Whether you’re just visiting or live in the historic City of Lincoln, this is our essential collection of attractions to complete the Lincoln experience.
Here’s our list of 20 must-do moments on the Lincoln prospectus to start you off on your journey of discovery:
Conquer Lincoln Cathedral
Scale the looming Lincoln Cathedral for outstanding views of the city.
From every angle, the gothic Lincoln Cathedral dominates the city skyline. For 300 years it was the tallest building in the world, and today the iconic attraction gets thousands of visitors ever year.
Step into the grand nave free of charge and spend some quite time in the Morning Chapel, or discover the building’s history, architecture, hidden secrets and stories with a fascinating guided tour.
Floor, roof and tower tours are all available to the public, with tower adventures offering 360 degree views of the city and beyond.
The imp at Lincoln Cathedral
Don’t forget to look out for the famous Lincoln Imp, who was sent by the devil to stir up trouble, but was turned to stone by the cathedral angels (or so the legend says).
The Water Rail Way follows the River Witham from Lincoln to Boston. The 33-mile (54km) tarmac route is ideal for walking and cycling, and is mostly traffic free.
Beginning in the centre of Lincoln in the shadow of the cathedral, the trail leads to the market town of Boston with the famous St Botolph’s Church, known as ‘The Stump’.
Why not take a Lincoln Hirebike for a spin and enjoy vast open fenlands and commissioned artwork along the way, inspired by Lincolnshire’s Lord Alfred Tennyson.
The city’s most famous incline is a must for anyone wishing to earn their Lincoln badge.
Steep Hill was named ‘Britain’s Best Street’ in 2012 and, other than presenting a satisfying physical challenge, it is famed for its great selection of retro and vintage shops, tea rooms and eateries.
At the bottom of the hill, The Strait offers a range of independent fashion boutiques, while at the top you’ll find a cluster of celebrated historic attractions, restaurants and shops.
Experience The Lincolnshire Show
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The Lincolnshire Show, based at the Lincolnshire Showground at the edge of Lincoln, is one of the biggest annual events on the city and county calendar, held in June evert year.
The show’s roots are agriculture and trade, and over the years it has evolved into a one-stop event for families, schools and businesses to celebrate shopping, food, attractions and all things Lincolnshire.
In 2014, the main attractions included RAF Falcons, motorbike stunt-athletes Broke FMX, horseback gymnastics, police dogs, and not forgetting the Sheep Show in the Countryside arena.
You can see our galleries from Day 1 and Day 2 of the 2014 Lincolnshire Show.
See the Red Arrows
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Based at RAF Scampton near Lincoln, the world famous RAF Aerobatic Display Team, Red Arrows, can be spotted tearing across the sky.
In addition to appearances at the popular Waddington Air Show, and inspiring millions in 2014 with their 50th display season, the team are often seen practising display sequences over the city skies.
The team is made up of 120 people including pilots, engineers and support staff, and has flown more than 4,500 displays.
Spot a heron at Hartsholme Country Park
Photo: Harold Tokins
The Hartsholme Country Park and Swanholme Lakes Local Nature Reserve comprises of Victorian landscape gardens, a large reservoir, woodlands and grasslands.
Explorers can learn about the unique variety of wildlife at the park by finding the Visitor’s Centre on site. Events hosted at the park include insect days and craft workshops.
‘Handsome Herons’ are favourite residents at Hartsholme Country Park. Watch as the winged family court, fight, breed and rear their young from the special viewpoints around the park.
Brave the Lincoln Ghost Walk
Spooky fog at Lincoln Cathedral
Haunting stories of Lincoln’s past are best told whilst reliving them! The Original Lincoln Ghostwalk takes guests on special tours of historic uphill Lincoln and gives them an insight into its most spooky events.
The ghost walk guides leave the Lincoln Tourist Information Centre on Castle Hill every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7pm.
Booking is not required. The tours cost £4 for adults and £2 for children.
Join the Steampunk sensation
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Europe’s biggest Steampunk festival ‘The Asylum’ sets up camp in uphill Lincoln annually. The cross-genre event sees hundreds of people from all over the world take to iconic Lincoln venues for a series of quirky events.
Stalls selling victorian, mechanical, and industrial-style accessories appear on Castle Hill and attendees reach for their most show stopping pseudo-Victorian gear.
Over 700 people enjoyed the Castle Wall guided tours.
2015 will be an extremely important year for Lincoln Castle. In a £22 million Lincoln Castle Revealed project, the site will be given a new life – making it a world-class heritage visitor attraction.
The project includes a new vault which will house Lincoln’s original copy of the Magna Carta, as well as the restoration of the castle walls, new interactive learning technology, cinema installation and many more exciting additions.
Until the grand castle reopening, you can see the work in progress and also visit the award-winning Heritage Skills Centre on site.
Meet a Daisy Made cow
Lots of family fun to be had at Daisy Made.
A visit to Daisy Made, on Lincoln Road near Lincoln, bears many fruits. No local ice cream comes fresher than here. You can even meet the resident cows at the Daisy Made petting farm.
You can enjoy your cone from a bench on a lovely summer day, or venture into the cafe, where the staff also serve hot drinks and savoury bites.
Should you feel competitive after your creamy sugar rush, you can even grab a golf club and challenge your friends to a milking-themed crazy golf.
Taste the Lincolnshire sausage
The Lincoln Sausage Festival at Lincoln Castle.
The Lincolnshire Sausage is famed for its distinct sage flavouring and chunky texture. Traditional sausage dishes are found in many local Lincoln restaurants and in most butchers and supermarkets.
Sausage enthusiasts also have the opportunity to celebrate them at the annual Lincoln Sausage Festival. The festival draws around 11,000 people and has been known to have sold 25,000 sausages at a single event.
One group even set up the Lincolnshire Sausage Association in 2006 in order to petition to protect the geographical indication for the Lincolnshire Sausage.
Visit the Museum of Lincolnshire Life
Get a glimpse into the traditional county life at the Museum of Lincolnshire Life in Lincoln.
Enjoy free entry to the largest community museum in Lincolnshire and discover the county’s rich history. The Museum of Lincolnshire Life celebrates the county’s culture and people from 1850 to today.
Exhibitions include an insight into an exciting Wold War One tank, the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment, and agricultural and industrial life.
The best way to learn about life in Lincolnshire is to book onto a staff-led tour. Maybe you’ll be able to find a member of your family in the museum’s collection of historic photographs?
Take the Tour Lincoln open-top bus
The Tour Lincoln open-top bus.
Lincoln’s open top tour bus is a great way to discover the top attractions of the city.
The sightseeing bus is first come first served and departs every hour from the Cathedral. Ticket holders can hop on and off from 12 stops including Lincoln Cathedral, the University of Lincoln, Brayford Waterfront and High Street.
You can find out more information and buy tickets from the Lincoln Visitor Information Centre on Castle Hill.
Shop at the Lincoln Christmas Market
The Lincoln Christmas Market has evolved from its original 11 stalls to become a cultural event attracting around 250 stalls and over 200,000 people every year.
The market, which brings in visitors from all over the world, is set against the medieval backdrop around Lincoln Castle and includes traditional food, crafts and entertainment for all the family.
The Collection brings together an award-winning archaeology museum and the region’s premier art gallery, the Usher Gallery.
The archaeology gallery at The Collection brings visitors up close with the lives of people as long ago as the Stone Ages.
Build your own Roman mosaic, conjure a Medieval beast! There are lots of events hosted at the museum. Just check the calendar for more details.
Hop aboard the Brayford Belle
The Brayford Belle sets sail from the Brayford Pool in Lincoln for five waterway tours per day.
Sit back, relax and enjoy the countryside from the open waters of the River Witham.
Lincoln’s Brayford Belle pleasure boat takes visitors on hour-long guided canal trips with entertaining commentary about Lincoln’s past and present.
The boat departs from Brayford Pool at 11am, 12.15pm, 1.30pm, 2.45pm and 3.45pm daily. You can even enjoy a hot or cold beverage while on board!
Have afternoon tea in the Bailgate
Bailgate, Lincoln
The colourful and historic Bailgate in Lincoln is full of independent boutiques, shops and places to eat. The cobbled streets branch from the city’s iconic cathedral and castle and offer plenty of shopping and dining opportunities.
Bailgate is the ideal stopping point for a cream tea, mug of steaming coffee or even an ice-cream after a day exploring the city sights.
Find a dinosaur egg at Doddington Hall
Doddington Hall, near Lincoln
Venture into the Wild Garden at Doddington Hall and look between the Sweet Cestnuts and the Croquet Lawn and you’ll see the Temple of the Winds.
The temple and nature trail plus a turf maze was built by Antony Jarvis in the 1980s, and if you look hard you might spot a dinosaur egg!
The hall and estate include a shop, cafe, restaurant, interiors store and wedding and events business. There’s always something new to see at the site. Visit the website for more details.
Venture down to Posterngate
Visitors can take tours of the site only four days of the year. Photo: Emily Norton
For three times of the year only, the remains of the Roman South Wall to the city are revealed by a special tour guide.
Posterngate is in a secret location beneath the RBS Bank in Lincoln city centre bank and is believed to have been used as access to the River Witham.
It might be from the heights of Lincoln Cathedral, from the castle walls or from a seat at your favourite restaurant; Lincoln offers some spectacular views and scenes dear to the hearts of visitors and residents alike.
Do you have a photograph from your favourite Lincoln viewpoint? Why not share them with us by sending them to [email protected]?
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
The 2024 Lincolnshire Business Excellence Awards are now open for nominations, seeking to spotlight outstanding businesses within the Greater Lincolnshire area.
Hosted by Stonebow Media, the publisher behind The Lincolnite and the MyLocal platform, this prestigious event is designed to honour the achievements of the regional business community.
Thanks to the headline sponsorship from the University of Lincoln Enterprise & Research department, the Lincolnshire Business Excellence Awards are a unique opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of local enterprises.
The awards are also sponsored by Ringrose Law, Duncan & Toplis, Sills & Betteridge and Pearson Hydraulics. A small number of sponsorship opportunities remain available. Contact [email protected] to discuss partnerships.
Businesses can nominate themselves across eleven awards categories:
The deadline for nominations is May 24, with the judges’ deliberation lunch set for May 29.The judging panel includes business experts and professionals from Lincolnshire and event sponsors.
The Lincolnshire Business Excellence Awards 2024 gala will take place at the Engine Shed on July 12, 2024.
Enhance profile & credibility: Securing an award or being shortlisted acts as a powerful endorsement, signaling trustworthiness to potential customers and helping to distinguish your business from competitors. Displaying the award on your communications can significantly boost your brand’s perception.
Insightful focus & feedback: The application process encourages deep reflection on your business strategy and direction, offering invaluable feedback and clarity, even for new ventures.
Team confidence boost: Recognition from the awards can significantly uplift your team’s morale, affirming the value and potential of your business in the eyes of industry experts.
Marketing & PR boost: Being associated with the awards, even as a nominee, can enhance brand visibility, providing ample content opportunities for social media and other marketing channels.
Networking opportunities: The awards connect you with local business leaders and experts, offering a platform to seek advice, share ideas, and foster future partnerships. The ceremony itself is an excellent occasion for networking with peers and celebrating mutual successes.
Potential to win: Entering offers a chance to win and gain all the associated benefits, but even without taking home a trophy, the process can yield significant advantages for your business.
A Lady Gaga loving kitten owned by a couple who run a charity for disabled pets featured on Channel 5’s The Pet Psychic.
Pet Psychic Beth Lee-Crowther comes to the aid of pet owners and in Tuesday night’s episode she met Cookie the kitten, a depressed camel, and looked at whether a dog can predict the future.
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