Spend the morning uphill: the cathedral, then Lincoln Castle for the 1215 Magna Carta, the Victorian prison and the wall walk. Walk down Steep Hill past the Norman houses, through the Strait to High Bridge and the Brayford waterfront. Keep a second visit for the Bomber Command Centre on Canwick Hill, the Museum of Lincolnshire Life or Doddington Hall.
Lincoln is a cathedral city in the East Midlands of England, split between uphill and downhill. The cathedral, the castle and the Roman Bailgate sit on a limestone ridge; the station, the High Street and the Brayford waterfront sit below it, joined by the cobbles of Steep Hill.
The Gothic cathedral begun in 1072, whose central spire made it the tallest building in the world until it fell in 1548. Monday to Saturday, admission includes a floor tour; look for the Lincoln Imp in the Angel Choir.
William the Conqueror's castle holds one of the four surviving 1215 Magna Carta originals, shown beside the 1217 Charter of the Forest. The day ticket also covers the Victorian prison and the medieval wall walk.
Guided tours climb more than 300 steps inside the central tower to a roof view over the city and the county. Tours run on set days in season, carry a fee on top of admission and have limited places, so book ahead.
The cobbled street from the castle to the Strait, lined with tearooms and independent shops. Halfway down are the Norman House and, at the foot, the Jew's House, both 12th-century town houses still in use.
High Bridge, built about 1160, is the oldest bridge in Britain still carrying buildings: a timber-framed Tudor row over the Witham. Follow the river west through the Glory Hole to the Brayford Pool marina.
Bailgate follows the main street of the Roman fortress, and Newport Arch, its third-century north gate, still stands over the road. It is reputedly the oldest arch in Britain still used by traffic.
The ruined palace of the bishops of Lincoln, once one of the grandest buildings in medieval England, on terraces below the cathedral with a small vineyard. English Heritage opens it on set dates only.
The memorial and exhibition for RAF Bomber Command, on a hill facing the cathedral, which crews used as a landmark. The steel spire stands among walls naming the 57,861 who died.
The county's social history museum in the 1857 Old Barracks, from shopfronts and farm machinery to a First World War tank built in Lincoln. Entry is free except on event days.
The city's free art gallery, with Peter De Wint's Lincolnshire watercolours, set in terraced gardens below the Bishops' Palace. Open Thursday to Monday.
The late medieval gateway over the High Street, with the council's Guildhall above it.
A church by the station with an 11th-century tower from before the Norman Conquest.
The 14th-century gatehouse between Castle Square and the cathedral, where rents were once paid.
The last of the windmills that once lined the ridge, restored and opened on set weekend afternoons.
Independent boutiques and delis along the Roman street between the castle and Newport Arch.
The 1938 market hall, reopened after a restoration, with local producers and food stalls.
Modern English cooking with a Mediterranean lean, and the city's best-regarded kitchen. Book.
Lincoln CAMRA's repeat Pub of the Year, in the shadow of the castle wall, with guest ales and food.
Reputedly the city's oldest tavern, dating to 1701, across from the Pottergate Arch.
A pub in a timber-framed High Street house, named for Cardinal Wolsey, once Bishop of Lincoln.
A restored Victorian park on the hillside east of the centre, with a lake and a stone lion.
Lakes in old gravel workings run by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, west of the city.
A 10 km road race through the city, organised by Run For All.
Re-enactors, talks and living history across the castle, the cathedral and the city.
A cycle race that climbs the cobbles of Michaelgate lap after lap.
The county's agricultural show at the Lincolnshire Showground north of the city.
A parade from the Cornhill and a day of music in the city.
A steampunk festival across the uphill quarter and the castle grounds.
Free entry to buildings that rarely open, including Ellis Mill and the Guildhall.
The city lights the High Street and opens its winter events programme.
Downhill, beside the High Street. LNER runs direct to London King's Cross about every two hours; East Midlands Railway serves Nottingham in about an hour.
The nearest airports are Humberside, to the north, and East Midlands, to the south-west. Neither has a direct rail link to Lincoln.
Stagecoach runs the city routes from Lincoln Central bus station, beside the railway station.
The centre is compact: about 20 minutes from the station to the cathedral, most of it uphill. Steep Hill is cobbled and very steep; take a taxi up if needed.
Salted pork chine slit and packed with parsley, a spring tradition.
A coarse pork sausage seasoned heavily with sage.
A pork meatloaf with sage and onion, sliced cold for sandwiches.
A spiced fruit loaf, eaten sliced and buttered, often with cheese.
A hard cow's-milk cheese made on a farm in the Wolds.
Haddock and cod cold-smoked on the coast, with protected status.
A pale, crisp ginger biscuit from the market town to the south.
Cask bitter from the family brewery at Wainfleet, on many Lincoln bars.
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