Lincoln Landmarks and Monuments

(Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England, UK)

Many of Lincoln's oldest landmarks really do remain in a very good state of repair. With towers of 83 metres / 272 feet that are clearly visible from all over the city, Lincoln Cathedral is perhaps the city's ultimate landmark and really does dominate the area.

The other very familiar sight in the city is Lincoln Castle, which actually stands on the site of a considerably older Roman fort and is said to have incorporated a number of old Roman walls. Other prominent city landmarks include the Medieval Bishop's Palace ruins, the High Bridge, the Newport Arch and the Ellis Mill. Close by, a brief hop over to nearby Doddington Hall makes for a pleasant afternoon out.

Lincoln Cathedral

Address: Minster Yard, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN1 1PZ, England, UK
Tel: +44 01522 561600
Construction of Lincoln Cathedral began in 1185 and lasted more than 125 years, being finally completed in 1311, when it was reputedly the world's tallest building for almost 250 years, being topped by a spire that was said to have measured approximately 160 metres / 525 feet in height. In the mid-16th century, the central spire collapsed and has never been rebuilt, meaning that only three of the four original towers still remain. Innumerable stone carvings grace the inside and out of this majestic church, with the most famous being the mischievous Lincoln Imp, which is a legendary 14th-century creature and now very much an iconic symbol of the city. Of interest, the city's cathedral made an appearance in the 2006 Hollywood movie 'The Da Vinci Code', when it doubled as Westminster Abbey.
Open hours: July and August, Monday to Friday - 07:15 to 20:00; Saturday and Sunday - 07:15 to 18:00; September to June, Monday to Saturday - 07:15 to 18:00, Sunday - 07:15 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children and seniors, children five years old and under are free

Lincoln Castle

Address: Castle Hill, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN1 3AA, England, UK
Tel: +44 01522 511068
A major fortress constructed during the latter part of the 11th century, Lincoln Castle was built at the request of William the Conqueror. Over the years, the castle has been used for many different purposes, including dungeons, a prison and even a law court, and is currently amongst England's best preserved. Public executions were once staged at Lincoln Castle and it is recorded that they drew crowds of around 20,000 people and took place outside of the Cobb Hall. To the east of the fortress, a more modern red-brick building replaced the prison and was in operation until 1878. The prison museum is particularly interesting to visitors, as is the working Crown Court. As you would rightly expect, the views from the battlements are quite mesmerizing. Guided tours of Lincoln Castle take place on a daily basis between April and September, at 11:00 and 14:00. Look out for the city's copy of the Magna Carta, which is on display here.
Open hours: daily, October to March - 10:00 to 16:00; April and September - 10:00 to 17:00; May to August - 10:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children, families (two adults and three children) and seniors, children five years old and under are free

Medieval Bishop's Palace

Address: Minster Yard, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN1 1PZ, England, UK
Tel: +44 01522 527468
Standing just across from the cathedral and now owned by the English Heritage, the hillside ruins of the 12th-century Medieval Bishop's Palace are still very imposing. If it had not been for the damage and devastation suffered by the palace during the Civil War, when parliamentary forces attacked in large numbers, the Medieval Bishop's Palace would still be standing today and would without question be amongst Lincoln's most magnificent landmarks, since in its heyday, it was actually England's largest diocese. It is not difficult to imagine the former grandeur of the palace, which was once famed for its East Hall and vaulted undercroft. Visitors are often surprised to find a fully working vineyard here, as well as a beautiful walled terrace garden, overlooking the city below.
Open hours: April to October, daily - 10:00 to 17:00; November to March - Monday, Thursday to Sunday - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children and seniors, free to members of the English Heritage

High Bridge

Address: High Bridge, High Street, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN5 7AU, England, UK
A famous and rather quirky landmark in the heart of historic Lincoln, the High Bridge spans the River Witham and is actually the oldest still standing in the United Kingdom, being built during the 12th century. This arching stone bridge was typical of many medieval bridges of its day and is currently home to the Stokes High Bridge Cafe, where you can enjoy refreshments whilst watching the busy shoppers on the adjoining High Street. Locals have nicknamed the bridge the 'Glory Hole', since its arch is so small that it has limited the size of boats able to use the river.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

University of Lincoln

Address: Brayford Pool, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN6 7TS, England, UK
Tel: +44 01522 882000
The University of Lincoln is spread around the city, with campuses and buildings being located at the Brayford Pool, on Lindum Road and at Michaelgate. With origins that are thought to date from the 1860s, the college finally gained its university status in 1992 and now boasts a student base of almost 17,000. The Brayford campus and sports centre has recently been extended and redeveloped, and now incorporates public squares and lawns, a formal pond and a new building for the university's Faculty of Business and Law.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Doddington Hall and Gardens

Address: Doddington, Lincolnshire, LN6 4RU, England, UK
Tel: +44 01522 694308
At just over 8 km / 5 miles from Lincoln and to the west, Doddington Hall is easy to reach and well worth the effort. This grand stately home is more than 400 years old and is typically Elizabethan in character, being set within 2 hectares / 5 acres of landscaped grounds. Highlights at Doddington Hall include an enormous quantity of springtime bulbs, endless herbaceous borders, a walled kitchen garden, family trails, an embroidery exhibition, a farm shop and a cafe.
Open hours: February to mid-April and October Sunday - 11:00 to 16:00 (gardens only); mid-April to September, Wednesday and Sunday - 13:00 to 17:00, gardens open from 11:00
Admission: charge for house and gardens, discounts for children and families (two adults and up to four children), children four years old and under are free

Newport Arch

Address: Bailgate, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN1 3AP, England, UK
Close to the Bailgate and Westgate areas of the city centre, the Newport Arch is a much-photographed local landmark, since this ancient archway is actually the oldest of its kind in Britain. The Newport Arch was built in the 3rd century by the Romans and is still used today by traffic. Much of the original archway is actually now buried by soil and debris, which has been naturally accumulated over the centuries. In recent years, several incidents involving tall lorries have seen damage to the Newport Arch, although it was always restored soon afterwards.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Ellis Mill / Ellis Windmill

Address: Mill Road, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England, UK
Tel: +44 01522 523870
The Ellis Windmill stands along Mill Road and was built at the very end of the 18th century, making it more than 200 years old. Now the last example of no less than nine windmills that once lined the Lincoln Edge and milled a huge quantity of flour, the Ellis Mill comprises four sails and remains in perfect working order. Following fire damage, the mill was restored in the 1970s and opened to the general public in 1980. At this stage, the sails were made shorter, to protect visitors, meaning that they are now less powerful than when the mill was in heavy use. This beautiful windmill is now surrounded by many houses and buildings and is owned by the Lincolnshire County Council, being manned by a team of devoted volunteers.
Open hours: May to September, Saturday and Sunday - 14:00 to 18:00; October to April, Sunday - 14:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children