The 2018 Lincoln Christmas Market Superguide

The 36th annual Lincoln Christmas Market will officially open for visitors on Thursday, December 6.

It is one of the oldest and most popular markets around. It features over 250 stalls and regularly welcomes around 250,000 people to the city centre and Cathedral Quarter.

Traditional German cabins line the castle grounds, where visitors will see a range of new and returning traders. They can slurp their way through a selection of mulled wine, cider and spiced gins before trying roasted chestnuts, mince pies and bratwurst sausages.

Here’s what to expect at this year’s market:

Skip to section:

• Opening Times
• What to expect at the market
• Security
• Extra parking restrictions
• Park and ride
• Zones
• Travelling by bus
• Travelling by train
• Weather
• Taxi numbers
• Further information
• Social media

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Opening times

• Thursday, December 6: 12pm – 9.30pm
• Friday, December 7: 10am – 9.30pm
• Saturday, December 8: 10am – 9.30pm
• Sunday, December 9: 10am – 7pm

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What to expect at the market

• Lincoln’s traditional Christmas market is one of the oldest in the UK
• There are more than 250 stalls this year nestled in and around Lincoln Castle, Cathedral, and The Lawn complex
• There is something for everyone, from unusual gifts to food and drink from near and far
• There is also a whole host of entertainment for all the family to enjoy

• From its beginnings in 1982, with just 11 stalls, the German-inspired Christmas market now takes over most of the cultural quarter of the city, with festivities expanding cross the wider area
• Stalls include hand-made crafts, gifts, jewellery, candles, toys, art, local produce, food and drink
• Full details of entertainment at the market can be found here.

Your can buy the new souvenir guide and map of the market here. 

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Security

Robust security is in place throughout the weekend to ensure visitor safety. This will include armed police.

Police will be using drones and CCTV to monitor the crowds at the market this year.

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Extra parking restrictions

The City of Lincoln Council is bringing in further parking restrictions for vehicles this year.

Within the inner area of the market affected residents have been told there will no longer be any vehicle movements allowed during the market’s opening hours.

In addition, residents have been asked not to have any deliveries scheduled for these dates and further information will be provided in a newsletter in November, along with an outer access pass.

Residents and hotel guests in the inner area will be able to use the park and ride located at Lincolnshire Showground for free (register for a park and ride pass here) and residents will be able to park for free in Sewell Road Car Park on December 8-9.

Click or tap here to see the full map of restrictions. 

Residents and businesses in the outer areas should have received an access pass in the post. Stewards will be positioned on these roads to direct traffic.

Click or tap here for more information.

There will be closures in place from Wednesday on the following roads:

• Bailgate
• Burton Road (Yarborough Road to Westgate)
• Carline Road
• Castle Hill
• Cecil Street (From Newport to a point 40 metres West)
• Chapel Lane
• Church Lane
• Danesgate (Steep Hill to Danes Terrace)
• Drury Lane
• East Bight
• Eastgate
• Exchequergate
• Gordon Road
• Garmston Street
• Greestone Place
• Haffenden Road (From Nettleham Road to a point 30 metres West)
• Hungate (Spring Hill to Motherby Lane)
• Mainwaring Road (From Nettleham Road to a point 30 metres East)
• Manor Road (From Nettleham Road to a point 30 metres West)
• Michaelgate
• Minster Yard
• Nettleham Road (Ruskin Avenue to Northgate)
• Newport
• Northgate (Eastgate to Church Lane)
• Pottergate
• Priorygate
• Rasen Lane
• Reservoir Street
• Sastangate
• Spring Hill
• St Martins Street
• St Martins Lane
• St Paul’s Lane
• Steep Hill
• The Strait
• Union Road
• Upper Long Leys Road
• Well Lane
• West Bight
• Westgate
• Wordsworth Street
• Unclassified Road North of Scampton Airfield (Between A15 & Middle Street)
• Mount Street
• Clarence Street
• Mill Road
• Albany Street
• Mill Row
• Wilson Street
• Waldeck Street
• Wake Street
• Kingsley Street
• Turner Street
• Gray Street
• Naam Place
• Upper Saxon Street
• Mildmay Street
• Castle Street
• Olive Street
• Vere Street
• Spital Street
• St Nicholas Street
• Hereward Street
• Saxon Street
• Good Lane
• Woburn Avenue
• Carsbrooke Close
• Osborne Close
• Willis Close
• Middleton’s Field
• Stonefield Avenue
• Williamson Street
• Chestnut Street
• Belle Vue Terrace
• Belle Vue Road
• Yarborough Terrace
• James Street
• Lillys Road
• Gibraltar Hill
• Chestnut Street
• Cecil Street
• Limelands

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Park and Ride

There is no parking in the vicinity of the Christmas Market so all cars should use the dedicated Christmas Market Park and Ride service which operates from the Lincolnshire Showground on the A15 just north of Lincoln.

The park and ride site will be well signposted on all approach roads and for those using a sat nav the postcode is LN1 2ZR. There is also a dedicated service for people with disabilities, using specially adapted vehicles, which also runs from the showground.

All buses drop off close to the Museum of Lincolnshire Life.

The service costs £12 per car if pre-booked. Click here to pre-book.

On the day charges per car:

• Thursday:  £13
• Friday: £14
• Saturday: £15
• Sunday: £14

A vehicle carrying 8 to 15 people is classed as a mini bus and the fee for per vehicle is £25

The service is on a fill and go basis and/or a frequency of every 7 minutes, whichever is sooner. Timings may be subject to variation subject to weather conditions and numbers of visitors.

Operating times:

• Thursday, December 1: 11.30am – 10pm
• Friday, December 2: 9am – 10pm
• Saturday 5 December: 9am – 10pm
• Sunday 6 December: 9am – 7:30pm

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Zones

• Castle Hill & Lincoln Castle: Authentic German-themed stalls, arts, crafts and gifts.
• The Lawn: The Christmas Bazaar, Christmas Pantry, and a huge variety of food and drink – including local produce and roasted nuts.
• Westgate & Fairground: Craft Marquee, fairground rides, and The Big Wheel – a great way to see the whole historic area from up high.
• Lincoln Cathedral West Front: Authentic wooden chalets with the Lincoln Cathedral as a backdrop.
• Medieval Bishops’ Palace: Themed medieval market stalls in unique, historic surroundings.

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Travelling by bus

• Bus operators have scheduled extra services throughout the market weekend.
• Shuttle buses will run from the Lincoln Central bus station.

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Travelling by train

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Weather

Traders and shoppers were disappointed last year when the final day of the Lincoln Christmas Market was cancelled due to a forecast of snow. The decision led to a £53,750 loss.

Organisers said it was a difficult decision to make and have made a number of changes this year in order to make bad weather contingencies easier to analyse and communicate. They told The Lincolnite if they were given the same factors again this year, they would make the same decision again.

The Met Office is currently predicting a mild weekend in Lincoln with the odd shower. Keep an eye on the Met Office website here.

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Taxi numbers

A full list of taxi numbers for Lincoln and the surrounding areas can be found here. 

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Further information

• No dogs are allowed to attend the market, with the exception of guide dogs.
• All information regarding access for disabled visitors can be found here.

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Social media

You can follow updates and highlights from this year’s Lincoln Christmas Market by following:

• @thelincolnite
• @lincolnelf
• #LincolnChristmasMarket