Lincoln

Lincoln is the county town of Lincolnshire with a population of 97,541, featuring one of Britain's most attractive medieval centres. The city avoided Victorian redevelopment because the Great North Road and London-York railway took more westerly routes, leaving the historic core intact atop a chalk scarp with cobbled Steep Hill connecting the cathedral and castle.

Prehistoric Lincolnshire was largely wetland, but a north-south chalk and sandstone scarp provided a natural transport corridor. The Romans turned this route into Ermine Street and established Lindum Colonia on the north slope. The city prospered through agriculture and as an ecclesiastical centre, becoming a substantial medieval cathedral city known for 'Lincoln Green' woollen cloth dyed with blue woad and yellow meld. The city experienced strife through civil wars, anti-semitic pogroms, the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and 17th century conflicts, but recovered with Georgian agricultural advances and 19th century heavy industry.

Lincoln railway station is a major junction on the East Midlands and LNER networks. Stagecoach is the main bus operator, with routes including the 2, 31, 33, 34 south for Bomber Command, and 3, 8, 18 for the Museum of Lincolnshire Life. Car hire is available from Europcar, Hertz, Thrifty, and Enterprise. Taxi operators include City Cars, Dan's, and Direct Cars, with a taxi rank by the railway station.

Walk wherever possible as the medieval spine of town isn't suitable for anything more elaborate than a pack-mule or hand-cart. A sightseeing bus circulates in summer. The Walk & Ride bus circles Silver St, the cathedral, Lincoln Hotel, Bailgate, The Lawn, Castle Square, and Park St every 20 minutes, though it doesn't come into the station. Hire Bike Lincoln offers shared pedal and e-bikes for £3 per hour up to 3 hours, with docking stations at Newport Arch and Union St.

Lincoln experiences typical English weather with the best conditions in spring and summer for exploring the outdoor attractions like Steep Hill and Temple Gardens. Boat trips operate daily April to September. The Farmers Market is held around the castle on the third Saturday of each month.

Accommodation ranges from budget chains to boutique options. Premier Inn on Broadgate (200 yards from stations) offers B&B doubles from £70, while the Lincoln Hotel near the cathedral costs around £120. For budget travellers, Hartsholme Country Park has pitches from £17 with hook-ups available March-October. The Pyewipe Inn on Foss Dyke offers B&B doubles from £80.

Brayford Pool north wharf has budget chain outlets including Nando's, Ask, Wagamama, Prezzo, and Zizzi's. The Ritz is a Wetherspoon on 143 High St near the station. Steep Hill features upmarket options like Jew's House restaurant in a late 12th-century building. For drinks, Brayford Pool has the Horse and Groom, Royal William IV, and The William Foster, while the Engine Shed is the biggest music venue on the south wharf.

Lincoln Cathedral (Adult £9, conc £7.20, child £4.80) is one of Europe's finest Gothic buildings, open M-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su noon-3PM. Lincoln Castle (Adult £14.50) dates from 1068 and holds an original Magna Carta copy. The Collection museum at 1 Danes Terrace is free entry, open Th-M 10AM-4PM. The International Bomber Command Centre on Canwick Ave (Adult £9) memorialises the 26,000+ Lincolnshire-based aircrew lost in WWII. Boat trips operate April-September from around the Pool.

Lincoln is generally a safe city for visitors. The main pedestrian areas around the cathedral and castle are well-lit and patrolled. Use normal urban precautions against petty theft in crowded areas.

Lincoln has 4G coverage from all UK carriers. As of March 2022, 5G has not yet reached the city. UK uses Type G power plugs (230V/50Hz).

Budget travellers can expect to spend £50-80 per day in Lincoln including accommodation (dorm beds from £15-20 at hostels), meals at chain restaurants and pubs (£10-20 per meal), and local transport. Free attractions include The Collection museum, Farmers Market, and walking tours of the historic centre.

North via the A15 (Roman Ermine Street) leads to the Humber Bridge and Hull, with York another 30 minutes beyond. West lies Sherwood Forest. The east coast has old-style beach resorts at Cleethorpes, Mablethorpe, and Skegness. The A46 southwest heads to Leicester via Newark-on-Trent.