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Cathedral
Lincoln Cathedral
Cathedral begun in 1072 and rebuilt after an earthquake in 1185; for over 200 years it was the tallest building in the world.
A mini guide to
Uphill and downhill Lincoln
Cathedral and castle on the hill, Steep Hill, the High Street and Brayford Pool
Photos
1 / 8Welcome to the area
Cathedral and castle on the hill, Steep Hill, the High Street and Brayford Pool
Uphill Lincoln is the old Roman and Norman city on the hilltop. The cathedral and the castle stand a few hundred metres apart, with the ruined Bishops' Palace on the slope just below the cathedral and the Roman Newport Arch to the north. Lincoln Museum and the Usher Gallery are just south of the cathedral, and the Arboretum is to the east.
Steep Hill drops past the Jew's House and Norman House, two of England's oldest town houses, towards the High Street. Downhill, the Tudor Stonebow and Guildhall straddle the street, High Bridge still carries buildings over the River Witham, and Brayford Pool, used as a port since Roman times, is ringed with restaurants and bars near the station.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Castle
Lincoln Castle
Norman castle on a Roman fortress site, with two mottes, a Victorian prison and an original 1215 Magna Carta; the grounds are free.
Historic ruin
Lincoln Medieval Bishops' Palace
English Heritage ruins of the late-12th-century palace of the bishops of Lincoln, on the hillside just below the cathedral.
Directions Website Report a problem with Lincoln Medieval Bishops' Palace
Museum
Lincoln Museum
Lincolnshire's county museum, formerly The Collection, in a purpose-built building close to the Usher Gallery.
Art gallery
Usher Gallery
Art gallery founded in 1927, with works by painters such as J. M. W. Turner and L. S. Lowry; run as part of Lincoln Museum.
Historic street
Steep Hill
Street with a one-in-seven gradient climbing to the cathedral, lined with independent shops, tea rooms and pubs.
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Uphill and downhill Lincoln and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Pace yourself on Steep Hill
The gradient is about one in seven; walk up slowly or plan to start at the top and work down.
2
Check the wall walk
Lincoln Castle said in November 2026 that the Medieval Wall Walk was closed for maintenance; the Victorian Prison and Magna Carta were open and the grounds are free.
3
See the Bishops' Palace views
The English Heritage ruins sit on the slope just below the cathedral and look out over the lower city.
4
Visit Lincoln Museum and the Usher Gallery together
The Usher Gallery is run as part of Lincoln Museum, and the two stand close together just south of the cathedral.
Tips from the Britlens editors
Explore this guide
Everything for Uphill and downhill Lincoln
Photo credits
- Uphill and downhill Lincoln (area photo): The original uploader was Daviddariusbijan at English Wikipedia., CC BY 2.0, source
- Lincoln Cathedral: DrMoschi, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Lincoln Castle: Dmitrij M, CC BY 3.0, source
- Lincoln Medieval Bishops' Palace: PAUL FARMER, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Lincoln Museum: John Lord from Edinburgh, Scotland, CC BY 2.0, source
- Usher Gallery: Acediscovery, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Steep Hill: The original uploader was Daviddariusbijan at English Wikipedia., CC BY 2.0, source
- Jew's House: Marek69, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Norman House: Gordon Hatton, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Newport Arch: Marek69, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Guildhall and Stonebow: Richard Nevell, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- High Bridge: Oliver Mills, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Brayford Pool: Rawson at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Lincoln Arboretum: Rodw, CC0, source
- New Theatre Royal Lincoln: Stephen Craven, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring Lincoln