March 12, 2015 12.03 pm This story is over 107 months old

Tickets on sale for Lincoln Castle’s April reveal

Castle revamp: The gates to one of Lincoln’s most popular tourist attractions will re-open on April 1 after a £22m refurbishment.

Tickets are now on sale for the reopening of Lincoln Castle, after a £22m refurbishment.

Lincoln Castle has been closed to visitors for the last three months to allow for the renovation work to be completed.

To mark the grand re-opening, the castle will host a Lincoln Castle Revealed open day, featuring CBeebies’ favourite Mike the Knight.

Highlights of the new-look attraction include:

  • A new vault for Magna Carta and Charter of the Forest, which is the only place in the world where they can be viewed together
  • A Medieval Wall Walk, with accompanying audio guide
  • The newly-refurbished Victorian Prison, which has been closed to members of the public for decades
  • Archaeology uncovered during the works, including an internationally important Saxon sarcophagus, or stone coffin
  • A new castle shop and café, offering souvenirs, gifts and refreshments

Lincoln Castle has around 150,000 visitors each year and project managers at Lincolnshire County Council are predicting a 29-55% increase in the overall value of Lincoln tourism once the attraction is opened.

This translates to a £36-68 million boost for the local economy and around 600-1,100 new jobs.

The improvements have been possible due to funding from the county council, Heritage Lottery Fund, European Regional Development Fund, David Ross Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation and other private donations.

View of the works at Lincoln Castle. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

View of the works at Lincoln Castle. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Councillor Nick Worth, Executive Member for Culture and Heritage, said: “The new-look castle brings to life 1,000 years of history – right where it happened.

“There’ll be lots to see and do: enjoy fantastic views from the walls, walk in the footsteps of prisoners, and see the charter that changed history, in its 800th anniversary year.

“There’ll also be guided tours, dressing-up, costumed performances and other family activities to help you get the most out of your visit.

“So whether you’re a history buff or just looking for a fun family day out, Lincoln Castle’s the place to be.”

Tickets are now on sale via the castle’s new website, where details of the different prices can be found as well as information on the new attractions within the development.

All inclusive tickets are available for the Medieval Wall Walk, Victorian Prison and Magna Carta at £31.20 for a family ticket (two adults and three children), £12 for adults and £7.20 for children.

Family tickets for the Medieval Wall Walk are priced at £13, and family tickets for the Victorian Prison and Magna Carta are £26.

Visitors to the castle will also be able to use the Lincoln Castle Shuttle at £6, which will run between the outskirts of the city and the castle.

Buses to the castle will run every 15 to 20 minutes from Whisby Garden Centre (off A46 Lincoln Western Bypass) with a 300 space car park at the centre available.