Lincoln Castle
Search results
Lincoln (/ ˈ l ɪ ŋ k ə n /) is a cathedral city and district in Lincolnshire, England, of which it is the county town. In the 2021 Census, the Lincoln district had a population of 103,813. [4] The 2021 census gave the urban area of Lincoln , including North Hykeham and Waddington , a recorded population of 127,540.
- 01522
- England
- 1 April 1974
- East Midlands
May 4, 2024 · Lincoln, city (district), administrative and historic county of Lincolnshire, England. It stands 200 feet (60 metres) above sea level on an impressive site at the point where the River Witham cuts a deep gap through the limestone escarpment of the Lincoln Edge. Lincoln is the market centre for a major arable agricultural district, and many of ...
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Things to Do in Lincoln: History and Sightseeing
- Things to Do in Lincoln: Activities
- Things to Do in Lincoln: Entertainment
- Things to Do in Lincoln: Food and Drink
- Things to Do in Lincoln: Events
- Things to Do in Lincoln: Iconic Places to Stay
1. Visit the spectacular Lincoln Cathedral
Words like ‘spectacular’ are often thrown about too easily, but in the case of Lincoln Cathedral it is not misused at all. Few buildings characterise a city in the way that our cathedral does. Lincoln Cathedral has stood on the city’s hilltop for nearly a thousand years, and was the tallest building in the world for over two centuries. You can see it from miles away in any direction or from pretty much anywhere you happen to be standing in the city. In daylight it towers above everything arou...
2. See an original copy of Magna Carta
Has a single document ever had such a profound effect around the world as Magna Carta? This parchment, signed and sealed more than 800 years ago, laid the foundations for the rule of law and individual rights in Britain, and its influence has reverberated across the globe. Only four original copies of Magna Carta survive today, and one of them is here in Lincoln. In fact, the copy has never left the city since the Bishop of Lincoln brought it back to the cathedral in 1215. You can see this or...
3. Discover Lincoln Castle and its fascinating story
The only building in the city that can rival the cathedral in historical significance is Lincoln Castle. It’s been around for longer, built by none other than William the Conqueror in 1068 – just a couple of years after his triumph at the Battle of Hastings. The castle is located uphill just a short walk away from the cathedral, making it easy to visit them both on a single day out. It’s free to enter the castle walls, where you can wander and relax around its lush green lawns, but it’s also...
10. Check out Lincoln’s excellent street markets
Trading activity in Lincoln has always been rooted in street markets, and this traditional spirit is very much still alive. The central streets of the city are abuzz with an eclectic mix of markets all year round. Various stalls are open at Lincoln Central Market on Sincil Street from Mondays to Saturdays – primarily fresh meat, fruit and veggies, but also a few selling gifts, books, comics, shoe repairs and whatnot. Themed markets are also hosted around the city on particular days of the mon...
11. Go shopping on Steep Hill
Lincoln’s High Street is strewn with all the usual suspect chain stores for your regular fix of city shopping. However, for the real feel of Lincoln and a truly independent shopping experience, a little uphill walking is required. Head to the top end of the High Street and you will see an arch leading to a narrow cobbled road that climbs all the way up to the castle and cathedral; this ascent is where you will find the epicentre of Lincoln’s local independent shop scene. At the lower end is T...
12. Discover art at The Collection and Usher Gallery
Lincoln has a long and proud history of creativity, and for art lovers there is plenty to explore around the city. These next three entries in our list highlight some of the best spots to do that, beginning with the Usher Gallery, the city’s foremost art space. The Usher Gallery has been around since 1927 and is run today as part of The Collection, Lincolnshire’s county museum. Named after Lincoln-born jeweller James Ward Usher, it hosts original works by the likes of Turner and Lowry, as wel...
21. See the Imps play at Sincil Bank
We might not have a premier league football club in the city, but Lincoln City FC have been punching above their weight in recent years. Playing non-league football as recently as 2017, successive promotions have seen the Imps climb to League One, and very nearly to the Championship. Strong cup runs in recent years have also pitted them against the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton. A day out at Lincoln City FC might not be like watching Barcelona, but it’s a fun experience nonetheless....
22. See a show at the New Theatre Royal
No industry was hit harder by the Covid-19 pandemic than performing arts. It was heartbreaking to hear about theatres closing around the country, and the bite has been felt here in Lincoln too. One of our cherished venues, the Lincoln Drill Hall, was narrowly rescued from permanent closure. Another classic Lincoln venue that has experienced difficult times is the New Theatre Royal. First opened in 1893, the theatre has been at the crux of the city’s entertainment scene for over 125 years. It...
23. Catch some bands at the Engine Shed
Lincoln’s premier live music venue, the Engine Shed, is run by the University of Lincoln Students’ Union and located on campus close to the city centre. Like Lincoln Drill Hall, the venue takes its name from the building’s previous purpose; a locomotive storage facility. After a major renovation, the Engine Shed opened in its new gig-venue form in 2006. The venue attracts high-profile bands to its stage, with the Beautiful South, Kings of Leon and Kasabian numbering among the many acts to hav...
27. Have afternoon tea at Stokes High Bridge Café
As you may have read in our rundown of fun facts about Lincoln, a quirky feature of the city is that it has the UK’s oldest bridge with buildings on it. High Bridge Café is the unmissable 14th-Century black-and-white building that stands on the medieval bridge at the very heart of the city. Stokes Tea & Coffee has been a thriving local business for over a century, and remains a pinnacle of Lincoln’s hot drinks culture. High Bridge Café is its foremost venue, and is set in one of the city’s mo...
28. Bells Tea Shop
Bells Tea Shop is another little gem among Lincoln’s vast choice of tea rooms, in a quaint old black-and-white cottage at the crest of Steep Hill. It’s such a cosy little café that you can even hire out the entire venue for two hours for just £50. This is a great spot to slow down for a sandwich and cuppa after exploring the sights of uphill Lincoln and the Cathedral Quarter. It’s a popular place so it’s a good idea to book in advance if you want to come in around lunchtime, especially if the...
29. Go for some fine dining at the historic Jew’s House
Standing near the foot of Steep Hill, Jew’s Houseis one of Lincoln’s oldest surviving buildings, dating back to around 1170. This is no ordinary old building, either – it is one of only five Jewish medieval houses in England that still survive from this period. The building is tied to a tragic history, as one of the only relics of a thriving Jewish community that existed in the city before being expelled from the country in the 13th century. In recent times, the building has been revived. In...
45. Visit one of Europes’ biggest Christmas markets
I may be a little biased here, but Lincoln Christmas Market has to be the best of the UK’s Christmas markets. Indeed, it was the first of the German-style Christmas markets to be held in the UK, after the concept was brought back from Lincoln’s twin town Neustadt an der Weinstrasse in the early 1980s. These days it has grown into a festive extravaganza that welcomes a quarter of a million people each year. The market is held over the first weekend in December, when it takes over the entire up...
46. Come to the world’s largest steampunk festival
Lincoln’s Asylum Steampunk Festival is the largest and longest-running event of its kind in the world. For a single weekend in August, Lincoln becomes the centre of the steampunk universe, with some 100,000 people descending on the city in an array of dashing peculiar costumes. With a twist of Edwardian and Victorian nostalgia, steampunk celebrates a “time that never was”. The Asylum festival centres around the castle, but includes mini-events at venues all over the city, celebrating art, lit...
47. Join a celebration of agriculture at the Lincolnshire Show
Agriculture is Lincolnshire’s pride and joy, with the county’s fertile land producing over a fifth of the food grown in the UK. No wonder we have so many amazing local food outlets in the city. This proud tradition is celebrated each June at the Lincolnshire show, one of the UK’s oldest agricultural events. It takes place at the Lincolnshire Showground just outside the city. First held over 150 years ago, the show is run by Lincolnshire Agricultural Society and brings together entertainment,...
49. Go self-catered in the iconic Pemberton House
There is no shortage of places to stay in Lincoln, but to truly immerse yourself in a piece of the city’s history you can stop overnight at Pemberton House. Built in 1543, this old Tudor merchant’s house stands out strikingly in Castle Square and is one of Lincoln’s most photographed buildings. Pemberton House features five self-catered apartments with double bedrooms, and shared kitchen, lounge and shower rooms. Nestled right between the castle and cathedral, you couldn’t wish for a more cen...
50. Stay in a converted 19th century church
We wrap up our collection of things to do in Lincoln with one of the city’s most imaginative guest houses. The Old Palace Lodgeis set in a restored 19th-century church on a hillside perch close to the Cathedral Quarter. Originally serving as the Church of St Michael on the Mount, the building was repurposed as an art gallery and study before eventually falling into abandonment and deterioration. Just a decade ago, it was brought back to life by being converted into a charming boutique-style g...
Things to Do in Lincoln, England: See Tripadvisor's 159,315 traveler reviews and photos of Lincoln tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in May. We have reviews of the best places to see in Lincoln. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions.
6 min read. Centered around the cathedral and castle, the city of Lincoln in the heart of Historic County of Lincolnshire is full of attractive buildings, including fine 16th century and Georgian properties.
History & Heritage. A city steeped in history, ready to explore. The history and heritage of Lincoln can be traced back as far as 300BC, with many links to the city's past still visible today. Origins. Dating back to the first century BC, the first known settlers in Lincoln lived around the Brayford Waterfront .
A storyteller of history, Lincoln is a city with thousands of tales to tell — a place where Romans walked and Medieval battles took place. From the heights on Lincoln Cathedral and cobbled pathways to a Norman fortress and the Magna Carta at Lincoln Castle, there are plenty of ways to step back in time.
