Lincoln Castle
A Norman castle built in 1068 by William the Conqueror, home to one of the original 1215 Magna Carta copies. You can walk the castle walls for views over the old city.
Lincoln Castle was ordered built by William the Conqueror in 1068, and it is one of the best-preserved Norman castles in England. The underground exhibition hall holds one of the four surviving original 1215 Magna Carta documents, along with the 1217 Charter of the Forest, displayed through multimedia exhibits. The medieval castle walls form a walk of about 500 metres, with views over the cathedral and the whole city. The castle also has a Victorian prison, where you can see the unusual Separate Chapel, in which prisoners worshipped in isolation. Admission costs about £17–20 and includes the Magna Carta exhibition, the walls and the prison. Check the official website for current prices. You can enter the free castle courtyard without a ticket. It's best to visit the castle in the morning before going to the cathedral across the square.
Opening hours
Approx. 10:00–17:00 (until 16:00 in winter)
Nearby sights
- Bailgate
- Newport Arch
- Steep Hill
- Jew's House
- Museum of Lincolnshire Life
- Lincoln Cathedral
- Lincoln Medieval Bishop's Palace
- The Collection Museum