were pursued down Steep Hill, at huge disadvantage fighting going backwards downhill. William Marshall had led the Royalists to a stunning victory. This is not a battlefield as field – everything is still there – castle, cathedral, Newport Arch and Steep Hill. A chronicler of the time wrote ‘Nicholaa, not thinking about anything womanly, defended … [Lincoln] castle manfully’.
shopping in Lincoln
For those fancying some retail therapy, Lincoln offers a great selection of shops. The city has a mixture of high street favourites and independent boutiques. Uphill Lincoln and the Bailgate is home to several antiques shops and the quaint cobbled streets are ideal for a leisurely afternoon window shopping.
STEEP HILL & BAILGATE
Lincoln's independent shops and boutiques in the Cathedral Quarter offer a unique shopping experience on Bailgate or along Steep Hill and the Strait. In close walking distance to all the cities main attractions, it is the perfect place to spend your day shopping.
Independent Boutiques & High Street Favourites
Find all of your favourite brands in the heart of Lincoln on the High Street, Cornhill Quarter, Waterside and St Marks area for a great retail experience.
escape to the countryside
Lincoln is a small city with countryside not far away. It also has two large commons, both very popular with dog walkers. The West Common is flatter and was formerly home to the Lincoln Racecourse and the South Common is much hillier and leads up to the International Bomber Command Spire. Several cycle paths lead out of the city into more rural Lincolnshire. Water Rail Way is on the former Lincoln to Boston railway line and for most of its length it sits beside the River Witham. There is also a path on the west side leading to the village of Saxilby beside the Roman Fossdyke Canal and one leading out to Skellingthorpe and Doddington Hall. The 147 mile Viking Way which starts at the Humber Bridge and ends at Rutland Water, goes straight through the middle of Lincoln.
Nearby
Whisby Nature Reserve
There are several nature reserves both within the city and on its edge. Whisby Nature Reserve is set around former flooded gravel pits. Its 144ha of wetland and woodland consist of an extensive network of paths, hides and visitor centre. It is one of our gateway birdwatching sites, a Dragonfly Hotspot and a great place to see starling murmurations come the colder weather. Boultham Mere Nature Reserve is an attractive lake with beds of reed and sedge, attracting many wintering wildfowl. Hartsholme Country Park is about 3 miles from the city centre. It includes Victorian landscaped gardens, a large reservoir, woodland and grassland and many features survive from the original landscaping of the 1860’s. Facilities include a visitor centre, café, children’s play area and a campsite and has again won the Green Flag Award for 2024/25.
what's on in Lincoln and surrounding area
Lincoln has a vibrant and varied programme of events running throughout the year. Keep up to date with the latest performances, shows, markets, exhibitions and more taking place in and around Lincoln.
great local food & drink in Lincoln
Get a taste of Lincoln with its delicious selection of places to eat and drink. Lincoln has a great selection or restaurants and pubs. The city is also abundant with welcoming cafés and coffee shops with some very popular independents such as Stokes Tea & Coffee which was established 120 years ago by Robert William Stokes. You are guaranteed to find something to suit your tastebuds amongst Lincoln's numerous award winning eateries.
Katherine Swynford
Did you know...
Katherine Swynford’s story is known to many from the biographical novel Katherine by Anya Seton, her most famous work. From a very modest background she fell in love with John of Gaunt, son of Edward III. Despite many barriers they were eventually married in Lincoln Cathedral in 1396. Their daughter Joan was grandmother to Richard III and Edward IV, from whom descended the Tudor and Stuart dynasties and all subsequent British Royals.
Katherine also lived in the Lincolnshire village of Kettlethorpe and in later life within the Lincoln Cathedral Close. She died in 1403 and the tomb of Katherine Swynford and her daughter Joan Beaufort can be found on the south side of the Angel Choir in Lincoln Cathedral.
Lincoln
visitor information
Visit Lincoln Visitor Information Centre for all the information you need to know about Lincoln - where to visit, what’s on, transport enquires and more.
take tours & trails around Lincoln
places to stay in Lincoln
Plan your next city break in Lincoln with a great variety of self-catering accommodation, B&Bs and hotels. Choose your perfect home away from home in Lincoln.
planning your visit?
Visit Lincoln is the city’s dedicated tourism organisation where you'll find even more information about the best places to stay and visit in the area.
places to
stay & eat
A warm welcome awaits you. Find luxury hotel rooms and fine dining, unique B&Bs and wonderful local food, charming holiday cottages and more.
more local attractions
Find more inspiration about the city and countryside bursting with rich history, vibrant culture, architecture and creativity.
