This is a guest post by the wonderful Kayleigh at The Tourist Vibe (@thetouristvibe)
Discover the beautiful East Midlands located city of Lincoln, Lincolnshire with a day trip itinerary that will take you on a journey through history, culture, and natural beauty. This enchanting city offers a perfect blend of ancient charm and modern vibrancy, ensuring an unforgettable experience for all visitors. Read on to find out how to spend a day in Lincoln.
Morning
Start your day by immersing yourself in the rich history of Lincoln with a visit to the iconic Lincoln Cathedral. Although, depending on where you are starting, I’ll prefix this suggestion with a warning: Steep Hill. Steep Hill is a quaint and picturesque street that has been named the "Best Place in Britain" by the Academy of Urbanism and it was also named the fourth steepest street in England by the Ordnance Survey… It’s worth the hike, I promise you!
Lincoln Cathedral, in my opinion, is one of the best Cathedrals in the whole of the UK - there, I said it! Explore its stunning grounds and admire its gothic architecture up close. Fun fact - Lincoln Cathedral used to be the tallest building in the world, after the spire was added, for just over 200 years! It's so impressive and absolutely not something to miss when you come to visit Lincoln. I challenge you to find a rival cathedral in the UK!
Whilst you’re local, head next door to explore Lincoln Castle. You can actually do a walk across the castle walls to which you’ll be greeted with panoramic views of the city and beyond. Here you can also discover the Magna Carta Vault and step into the Victorian Prison for a glimpse into the city's past. Check out Visit Lincoln's website to see if any events are on to enhance your visit whilst you're there.
You may have worked up an appetite or a need for a coffee boost so I recommend you head back over to the Lincoln Cathedral Cafe to sit and enjoy whilst admiring the views of the Cathedral grounds.
Afternoon
After your mid-morning coffee stop, continue to explore the historic and picturesque Bailgate area. Take a leisurely stroll through its cobbled streets which are lined with independent shops, charming cafes, and traditional pubs.
When beginning to make your way down Steep Hill, delve into the local culture with a visit to the Lincoln Museum, an award winning museum and gallery that showcases a diverse range of art and insights into Lincoln's heritage.
Lincoln is becoming so vibrant with new restaurants, bars and places popping up every couple of months. If you love arcade and fun-fair themed games, then Carousel will be right up your street. Downstairs is a bar with some amazing food options and upstairs is packed with arcade games so you can really challenge your competitive side. Each game is accessed via a token which you can pay for either at the bar or at the vending machine. Check out Carousel's website for their latest deals as often they offer the more expensive gaming areas (ShuffleBoard, Interactive Darts, Virtual Shooting) for free or for a discount.
Evening
As the day winds down, take a stroll down the Brayford during sunset to capture golden hour and take some time to relax and enjoy the day coming to an end. The Brayford presents a stunning landscape for the University of Lincoln and is home to so many swans who are always on the lookout for some food. You’ll have no problem at all finding somewhere to eat on the Brayford as it’s brimmed with restaurants to pick from with various different cuisines. I won’t make the choice for you here as I trust you’ll find the right place for you. To finish your day, head up to the top of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel to the Electric Bar to enjoy a perfectly crafted cocktail on the balcony looking over the Brayford.
Enjoy your day trip to Lincoln!
This is just a small snippet of an itinerary around Lincoln which prompts you to explore the city's historical sites and its natural beauty but I have no doubt that you’ll be able to stumble across some of its finest delights on your own. Lincoln really is a city that offers a perfect blend of experiences for everyone.
Photo credit: Kayleigh @thetouristvibe