Lincoln

Understand

Much of prehistoric Lincolnshire was wetland, but a scarp of chalk and sandstone ran north-south, a natural transport corridor and vantage point. The River Witham broke through midway, so you had to descend from the scarp, squelch across the valley then climb the other side. The Romans turned this route into Ermine Street and colonised the north slope as Lindum. The river was navigable yet the upper settlement was flood-free, so Lindum prospered through agriculture and as an ecclestiastical centre. Thus Lincoln became a substantial medieval cathedral city; its woollen wear was dyed with blue woad and yellow meld to create "Lincoln Green". The city saw strife with 12th century civil wars and anti-semitic pogroms, French incursions, the Dissolution of the Monasteries which cut ecclesiastic income, and the 17th century civil wars. It recovered with advances in agriculture of the Georgian era, especially the drainage of Lincolnshire which greatly increased arable land. It developed heavy industry in the 19th century but from the visitors' point of view had two strokes of luck. The Great North Road (later A1) took a more westerly route from Peterborough through Newark to avoid the Humber, as did the London-York railway, and city industry was down in the valley not up on the scarp. This meant that the medieval centre wasn't re-developed, and remains one of the most attractive in Britain. 1 Visitor Information Centre is at 9 Castle Hill at the crossroads with Bailgate and the cathedral precinct's Exchequer Gate. It's open M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 11AM-4PM, tel +44 1522 545458.

Getting there

By plane Manchester Airport (MAN IATA) will often be the most convenient, for its range of flights at competitive prices and good onward transport, see below. Other airports lie closer but have far fewer flights or onward connections. They do have car hire, which you'll need to explore Lincolnshire beyond the city. They include Leeds-Bradford (LBA IATA), East Midlands Airport (EMA IATA) near Derby and Humberside (HUY IATA} towards Hull. Doncaster Airport (DSA IATA) closed in 2022.

By train 1 Lincoln railway station is central on St Mary's St, in the valley at the foot of the old town. It has a staffed ticket office and machines, a cafe, ATM and toilets. There is step-free access to all platforms. Plusbus supplements are available on fares to this station. LNER trains run every two hours from London King's Cross, taking two hours via Stevenage, Peterborough, Grantham and Newark Northgate. Other slower connections involve changing at Peterborough. From cities to the north (eg York), you usually change at Newark, though two trains a day shortcut cross-country from Doncaster. Northern trains run hourly from Sheffield, taking 90 min via Worksop, Retford and Gainsborough. From Manchester Airport or Piccadilly, take the Transpennine Express to Sheffield and change. East Midlands trains trundle across the Midlands hourly from Leicester via Loughborough, Nottingham, Newark Castle (a mile west of Newark Northgate) and Hykeham, and continue from Lincoln to Market Rasen and Grimsby. You might use Hykeham railway station for the southwest fringe of town, but it's probably easier to continue to Lincoln then get a bus.

By bus

National Express runs twice daily taking 5-6 hours from London Victoria via Nottingham, where you may have to change onto the bus starting from Birmingham. Both services continue to Hull. Megabus doesn't run to Lincoln. Stagecoach buses converge on the city from across Lincolnshire, for instance from Grimsby, Market Rasen, Louth, Skegness, Horncastle, Sleaford, Grantham, Gainsborough and Scunthorpe. Lincoln bus station is across the street from the railway station. It's modern, effectively a single corridor: buses to the cathedral area leave from Stands C and D. There's a cafe but more choice in the adjacent streets.

By road From the south follow A1 to Newark (where the junction is often congested) then A46. This loops north side of Lincoln and continues to Grimsby. A15 follows the line of the Roman road from Peterborough and Sleaford, looping east side of the city and continuing to Scunthorpe, Humber Bridge and Hull. It's an und

Getting around

Walk wherever possible. The medieval spine of town isn't suitable for anything more elaborate than a pack-mule or hand-cart. A sightseeing bus circulates in summer. Stagecoach is the main bus operator but there are ten others. Buses you might use are the 2, 31, 33, 34 south for Bomber Command, 3, 8, 18 for Museum of Lincolnshire Life, and 16, 48, 49, 83 southwest for Hykeham. The Walk & Ride bus doesn't come into the station, but circles Silver St, the cathedral, Lincoln Hotel, Bailgate, The Lawn, Castle Square, Park St and so back to Silver St. It runs every 20 min. Car hire is available from Europcar, Hertz, Thrifty and Enterprise Taxi operators are City Cars (☏ +44 1522 899069), Dan's (+44 7929 633469) and Direct Cars (☏ +44 1522 567567). There's a taxi rank by the railway station. Hire Bike Lincoln have shared pedal and e-bikes. Casual use is £3 / hour up to 3 hours, or you can register for longer use. They're more useful for the suburbs than exploring the old centre: there are docking stations at Newport Arch and Union St but none just by the castle or cathedral.

See

1 Lincoln Cathedral (Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lincoln), Minster Yard LN2 1PX, ☏ +44 1522 561600, [email protected]. M-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su noon-3PM. One of the finest Gothic buildings in Europe, at the heart of the medieval city. It was completed in 1092 but torn asunder by Britain's strongest recorded earthquake in 1185. Rebuilt, it became a great ecclesiastical centre, though the tower collapsed in 1237 and the spire in 1548. Notable features are the vaulted ceilings, the rose windows, the 1422 Medieval and 17th-century Wren libraries, the 18th century clock tower, and the baleful Lincoln Imp — look for him just left of the great east window. 21st-century repairs found that many flying buttresses had lost contact with the walls, so the cathedral was being kept upright by little more than the power of prayer, which perhaps has advanced since the last major collapse, and is another motive for the regular Anglican services here. Adult £9, conc £7.20, child £4.80. (updated Mar 2022) Exchequer Gate is the impressive 14th-century gatehouse by the cathedral west entrance. This was where tenants of church land came to pay rent — lots of them, for it was a big diocese. Their money was counted out on a chequered cloth, and "Exchequer" came to mean the government finance department. Eastgate on the north side of the cathedral led out from the Roman settlement of Lindum Colonia, with a fragment of the 3rd century wall and gatetower visible. Round the corner south, Priory Gate was the cathedral precinct's east entrance, but the present structure is a 19th century replica. Medieval Bishops' Palace, Minster Yard LN2 1PU (south side of cathedral), ☏ +44 1522 527468. Daily 10AM-5PM, closed in winter. This English Heritage building was built in the 12th century when the bishop was the temporal landlord of a great swathe of eastern England. It was ruined in the Civil Wars and never rebuilt; Victorian additions became a hotel. Adult £10.50, child (5-17 years) £5.50, senior or student with ID £9.00, family tickets available, up to 10% discount if purchased online. (updated Mar 2024) 2 Lincoln Castle, Castle Hill LN1 3AA, ☏ +44 1552 554559. Daily: Apr-Sep 10AM-5PM, Oct-Mar 10AM-4PM. There's been a fort here since Roman times and probably earlier, but the stone castle was begun in 1068 by William the Conqueror. It has a large enclosure within its curtain walls, which from the 18th century was the obvious place to site a court house, jail and gibbet. So it feels Victorian or Georgian, though it holds an original copy of Magna Carta, and its most

Do

What's on? Listen to BBC Radio Lincolnshire on 94.9 FM, Lincs FM on 102.2 FM, or Siren on 107.3 FM. Or read Lincolnshire Live (incorporating the Echo) or The Lincolnite. Boat trips ply the Witham and Foss Dyke daily April to Sept, starting from around the Pool. Operators are Lincoln Boat Trips and Oliver Boat Trips. They also offer boat hire. Performing arts: Theatre Royal is on Clasketgate B1308. The university-run Performing Arts Centre is south bank of Brayford Pool. Chapterhouse on Guildhall St is mostly about live music, but also puts on open-air theatre. The Drill is based on Free School Lane. Zest Theatre on Grantham St promotes youth arts. Cinema: Odeon is on Brayford Wharf North, and Everyman is on Sincil St just north of the railway station. Football: Lincoln City FC were promoted in 2026 and now play soccer in the Championship, the second tier. Their stadium (capacity 10,000) is at Sincil Bank, half a mile south of the railway station. They're known as "The Imps" but are not to be confused with Lincoln Red Imps FC, who are based in Gibraltar oddly enough. Golf: the closest course is Carholme GC two miles northwest. Further out are Pottergate GC in Branston, Blankney GC further south, Welton Manor to the northeast, and Lincoln GC northwest at Torksey. Water Rail Way is a long-distance path between Lincoln and Boston. It follows the River Witham and is a former railway trackbed, so it's level and suitable for cycling. Join it on Waterside South, which is south bank of the river but north of Sincil Dyke, so the first few miles to Bardney are on a ribbon of artificial island. Skydive: Skydive Hibaldstow is one of the biggest centres in the UK. It's 25 miles north of town at Hibaldstow DN20 9NN, just off the A15. The usual approach for a beginner is a “tandem” – plunging from 15,000 ft strapped to an instructor, so minimum training and fitness are needed, but you do need decent weather. Email [email protected] or call 01652 848837. There's another big centre to the south at Langar, see Newark. Lincoln Observatory has public viewing nights Nov-March. In summer the evening sky is too bright. Lincolnshire Showground five miles north on A15 hosts regular events. The largest are the Lincolnshire Show in June, and the Food & Gift Fair in November. Imp on the Green is a family-friendly music festival at the Showground at the end of May, with tribute acts rather than famous names. Truckfest Lincoln celebrates heavy haulage and monster trucks, at Lincolnshire Showground in May. Similar events are held at seven other locations across Britain.

Buy

The main store in town centre is Tesco, a quarter mile south east of the railway station. It has budget fuel and is open M-Sa 6AM-midnight and Su 10AM-4PM. Waterside shopping centre north bank of the river and High Street north to the foot of the hill have the usual retail chains. "Traditional" and giftware shops are up the hill, around the castle and along Bailgate. Farmers Market is held around the castle on the third Saturday of each month. Lincoln central market is south bank of the river, trading M-Sa 9AM-4PM. From 2022 a major re-build will cause some disruption.

Eat

Brayford Pool north wharf has a strip of budget chain outlets, such as Nando's, Ask, Wagamama, Prezzo and Zizzi's, and a handful of Chinese. The Square Sail, Brayford Wharf North LN1 1YW, ☏ +44 1522 559920. Daily 8AM-midnight. A JD Wetherspoon serving the usual selection of pub grub and decent ales. (updated Mar 2022) The Ritz is another Wetherspoon on 143 High St just south of the railway station. Clasketgate has a food strip as it intersects High St, with TGI Fridays, Cafe Shanti (vegan), Huckleberry's and Romeo's. Cheese Society at 1 St Martins Lane (a block west of The Strait) has a small licensed cafe but is primarily a cheese shop. Food is served M-Sa 10AM-4PM. High Street and up Steep Hill to the castle has Wildwood, Pizza Express, Slow Rise Pizza, Jew's House (see below), Vine's Bakery, Brown's Pie Shop, Wig & Mitre and Olivares Tapas. Bailgate with Eastgate has Cafe Zoot, Lincoln Grill (in White Hart Hotel), Thailand Number One, Curtis Bakery and Elite on the Bail (seafood). Jew's House, 15 The Strait LN2 1JD, ☏ +44 1522 524851. Th-Sa 6AM-midnight, Su 1-6PM. Upscale cosy dining in one of Britain's oldest dwellings. (updated Mar 2022)

Drink & nightlife

The Victoria, 6 Union Rd LN1 3BJ (west flank of castle), ☏ +44 1552 541000. M-F noon-11PM, Sa noon-midnight, Su 2-8PM. A city institution, this is a grand old pub with food and drink a-plenty. (updated Mar 2022) Brayford Pool has Horse and Groom, Royal William IV, Square Sail (see Eat), The William Foster, Mailbox and The Dandy Lion. Engine Shed is the biggest music venue in the area. It's on the south wharf of the Pool. Castle area has Magna Carta, Beerheadz, Lion and Snake and Prince of Wales. Sugarcubes is a rock club at the corner of West Parade and Hungate, open F Sa 11PM-3:30AM. Breweries are Poachers at 439 Newark Rd North Hykeham, and Ferry Ales east towards Bardney. Lincolnshire wine is produced on the chalky Wolds. Somerby Vineyards are north at Barnetby and Ovens Farm is towards Skegness. Distilleries: Unconventional Distillery west edge of town makes rum. Lincoln Distillery in Saxilby makes gin.

Sleep

Budget 1 Hartsholme Country Park, Skellingthorpe Rd LN6 0EY (off B1378), ☏ +44 1522 873578. Well-run council caravan park and campsite open March-Oct. Dogs welcome on lead. Pitch £17, hook-up £20. (updated Mar 2022)

Mid-range

Poplars B&B, Beaumont Fee LN1 1EZ, ☏ +44 1522 510170. Charming friendly B&B near castle. B&B double £90. (updated Mar 2022) Castle Hotel, Westgate LN1 3AS, ☏ +44 1522 538801. Grand little hotel between cathedral and castle, good dining. No dogs. B&B double £100. (updated Mar 2022) Lincoln Hotel, Eastgate LN2 1PN (just north of cathedral), ☏ +44 1522 520348. Convenient comfy modern hotel. B&B double £120. (updated Mar 2022) Premier Inn, Broadgate LN2 5AQ (200 yards north of bus & railway stations), ☏ +44 333 321 9305. Reliable comfy chain hotel. Nearby parking is £6 a day. See also their Canwick branch. B&B double £70. (updated Mar 2022) Holiday Inn, Brayford Wharf North LN1 1YW (north bank of Pool), ☏ +44 333 320 9338. Comfy chain hotel, 10 min walk west of stations. B&B double £110. (updated Mar 2022) DoubleTree by Hilton, Brayford Wharf North LN1 1YW (next to Holiday Inn), ☏ +44 1522 565180. Boxy modern hotel but close to station. B&B double £120. (updated Mar 2022) 2 Eagles Guest House, 552a Newark Road, North Hykeham LN6 9NG, ☏ +44 1522 686346. Pleasant welcoming guest house, southwest edge of city. B&B double £90. (updated Mar 2022) 3 Holiday Inn Express, Ruston Way LN6 7DB, ☏ +44 371 902 1617. Modern midrange place with 118 bedrooms, bar and restaurant. B&B double £130. (updated Mar 2022) 4 Bridleway B&B, Riseholme Gorse, Hall Lane LN2 2LY (off A15 four miles north of city), ☏ +44 1522 545693. Smart countryside B&B with four rooms in converted farm buildings. Open Jan-Nov, 2 nights minimum, no children under 15 or dogs. B&B double £100. (updated Mar 2022) 5 South Park Guesthouse, 11 South Park LN5 8EN (on A1434), ☏ +44 1522 887136. Smart friendly B&B south of centre. B&B double £70. (updated Mar 2022) 6 Premier Inn Canwick, Lincoln Rd LN4 2RF (1 mile south of stations), ☏ +44 333 321 1092. Another location of this chain hotel. B&B double £70. (updated Mar 2022) 7 Pyewipe Inn, Saxilby Rd LN1 2BG (off A57, no access from A46 bypass), ☏ +44 1522 528708. Pleasant pub with rooms on Foss Dyke. A pyewipe is a plover or peewit, fond of soft ground for catching worms. B&B double £80. (updated Mar 2022)

Splurge 8 Lincoln Holiday Retreat, Pig Lane LN6 0SB (off B1378), ☏ +44 7427 727711. Plush inclusive resort in self-contained cottages. B&B double £300. (updated Mar 2022)

Go next

North of Lincoln the A15 (the Roman road Ermine Street) leads to the Humber Bridge into East Yorkshire. Hull is just across the bridge, and must-see York is another 30-min drive. West of Lincoln beyond the vale of the River Trent lies Sherwood Forest. Old-style beach resorts along the coast are Cleethorpes, Mablethorpe and Skegness.