March 31, 2020 1.38 pm This story is over 48 months old

Places in Lincoln you can explore from your armchair

A day out in Lincoln… kind of
Photo: Emily Norton

Stuck at home? You can experience some of Lincoln’s amazing treasures from the comfort of your armchair by taking virtual online tours.

The coronavirus lockdown in the UK has created a number of issues for people, not least when it comes to work and shopping. But entertainment can also be a challenge, and by now the charm of boardgames and Netflix may be wavering.

For those missing their days out in the city, there’s a way to learn about and explore some of the most iconic places in Lincoln online.

Take a look at some of the unique locations you can dive into on Google maps.

Maybe you’ll end up discovering somewhere to add to your post-quarantine bucket list!

Lincoln Cathedral

Photo: Google Maps

Photo: Google Maps

All venues and public buildings are currently closed to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. Cathedral services will be held behind closed doors, but segments and videos are being posted on the cathedral’s Facebook page here. On Thursday, March 26, the building was lit up blue in order to pay tribute to the NHS staff working on the frontline.

Construction of Lincoln Cathedral began in 1072 and was built in a Gothic style. It was the tallest building in the world for 238 years. Its giant central spire collapsed in 1548, but was never rebuilt.

It is the fourth largest cathedral in the UK at around 5,000 square metres.

For hundreds of years, the cathedral held one of the four remaining copies of the Magna Carta, now displayed at Lincoln Castle in a purpose-built vault.

Take a tour of Lincoln Cathedral here. Click or tap on the blue dots inside the building to move around the building. 

Lincoln Castle

Google Maps

Google Maps

Google Maps

Lincoln Castle was built by William the Conqueror in 1068 on a site occupied since Roman times. Inside the walls (which you can walk the entire way around) is a Victorian prison as well as the Crown Court, which still operates today.

The Heritage Skills Centre is also located in the castle grounds, offering bespoke workshops.

A virtual tour of the ground gives people an insight into University of Lincoln graduation days, a peek inside one of the tower and a view from the north bank during a festival.

Take a tour of Lincoln Castle here. Click or tap on the blue dots inside the building to move around the building. 

Lincoln Medieval Bishops’ Palace

Photo: Google Maps

The Medieval Bishops’ Palace was the largest diocese in Medieval England and was built in 1163. The ruins of the medieval home of the Bishop of Lincoln can be found in the shadow of Lincoln Cathedral. Virtual visitors will see the surviving East Hall and the chapel range and entrance tower built by Bishop William Alnwick, who modernised the palace in the 1430s.

There’s a hidden gem here too. The bishops’ palace is home to a landscaped vineyard which was reestablished in 2012.

Next door is the Old Palace Hotel, which you can also step inside!

Photo: Google Maps

Take a tour of the Medieval Bishops’ Palace here. Click or tap on the blue dots inside the building to move around the building. 

Usher Gallery

Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Photo: Google Maps

Businessman and collector James Ward Usher dedicated his life to his work and travelling to find treasures. When he died in 1921, he bequeathed to the city his collection of watches, miniatures, porcelain and silver. He also left a considerable amount of money for a gallery to be built in his name.

Today, the gallery building is under proposals for an arts and heritage overhaul. If approved, artwork would be moved to The Collection museum and the Usher Gallery building would be repurposed.

If you’ve never been inside before, this could be your last chance!

Take a tour of the Usher Gallery here. Click or tap on the blue dots inside the building to move around the building. 

International Bomber Command Centre

Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

You can stand beneath the striking International Bomber Command Centre memorial spire (the tallest war memorial in the UK) and amongst the walls of names right from your digital device.

The centre, which overlooks the city and cathedral skyline, was built in remembrance of the Lincolnshire-based Bomber Command and all those who served in WWII.

It’s also home to an education interpretation centre with full visitor facilities, exhibition over three galleries including testaments from those who survived and the most comprehensive digital archive of Bomber Command in the world.

Take a tour of the International Bomber Command Centre here. Click or tap on the blue dots inside the building to move around the space.