24hrs in Lincoln; An Itinerary

Lincoln had been on our UK travel list for quite some time, so we finally packed our bags and did a whistle-stop tour for24 hours in this beautiful cathedral city.

With impressive historic landmarks, cobbled streets, fantastic independent shops and plenty of great places to eat and drink, we managed to fit a surprising amount into our visit!

Where to Stay

The White Hart Hotel

We stayed at The White Hart Hotel, right in the heart of Lincoln’s historic Cathedral Quarter.

The location could not have been much better. The hotel sits on Bailgate, just a stone’s throw from both Lincoln Cathedral and Lincoln Castle, meaning that almost everything we wanted to see was within easy walking distance.

The White Hart has plenty of history and character, while still feeling stylish and comfortable. There is a choice of rooms, ranging from cosy doubles to spacious four-poster suites, as well as serviced townhouse accommodation on Castle Hill.

Being so centrally located meant we could explore during the day, return to the hotel whenever we needed a break and then head straight back out for dinner and drinks in the evening.

📍 Bailgate, Lincoln LN1 3AR

Where to Park

The White Hart Hotel has a limited number of parking spaces available for guests. These must be booked in advance, so it is worth contacting the hotel before your stay to reserve one.

The hotel’s parking area can be found within St Paul’s Lane Car Park. Once we arrived, we collected a permit from reception to display in the car.

📍 St Paul’s Lane, Lincoln LN1 3AL

If you are only visiting for a few hours, St Paul’s Lane also has public short-stay parking. It is very conveniently located for Bailgate, the Cathedral Quarter and the city’s main historic attractions.

It is worth noting that the public car park has a maximum daytime stay of three hours, so make sure you check the latest restrictions and prices before leaving your car.

What to Do

Lincoln Cathedral

You really cannot visit Lincoln without exploring Lincoln Cathedral.

The Cathedral dominates the city’s skyline and is even more impressive when you see it up close. The sheer scale of the building is incredible, and we spent plenty of time taking in the beautiful architecture, stained-glass windows and intricate details.

Admission also gives visitors access to the Exhibition Gallery and Discovery Centre from Monday to Saturday, and complimentary floor tours are offered during the week.

As Lincoln Cathedral remains an active place of worship, opening hours and visitor access can occasionally change to accommodate services and special events. I would recommend checking the website before visiting.

📍 Minster Yard, Lincoln LN2 1PX

Lincoln Castle

Directly opposite the Cathedral is Lincoln Castle, another of the city’s unmissable historic attractions.

Built by William the Conqueror during the 11th century, the castle has stood over Lincoln for almost 1,000 years. There is plenty to explore, including the Medieval Wall Walk, Victorian Prison and the Magna Carta Vault.

The wall walk offers some fantastic views across the city, particularly towards the Cathedral. It is also a brilliant way to appreciate the size and layout of the castle.

📍 Castle Hill, Lincoln LN1 3AA

Shop Along Steep Hill

Despite its rather honest name, no visit to Lincoln would be complete without tackling Steep Hill!

The cobbled street connects the Cathedral Quarter with the lower city centre and is lined with beautiful historic buildings. Yes, it really is steep, but there are plenty of independent shops, cafés and pubs to provide an excuse for a break along the way.

We took our time wandering between the shops and found everything from locally produced food and drink to books, clothing, artwork, homeware and gifts.

Some of the independent businesses worth looking out for include Steep Hill Wines, Harding House Gallery, The Mouse House Cheese Company and A Little Bit of Lincolnshire. The buildings themselves are also full of character, with wonky floors, exposed beams and even remnants of Lincoln’s Roman history hidden inside.

📍 Steep Hill, Lincoln LN2 1LT

Where to Eat and Drink

Antlers Restaurant

As we were visiting on a Sunday, a roast dinner was an absolute must. Antlers Restaurant is located inside the White Hart Hotel, making it an especially convenient choice after a busy day exploring the city. We literally popped in and asked if they could squeeze us in!

The restaurant has an elegant but welcoming atmosphere, with a menu focused on seasonal produce and modern British cooking. Sitting down for a proper Sunday roast was the perfect way to fuel yourself before walking around the Cathedral Quarter, and, more importantly, climbing Steep Hill!

📍 The White Hart Hotel, Bailgate, Lincoln LN1 3AR

The White Horse

Our first wine stop was The White Horse, a relaxed independent restaurant and bar on Hungate. The interiors are cosy and welcoming, making it the kind of place where it would be very easy to settle in for the evening. Alongside its seasonal food menu, The White Horse has a carefully selected choice of wines, craft beers and cocktails.

We stopped for a glass of wine before continuing our little tour of Lincoln’s drinking spots.

📍 21 Hungate, Lincoln LN1 1ES

The Wig & Mitre

We also stopped at The Wig & Mitre, a historic pub located on Steep Hill. Its position makes it an ideal place to rest your legs after exploring the independent shops, or to reward yourself for successfully making it to the top of the hill!

The pub has plenty of traditional charm and a warm, relaxed atmosphere. We found ourselves a table and enjoyed another glass of wine while watching the world go by outside. The wine menu really impressed us, as did the friendly service from Doug the barman!

📍 30–32 Steep Hill, Lincoln LN2 1LU

The Colonnade Cocktail Lounge

We ended our evening back at the White Hart Hotel with a drink in the Colonnade Cocktail Lounge.

The beautifully designed lounge takes inspiration from Lincoln’s Roman history and feels rather glamorous, making it the perfect setting for one final glass of wine before heading upstairs to bed. After a full day of historic attractions, independent shopping, fantastic food and a few glasses of wine, it was exactly the kind of relaxed ending we needed.

📍 The White Hart Hotel, Bailgate, Lincoln LN1 3AR

The Rogues Coffee House and Kitchen

We started our second day with breakfast at The Rogues Coffee House and Kitchen, an independent, music-themed café serving freshly cooked food made with quality local ingredients.

It is a little way outside the main Cathedral Quarter, but can easily be walked to – it took us less than 10 mins from St.Paul’s Lane car par after moving the car. The relaxed surroundings and hearty breakfast gave us all the energy we needed before heading back into central Lincoln for plenty of walking and sightseeing. I’d highly recommend the Parma Ham Hash.

📍 Upper Long Leys Road, Lincoln LN1 3LE

Lincoln proved to be an ideal destination for a UK city break. The Cathedral Quarter is compact enough to explore on foot, yet there is more than enough history, shopping, food and drink to fill a weekend.

We managed to see a great deal in 24 hours, but I would happily return to discover even more, although my legs might need a little time to recover before tackling Steep Hill again!