Like other reviewers, my wife and I decided that we had heard enough about Lincoln to go and have a look for ourselves, and we are very glad we did, as both the cathedral and castle are very impressive, with an old town that is interesting to walk around – in one direction at least!
We stayed in the Duke William Hotel in the Bailgate, a very good pub with restaurant, located happily on top of the hill in Lincoln near where the cathedral and castle are situated. Interesting streets, shops and Roman remains were all visible as we took an easy stroll to the superb Gothic cathedral, only to find that no tours were being taken that day owing to preparations for an RAF celebration dinner that evening. There was even a Spitfire standing in there, right in the middle of the church! However, audio guide in hand, we toured independently and found, as we do with other cathedrals, a fascinating history housed inside a magnificent building. We love our cathedrals!
To see more of the town entails a walk down Steep Hill. It didn’t get the name for nothing! There are many old buildings and unusual independent shops to see on the way down, until they give way to what you may normally expect in the city centre. We had both coffee and lunch on the way, and found it an easy town to get around. Getting back up the hill would not have been as easy for anyone, let alone those with mobility problems, without the convenience of a shuttle bus which took us back up to the castle.
The castle has had many uses over the years, including as a prison, the remains of which can still be seen today.Most interestingly, there is one of the few original Magna Cartas housed there. A significant historical document, one of only four in existence, found in the relative calm of a small town in the east of England!
We really enjoyed Lincoln. Its a small town with great history, good shopping and countryside all around.
“Lincoln tourist website”:https://www.visitlincoln.com/