Lincoln, city of the cathedral and Magna Carta

Lincoln is a medieval city in Lincolnshire, perched on a hill above the River Witham, dominated by one of the most spectacular cathedrals in Europe and by a castle that holds one of the originals of Magna Carta. It has more than 100,000 inhabitants and is a lively university city, with a historic centre of steep lanes, timber-framed houses, Roman remains and old inns. For almost 250 years its cathedral was the tallest building in the world, taller even than the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Trains from London King's Cross take under two hours. The nearest airports are East Midlands and Humberside, about an hour away.

From Roman colony to Bomber County

The Romans founded a fortress here and then a colony for veterans, Lindum Colonia, from which the city takes its name. The Newport Arch, one of the Roman gates, is still driven through by cars today, and is the only Roman arch in the United Kingdom still used as a road. After the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror had the castle and cathedral built, and in the Middle Ages Lincoln was one of the richest cities in England thanks to the wool trade. In the 20th century it became a centre of engineering: here, in 1915, the firm of Foster designed and built the first tank in history. During the Second World War Lincolnshire was home to dozens of airfields, so much so that it was called "Bomber County".

What to see in Lincoln

The cathedral

Lincoln Cathedral is one of the masterpieces of English Gothic. The west front combines the 11th-century Norman section with Gothic additions, and the interior is full of light, with the nave, the Angel Choir and two great rose windows: the Bishop's Eye and the Dean's Eye. Hidden among the carvings of the choir is the Lincoln Imp, a little stone devil that has become the symbol of the city: legend has it that an angel turned him to stone while he was causing mischief. The cathedral has also been used as a film set, standing in for Westminster Abbey in the film of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code. Guided tours of the roof and towers offer an extraordinary view.

The castle and Magna Carta

Lincoln Castle, built in 1068, can be visited by walking the full circuit of its walls, with views over the cathedral and the countryside. Inside, in an underground vault, one of only four surviving originals of the 1215 Magna Carta is on display, together with the Charter of the Forest of 1217. The castle also has a Victorian prison, with a chapel where prisoners attended services in small separate stalls, unable to see each other.

Steep Hill and the Bail

Steep Hill, which climbs very steeply from the lower town to the cathedral, is one of the most picturesque streets in England, lined with independent shops, bookshops, cafés and medieval houses. Along the climb are the Jew's House and the Norman House, from the 12th century, among the oldest inhabited houses in the country. At the top, the Bailgate quarter has Roman remains, pubs and historic inns. Next to the cathedral you can visit the ruins of the Medieval Bishop's Palace, with a small vineyard.

Brayford Pool and the lower town

In the lower town, Brayford Pool is an old Roman river port, now surrounded by restaurants, bars and the university campus. Boat trips run on the Witham and along the Fossdyke, a canal built by the Romans and considered the oldest navigable canal in England still in use. Near the river, the medieval High Bridge still carries 16th-century timber-framed houses.

Museums

The Usher Gallery and The Collection museum tell the story of Lincolnshire, from archaeology to art. The Museum of Lincolnshire Life displays one of the early tanks built in the city. Just outside the city, the International Bomber Command Centre, with its steel spire, is dedicated to the bomber crews of the Second World War.

A day in Lincoln

A possible itinerary: arrive early at the cathedral, before the groups, and climb onto the roof on a guided tour. Then cross the square to the castle, for Magna Carta and the walk along the walls. After lunch in the Bailgate, walk down Steep Hill, stopping in the bookshops and shops, to the lower town. The afternoon ends with a boat trip from Brayford Pool or a walk along the Witham to the High Bridge, and dinner with Lincolnshire sausages in a historic pub.

Famous people

Lincoln is the birthplace of George Boole, the mathematician who invented Boolean algebra, the foundation of modern computing. The poet Alfred Tennyson, born in the nearby village of Somersby, is commemorated by a large statue next to the cathedral.

Eating and drinking

The county's speciality is the Lincolnshire sausage, flavoured with sage, to be enjoyed with mash and gravy. You can also try plum bread, a sweet bread with dried fruit, and Lincolnshire Poacher cheese. Steep Hill and the Bailgate are full of tea rooms and old pubs, while the Brayford has more modern venues.

Living in Lincoln

Lincoln is a quiet and relatively affordable city, with a large student population thanks to its two universities and an economy based on services, engineering, public administration and tourism. The quality of life is good, with the countryside a few minutes away and house prices lower than in the south of England.

Getting there

• By train: from London King's Cross in under two hours on direct trains, or changing at Newark; services to Nottingham, Sheffield and Leeds.
• By air: East Midlands and Humberside airports are about an hour away.
• By car: the city is linked to the A1 and the A46.

For travel around the rest of the country see trains and transport, and for other cities British cities.

Tips for your visit

• How long: a full day for the cathedral, the castle and Steep Hill; two days to see the museums and the Bomber Command Centre as well.
• When to go: all year round; spring and autumn are ideal for walking without the crowds.
• A tip: take Steep Hill slowly and in comfortable shoes: it really is steep, but every shop is an excuse to stop.

Lincoln on the map

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