Planning to visit Lincoln soon? This beautiful cathedral city in the UK makes for the perfect day trip – we’ll show you what to see and do.
Lincoln is one of the most beautiful and surprising hidden gems in the UK. With cobblestone streets, colourful shops along Steep Hill, stunning historic buildings, and of course, the iconic Cathedral looking out over the city, Lincoln looks like a postcard picture.
With such a rich history and many things to do, Lincoln makes for the perfect city break. We spent one evening and a full day in the city and had the most amazing time.
Here is how to make the most of your day trip to Lincoln, England.
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Things to do in Lincoln, UK on a day trip
Here is my one day Lincoln itinerary:
1. Coffee at Coffee Aroma
Start your day trip to Lincoln with a cup of coffee at Coffee Aroma. This independent artisan coffee shop has been named one of the best coffee shops in the UK multiple times. From the regular espresso-based drinks and hot chocolates, they also have a selection of filter coffees which change every season.
You can also have a quick breakfast here, or a sweet snack, as Coffee Aroma also offers pastries, toasties, and more. And if you’re visiting a little later in the day, you can also opt for a beer or wine.
The coffee at Coffee Aroma tasted delicious, and the weather was nice enough for us to sit outside and enjoy the sights of Lincoln.
2. Shop on Steep Hill
Steep Hill is a wonderfully atmospheric shopping street on… well… a steep hill. And it really does live up to the name, it even comes with a handrail at the steepest part! But even some sore leg muscles the next day are worth it because the street is stunning.
The street connects the “newer” part of Lincoln with its historic part, and it almost feels like walking back in time the closer you get to the cathedral and the castle.
On the street itself, you can find tons of independent shops and eateries. Anything from fancy cheese to vintage record players to local produce, you can find it here. And even if you’re not planning on buying anything, some window shopping makes for a lovely walk. Plus, that means you get a little break from climbing the hill.
3. Visit Lincoln Cathedral
Once arrived at the top of the hill, you can admire the icon of Lincoln, its cathedral. Being one of the biggest and most beautiful cathedrals in Europe, it has quite a bit of history and importance. It proudly stands over the city, and you’ve probably already caught a glimpse of it while walking through the lower parts of the city or driving in.
We personally chose not to go inside the cathedral because we thought it was a little pricey, and unfortunately, they aren’t any combination tickets for the cathedral and castle available. To save a little money, we chose to visit the castle instead.
Another reason for this is that while Lincoln Cathedral owns one of the four remaining copies of the Magna Carta, you have to go to the castle grounds to see it.
But either way, it’s still worth walking around the cathedral to witness its beauty. It truly is a stunning piece of architecture – but you get even better views of it from the castle walls.
4. Explore Lincoln Castle
Lincoln Castle was by far my favourite tourist attraction in Lincoln, but that may be because I’m a sucker for a good castle with a good view.
The castle grounds are free to visit, but you are required to buy a ticket to walk the castle walls, or if you want to see the Victorian Prison and the Magna Carta. Tickets for just the castle walls are £10 for adults, but if you want to see everything, you can choose a Castle Day ticket for £14.50. In my opinion, this is very much worth it, especially for the views from the walls.
We started by walking the castle walls. Even though they’re not massive, it still took us around 45 minutes because there were so many great photo opportunities, plus some information signs which explained more about the castle and its history.
Afterwards, we went to see the Magna Carta and the Victorian Prison and sat down on the grass inside the castle grounds.
5. The Roman Trail
As you probably already know by now, Lincoln is filled with heritage and history. After visiting the Cathedral and the Castle, you may want to add a few more stops to your itinerary. Luckily, you can use the Roman Trail to plan a little walk around some of Lincoln’s Roman roots.
Especially since you’re already up the hill, you can easily have a little walk around to also see the Roman Well, the Colonnade, Newport arch, and more.
6. Antique Shopping
With so many unique and independent shops in Lincoln, you can easily spend a whole afternoon (window) shopping. But Lincoln also has some fantastic antique shops. Especially surrounding Steep Hill and the historic quarter, you can find many! Some of the best ones include:
- Lincoln Antiques & Collectables
- Mansions Antiques
- The Shambles Antiques Centre
7. Go on a Ghost Walk
If you’re into ghosts and the supernatural, Lincoln’s ghost walk will be the perfect way to end the day. An expert guide will walk you through the historic Cathedral Quarter, sharing information and related ghost stories.
The prices are £6 for adults and £4 for children.
8. Drinks at a Local Pub
Lincoln’s not short on pubs, so it may be a little overwhelming to pick the perfect one. But luckily, we had some help from our friends Alex and Lisa, who live in Lincoln. We decided to go for the Strugglers Inn, a lovely local pub next to the castle with a beer garden – perfect for the late summer evenings!
Other recommendations by Alex include the Birdcage and the Adam and Eve Tavern, which is the oldest pub in Lincoln.
While getting more excited about visiting this lovely city, check out more things to do in Lincoln on Alex and Lisa’s website!
Where to stay in Lincoln
When we visited Lincoln, we drove up in the evening after going to Wakefield for the day. This gave us more than enough time to visit the local pub and get in a good night’s sleep before spending the full next day in Lincoln. This way, you get the full day to explore Lincoln.
If you’re also looking for a good place to sleep, here are the best hotels in Lincoln:
The Lincoln Hotel
Next to the cathedral and only a short five-minute walk from the city centre, the Lincoln Hotel has one of the best locations in the city. With comfortable rooms and a garden in which you can enjoy a drink, this is by far one of the best places to stay in Lincoln.
Holiday Inn Lincoln
Just a few minutes from the railway station, Holiday Inn Lincoln sits near the wharf in a quieter location. Add it to the comfortable beds, views of Lincoln Cathedral, and on-site gym, Starbucks, and restaurant for a perfect place to stay in Lincoln.
Premier Inn Lincoln
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option in Lincoln, you can’t go wrong with the Premier Inn. Located in the middle of the city centre and the rooms give you everything you need for a comfortable night away.
Is Lincoln worth visiting?
Yes, Lincoln is 100% worth visiting. This beautiful cathedral city is one of the most underrated city breaks in the UK. A true hidden gem that deserves so much more attention. It makes for a wonderful day or weekend trip, as there is so much to see and do, along with a lively atmosphere and tons of nice pubs and restaurants.
Is Lincoln good for a weekend away?
100%! Not only is Lincoln a very beautiful city, there is also more than enough to do during a weekend trip. This day trip itinerary gives you an idea of what you can do during a full day in Lincoln, but you can easily spread it out over a weekend instead. Also, since there is a lot to do near the city, you can spend the extra day exploring the beauty of Lincolnshire.
Conclusion: one day in Lincoln
And with that, our day in Lincoln has come to an end. We were so surprised at how beautiful and welcoming this city is, and we cannot wait to come back. Definitely one of the best-hidden gems in the UK, and I hope this post has convinced you to give it a go as well!
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I agree, Lincoln is a great place to visit, especially the cathedral quarter. We only live 40 miles away but lately we have been having one night stays at the Lincoln hotel who are doing great weekend offers until December 16th. Such a shame that road links in and to the county are so bad despite being one of the largest counties in England we have virtually no dual carriageways let alone a motorway!