With the start of a new academic year almost upon us, many nervous students from across the UK will be moving to Lincoln to begin their university careers.
So to make moving a little easier, The Lincolnite has compiled this handy top ten guide of essential things to do in Lincoln.
Tackle Steep Hill
A hill that definitely lives up to its name, Steep Hill is an absolute must for all newcomers to Lincoln. It may be a gruelling climb but there are plenty of quaint stores and tea shops, like the famous Bunty’s Tea Room, to keep you going along the way.
Steep Hill in Lincoln
Visit the Cathedral and Lincoln Castle
If you do happen to make it to the top of Steep Hill, you’ll be treated to a rather majestic view of Lincoln Cathedral. The 3rd largest in the UK, Lincoln Cathedral’s medieval architecture certainly offers some Instagram-worthy views.
Across the square, dotted with pubs and cafes, is Lincoln Castle. Whether you’re taking a walk around the castle grounds or a trip up onto the walls to admire the views, Lincoln Castle is an a must-see.
Lincoln Cathedral is free entry for students when you show your student card. Lincoln Castle is also free to visit on non-event days, but there are extra costs to take a wall tour or check out the Magna Carta vault and the Victorian prison.
Lincoln Cathedral as seen from Lincoln Castle
Experience Lincoln’s arts and culture
Lincoln is a fantastic place for arts and culture, you just need to know where to look. The Collection and Usher Gallery can be found on Danes Terrace and bring together an award-winning display of archaeological artefacts and fine and decorative arts.
For the budding artists out there, life-drawing classes are held every Wednesday at the Usher Gallery.
Also check out the Mansions of the Future project on St Mary’s Street (across the road from the train station) and the Museum of Lincolnshire Life uphill.
Usher Gallery
Visit the city’s parks
If city life gets a little too much, you can always take a walk around some of the area’s beautiful parks. The Arboretum is by far the most accessible, located just off Monks Road, a short walk away from the town centre. For those willing to trek a little further afield, Hartsholme Park is located just three miles west of the city centre and Whisby Nature Park is just off the A46.
Lake view of Hartsholme park in Lincoln. Photo: CoLC
Register at the health centre
Possibly the most important ‘must-do’ on the list. Go and get registered at the University of Lincoln health centre. Located on campus next door to The Swan, you can register here for GP services. There is also a student wellbeing centre next door that offers mental health support and counselling.
The sexual health clinic is located at 134 Dixon Street.
The University health centre
Try a food challenge
Last month, The Lincolnite got to sample the toughest food challenges in the city. Check out our video below to see how we got on and give them a go yourself!
Buy your fresh fruit and veg from the market
Head down to the indoor Central Market on Sincil Street to support local, independent city traders. Here you can pick up good quality meat, fresh fruit and veg at prices that won’t break the bank when you’re on a tight student budget.
There are also regular farmers’ markets on Castle Hill.
The farmers’ market in Castle Square.
Hire a bike
Fancy taking a bike ride to explore the sites? Just hire a bike from one of several orange bike points dotted around the city. The nearest one to the uni is on the Brayford Waterfront just outside the Royal William pub or outside Sparkhouse (Enterprise Building) behind the uni library. The service is available 24/7 and you can find more information and also a price list from the website.
Hirebike on the Brayford Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Go to a Lincoln City football match
The legendary Lincoln City are such a part of the fabric of the town that many say you can only be a true Lincolnite once you’ve been to a Lincoln City match. The atmosphere is always great, the fans are passionate and you’ll get to experience what it’s like inside the Sincil Bank stadium.
Sincil Bank Photo: Lincoln City Football Club
Enjoy an ice-cream!
There are lots of places to find sweet treats in Lincoln. Perhaps the most unique spot is Daisy Made farm. All the ice cream is hand-made on the farm with milk from the dairy cows and they have a huge selection of flavours for you to choose. You can also enjoy a game of mini golf whilst you’re there. Located on the Lincoln Road in Skellingthorpe, just a short drive (or bike ride) out of the city.
Here are some other ideas.
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People anxiously waiting to watch McFly or Comedy in the Park at Lincolnshire Showground will have to wait until next year, as the shows have been rescheduled due to COVID-19.
The popular British boyband McFly were due to play at Lincolnshire Showground on Friday, July 2, but that show was postponed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Comedy in the Park, which had such comedians as John Bishop, Rob Beckett and Al Murray taking part, was supposed to happen the day after McFly (Saturday, July 3) at the showground, but was dealt the same fate in being postponed.
Headline act John Bishop, along with Russell Kane, Al Murray, Rob Beckett and other comedians, will perform at Lincolnshire Showground. | Photo: Comedy in the Park
Now, organisers of both events have rescheduled the performances for July 2022, with McFly performing on the 8th and Comedy in the Park taking place on the 9th.
All tickets will remain valid and be automatically transferred to match with the rearranged dates.
A priceless 300-year-old painting from the National Gallery by Dutch artist Jan van Huysum is on display in an unexpected location – at a food bank in Lincoln.
The artwork – Jan van Huysum’s Flowers in a Terracotta Vase (1736-7) – was put on display at The Bridge Community Hub on Newark Road in Lincoln on June 21. It will remain on display until Saturday, June 26 as part of ‘Jan van Huysum Visits’.
The food bank in Lincoln was chosen for its outstanding work in providing essential support and food parcels to families and individuals throughout the coronavirus pandemic. The hub includes a food bank, library services, and a number of other opportunities for community engagement.
Each display in the Jan van Huysum tour explores one of the six ‘Ways to Wellbeing’: Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning, Give, and Care (for the planet). The theme for the Lincoln display is ‘Give’.
Community craft sessions will rerunning concurrently throughout the week for visitors to enjoy.
The Collection Museum in Lincoln has been working with local food banks to distribute creative packs and to engage with the community through arts activities. A specially themed pack will be available both at the Bridge food bank in Lincoln and other food banks in the area.
A literary and poetry resource related to the display has also been created to engage with two primary schools located near the food bank.
The painting will also visit Scotland and Northern Ireland, having already toured Barnsley, Cornwall and Norfolk, propping up in an unusual or unexpected non-museum venue.
Councillor Lindsey Cawrey, executive member for culture at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Art is such an enabler – for conversations, for inspiration and for learning. Covid has been hard for so many, so I know this pop-up exhibition will go a long way in connecting with new audiences – making a real difference to mental health and wellbeing. I’m delighted we could help make it happen!”
Mike Fowler, Team Leader at Bridge Community Hub, said: “We are delighted to welcome the National Gallery and to be hosting this amazing artwork on behalf of food banks across Lincoln. We can’t wait for our food bank guests to see the painting and for people who love art to maybe see their first food bank up close.”
Almost 70,000 trees could be lost to plans to build 4,000 homes near Grantham, the Woodland Trust has said.
More than 1,600 people have signed a petition by the trust against plans by Homes England and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation to build on the Prince William of Gloucester Barracks site, which will also include eight hectares of “employment use”.
The trees were planted almost a decade ago by school children, local people and soldiers to celebrate the Queen’s 60th Jubilee.
A statement on the trust’s website said: “We are deeply frustrated to see that Homes England’s revised plans have got worse, not better, in terms of woodland impact.
“The most recent masterplan indicates that 80% of the woodland on site would be lost. This equates to just under 60 ha or 67,000 trees.
“Having planted this woodland area with the local community and trust staff, we consider that it is a travesty that we are now facing the prospect of most of these trees being cut down less than a decade after they were planted.”
Homes England’s masterplan for the site.
Homes England said the plans will include a new village hub, with retail, community and commercial facilities, “extensive parkland and woodland areas”, new schools and improved pedestrian and cycling links.
It has acknowledged a “significant number of existing smaller trees within the extensive plantation area on the airfield would need to be removed to accommodate the proposal.”
However, on its website it said: “Where possible, these trees would be incorporated into the new open spaces and we are working with the Woodland Trust to make this a community with woodland and open space at its heart.
An artist’s impression of the site’s open spaces.
“We intend that all homes would be close to areas of woodland and tree planting, including tree lined streets and schools incorporating ‘Forest Schools’ principles.
“Other areas of woodland and biodiverse habitats would be created as part of the development, and these new habitats would be more valuable to native species and would be of benefit to the natural environment.”
A virtual consultation, held due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is due to end on Friday, June 25. People can find out more information and take part here.
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