Where’s the tallest building in the world? You might find it difficult to believe but for 200 years or more that honour fell to the British city of Lincoln and its magnificent cathedral. The height of that fame was toppled by a storm that destroyed the spire in 1549. Fortunately, then – as now – there is a whole lot more to the city than just its striking cathedral.
So let’s take a tour of just some of the things you’ll find to do and see in the fair city of Lincoln today.
The Collection
There’s probably no better way of getting your bearings than visiting what is known as The Collection – now renamed as the Lincoln Museum, itself a skilful amalgamation of the City and County Museum and the Usher Gallery.
The museum opened as recently as 2005 and already houses an award-winning archaeological collection. This includes priceless artefacts spanning the area’s rich history the Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages, followed by the Roman, Saxon, Viking, and Medieval eras.
The museum sits alongside the rather older Usher Gallery that opened in 1927 and displays the collection of artworks by Turner, Lowry, Grayson Perry, and the likes, together with a unique array of clocks, watches, ceramics, and silverware.
Bishop’s Palace
Nestled alongside the stunning cathedral, it might be easy to overlook the gem of Medieval English architecture that is the Bishop’s Palace.
As you wander through the medieval ruins and explore the palace’s beautiful gardens, you can be transported back in time and imagine what life was like for the bishops who once resided here.
In its now tranquil precincts, you can reflect on the fact that this was the administrative hub for the biggest diocese in medieval England. It stretched from the River Humber to the north down to the Thames in the south and its architecture reflected enormous power and wealth.
Lincoln Castle
Also within the Cathedral Quarter, Lincoln Castle has dominated the city’s skyline for close to a thousand years. After his success on the battlefield in 1066, William the Conqueror issued instructions for building the castle at Lincoln in a bid to quell uprisings in the rebellious north of the country.
Deep underground, safely guarded in its special vault, Lincoln Castle houses one of the most important documents in the world. Here you can view an original of the Magna Carta of 1215 and learn about its historic importance as part of the bedrock of English democracy.
Steep Hill
Your time within the Cathedral Quarter will have convinced you of Lincoln’s historic role in British history. Now might be the time to take a stunning overview of the cityscape as you scale Steep Hill.
Just as the name suggests, it’s a bit of a climb, but you’ll be rewarded with some of the finest views of the city from the top – an effort that’s likely to prove more than worthwhile.
You can take the climb at your own leisurely pace, diverted by the many tearooms, restaurants, and independent shops that line the cobbled route.
Brayford waterfront
For a pause in your sightseeing tour of Lincoln, there is probably no more fascinating and restful a place than the historic Brayford waterfront. Once the largest inland harbour in England – the Pool, as it was then known – Brayford waterfront has been transformed into the place to be seen for its restaurants, cafes, bars, and entertainment venues.
As you relax with your favourite beverage in hand, you can gaze across the tranquil waters of the Pool to the sparkling new edifice that is the University of Lincoln campus.
Ellis Mill
The city’s hilltop was a favoured place for windmills – and Ellis Mill is one of the surviving nine mills that once towered over this part of the town.
You can visit Ellis Mill – it is managed by Lincolnshire County Council and an enthusiastic band of volunteers – and see for yourself how corn from the surrounding farmlands was ground into flour.
Ellis Mill itself dates back to 1798. But it is believed that a windmill stood on this site from at least the middle of the seventeenth century.
Summary
If you’ve not visited the city before, you’ll be sure to find that Lincoln offers a wealth of things to do and see.