The peaceful and charming city of Lincoln is situated in the East Midlands of England, on the bank of the Witham River. This beautiful settlement is the administrative center of the country of Lincolnshire. Lincoln is one of the main and important historic cities in the United Kingdom. Tourists from many countries of the world come here to see beautiful old landmarks that belong to different historic periods. Besides that, there are many beautiful parks in Lincoln that add unforgettable charm to this English city and make the ancient settlement look modern and sophisticated.
In ancient times, a fortification was raised on the site of the modern city. That fortification belonged to the 9th Roman Legion. The first colony outside the fortification was established in 71 AD and named Lindum. This was a popular place to settle for veteran soldiers. During the archaeological excavations, scientists discovered many proofs of the ancient city that was here. They found a cemetery, several baths, a beautiful fountain, and other ruins of the former Lindum colonia. During the Middle Ages, Lincoln was one of the five Danelaw cities. Thanks to its location at the crossing of several important trading routes, the city was prospering and developing quickly.
Why is England’s Lincoln so attractive for tourists? Lincoln Cathedral or the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lincoln is one of the major attractions in the city. This is a wonderful example of Gothic architecture. The construction of the cathedral started in the 12th century and lasted until 1311. The cathedral was one hundred and sixty meters tall but its height decreased at the end of the 40s of the 16th century due to the damage caused to the central spire. Until that event, Lincoln Cathedral was the tallest building in the world. Its height exceeded even the Great Pyramid of Giza.
The Bishop of Dorchester was the person who initially decided to build a cathedral dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Lincoln. However, builders were in a hurry and tried to complete the church as fast as possible. Naturally, this affected the quality of the building. An earthquake, which happened at the end of the 11th century, destroyed the cathedral. When the original building was in ruins, the new bishop, who later became known as St. Hugh of Lincoln, decided to build a new and bigger cathedral. Residents of Lincoln could see the new gorgeous building already in the 90s of the 13th century. Art connoisseurs agree that the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lincoln is one of the best examples of the English Gothic style.
Tourists also enjoy visiting Lincoln Castle that has survived through centuries. This is exactly the same building that Wilhelm the Conqueror ordered to build. In modern times, the castle has become a prison museum. Visit this interesting place to see how prisoners lived in the past and learn more about the severe laws of the Middle Ages. A special stair heads to the observatory tower. There is a special viewing area at the top of the tower. This is an excellent place to see the beauty of Lincoln and its suburbs from above and enjoy the fabulous panoramic views.
Are you interested in historic artifacts? In this case, don’t forget to see the exhibition of the Usher Gallery. This establishment features thousands of different items that belong to different periods in the history of Lincoln. New items and relics are being constantly added to the large collection of this museum, so no wonder why many tourists visit the Usher Gallery every year. The number of guests doesn’t decrease even though many of them have already visited the gallery in the past.
In the gallery, visitors can see an interesting collection of coins and various artworks made of porcelain. Many visitors find it extremely interesting to see a large and diverse collection of wristwatches. Local jeweler and watchmaker James Ward Usher gifted these interesting items to the museum in the 17th century. Generations of locals and millions of foreign guests have seen these artworks since that time.
English Lincoln is situated not far from several airports including Doncaster Sheffield Airport in Yorkshire, Humberside Airport, and East Midlands Airport. Each of these airports serves international flights from many countries of the world. Upon your arrival in England, you can always get on a train that goes directly to Lincoln. Besides that, there are daily buses that connect Lincoln to the capital of the UK. They depart from the central bus station in London. The journey time is roughly five hours.
