The Cathedral

We live in Lincolnshire and I still love to spot the Cathedral which can be seen from over 20 miles away. It is an immense building and truly beautiful. As my young son said yesterday when he saw St Pauls on the TV, "that doesn't look nearly as special as Lincoln Cathedral" and I must say, from the outside Lincoln Cathedral does look very impressive. 
Inside there are interesting little finds which helps bring it down to a 'human' level. And the surrounding area has much to do and look at too. Lovely shops, pubs, eateries and a ghost walk - the Castle opposite is also worth a visit. Be warned, Steep Hill on which it is situated is just that, and the walk from the town centre is up a narrow cobbled street (part with hand rail) with many lovely small shops to pretend to window shop to help catch your breath!
If you have a buggy or wheelchair it is best to park on top of the hill, although with parking you will have to be patient.

fantastic sight. Must see in Lincoln. Very friendly and informative staff. Be sure to visit the medieval library upstairs. Also, dont miss the imp!

just stunning!

LINCOLN CATHEDRAL is without any doubt the best Cathedral in middle and Northern England. It's towers stand supreme and dominate the surrounding countryside for miles around.
From the outside it looks large, but once you get inside the outside appearance becomes insignificant. The inside is really massive, it's well lit and very spacious, there's banners and Coats of Arms adorning the great walls. Tombs and cryps are plentiful. There is chaples serving our country's Armed Services and other religous organizations.
The Spiritual Feeling you get is overpowering, you sence The Lord Jesus Christ is with you no matter where you wonder inside this great Cathedral.

The Cathedral is a spectacular building which dominates the skyline of Lincoln, especially at night. It still amazes me when I see it, even after 20 years of living in Lincoln. Definitely worth a walk around the outside, although there is a small charge to go inside, it’s worth the fee.

It’s 10 years since I lived in Lincoln but I lived quite close to the Cathedral and remember it well. It is certainly a spectacular building, and a very beautiful one too -- some cathedrals are just vast, but this one seems to combine vastness and beauty in a wonderfully enticing way. However, the thing I remember most about it was how cold it was in the winter -- having attended a couple of Christmas-type events there I would certainly recommend wrapping up well if you’re doing the same. The Cathedral was also home to a vibrant worshipping community, who were quite active around the City. All in all, if you’re visiting Lincoln I’d warmly recommend a visit to the Cathedral -- more so in summer than in winter though!

The focal point of lincoln this cathedral definatly packs a punch. From where ever you are in the city, the cathedral is looming over you in all its glory. Particularly breathtaking at night when its all lit up!! its a beautiful focal for the city and one that all lincolners are very proud of.

An excellent place to visit if you’re coming to Lincoln for the day. The walk up alone is worth it. The street that leads up to The Cathedral is called Steep Hill and i lined with little boutiques perfect for the alternative shopper.

The Cathedral itself costs to get in and there are guided tours available every day. Even if you don’t go in, its worth walking up just to walk around it. Especially at night.

Also the Da Vinci Code was filmed here.

As a place we were taken every year for school trips, its easy to take the cathedral for granted. However its really a very spectacular place to visit. A visit here is highly recommended, especially around Christmas time (and during Christmas market). Coupled with the Castle, this is one of the best places to visit on a trip to Lincoln. Can you find the imp?

I came here one Christmas to hear Handel’s Messiah with my mum, and it was ace. We brought blankets and woolly hats and gloves and scarves and snuggled up on our chairs, all toasty, listening to beautiful voices of the choir and mesmerised by the architecture.

That sounds dead poncy, I know, but it was dead magical and lovely and I’d love to go and do it again.

Oh and they filmed some of the Da Vinci Code here, which caused much hullabaloo around the county. Everyone in our village was like 'ooh that Mr Tom Hanks is coming to visit, get your best frock on!’

Difficult to add to Templars review, but there are official guided tours advertised on certain days. This costs a little more, but is worth every penny and more. Apart from all the usual historical information and trivia, the explanation of the layout and why it is a cathedral (it still has the cathedra in the roof spaces), those who want to are taken right through all the roof spaces and towers, as well as out onto the roof in a number of places. Due to the cathedral’s position on top of the hill, the views are unbelievable. My only photo’s of tis are on print from my “real” camera, so I can’t download them as yet, but pictures are a must!

Its definately the most popular building in lincoln and should be visited by everyone.. guaranteed to put you in awe once you are inside!

Sir John Betjeman called Lincoln Cathedral one of the new 7 wonders of the world.
It is at the top of Steep hill or Greestone Stairs. A long climb.
Built on solid rock it’s foundations are only a few shallow feet.
A lot has been said about its beauty but I like the quirks.

It is built on Roman foundations. Lots of ties and concrete hold the towers up. If you open one of the hatches in the floor you can see a Roman column base.
Some of the glass in the stained glass windows is wrong. During WWII they were taken out and buried in a field to protect them from the Luftwaffe and no-one was sure how to put them back so sometimes a foot is sticking out of the side of a head.

The chapter house has the history of the place in it’s windows including the trial of the templars. It was used as Westminster Abbey in the filming of The Da Vinci Code.
it has a touch and feel section of masonry and carvings for the blind.

Hugh of Avalons tomb is here and there is a pilgrim entrance. Next to it is a Gilbertine orner with ceramic pots where you can light candles.
It has cloisters but never had monks.
A high ledge above the west front window is called Bank’s View. Joseph Banks who was Captain Cooks botanist liked to sit there. Do not go up if you are afraid of heights!

The tomb of Little St Hugh reminds us of the injustice to the Jews in Medieval times.

There is a medieval library and one designed by Wren.
John of Gaunt and his mistress Catherine Swynford were married there and she and her daughter have tombs there. Many kings and presidents were descendants.

The Angel Choir is beautiful, overlooked by the famous Lincoln Imp. It has wonderful carvings (Miserichords) but sometimes you can see the teethmarks of Cromwells horses in them. Look for the wooden rabbit carver in the cloister roof and many others seen through a mirror you push along on a cart.

The coffee shop sells great hot chocolate with marchmellows called a Cloister Cloud. A great place to warm up if you are visiting the Christmas Market, some stalls of which are outside the West door.

They do like you to pay something to go in and look. Around £4 a head when I was there last.

Although not a ghost (made popular by a Victorian silversmith selling charms) The Lincoln Imp is something tourists are always asking me to show them. He supposedly dashed about until he saw the Angel Choir and was so struck by its beauty he turned to stone.

But..hauntings…A seventeenth century holy man has been seen climbing the steps at the front of the cathedral. The last witnesses to see him reported a chain hanging from his neck. The bells have also been pealed by an unseen hand, while legend says a procession of praying monks haunt the cloisters. A suicidal woman named Constance who jumped from the tower during the 1960s returns to re-enact her final, desperate action. Finally, an immovable bloodstain is said to remain on the floor where a stained glass window master landed after leaping from the gallery …. he became depressed after his apprentice created a superior window from the master’s off-cuts.