lincoln cathedral rooftop tour

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Guided Roof Tour

Explore the roof space of lincoln cathedral with views across the city..

Our friendly guides will you show you the fascinating structures that hold up the roof of the Cathedral. We’ll give you an insight into the workmanship required to build and maintain this stunning building.

You’ll also get up close to our stained glass windows, visit one of our bell chambers and for those who are not afraid of heights, there is an opportunity to enjoy views down the full length of the Nave and across the City from the Cathedral’s West Front.

If you love architecture, this tour is for you.

How long will the tour last?

Each tour will last approximately 1 hour 45 minutes

How much does it cost?

Tours cost £7.50 per person in addition to the general admission fee.

What else do I need to know?

Please note: A general level of fitness is required to climb the steep staircases.

An induction will be provided before the tour commences, and a guide will be with you at all times.

Please arrive at least 10 minutes before the tour start time, and pay admission at our welcome desk and receive your tour information.

New dates will be added regularly, so please check back if your preferred dates are not yet available.

Tickets are sold as non-returnable and non-refundable.

All participants must be 14 years or older.

Please note: health and safety conditions do apply and a general level of fitness is required to climb the steep staircases. An induction will be provided before the tour commences, and a guide will be with you at all times. This programme is subject to change with no notice. We reserve the right to cancel this event. If we do need to cancel all tickets will be refunded.

Roof Tour Visitor Safety Instructions

Please take time to read this information carefully as you will be required to comply with the restrictions and requirements below.

Tour Details The maximum number of persons allowed in the tour party is 14. We apologise: Children under the age of 14 are not permitted on the tour. Once the tour has started there will be no opportunity for a comfort break. Tours last approximately 1 hour 45 minutes.

General Information There are more than 100 steps to the top of the roof and the spiral stairs are narrow, uneven and steep. Flat shoes must be worn – No flip flops or other open-backed shoes. Along various parts of the route there are narrow exits, low ceilings or similar obstacles – your guide will warn you of these but please take care. Smoking and the use of mobile phones (other than for photos) is prohibited.

Health Any visitor with a fear of heights or confined spaces and/or in poor health should consider their suitability for the tour. The tour is not recommended for those with: • Breathing difficulties • Heart conditions (including pace-makers) • Joint pains – hips, knees or ankle • Reduced mobility or balance problems • Vertigo • Asthma – asthmatics are asked to ensure that they have their inhalers with them. Those who are pregnant are not advised to join the tour

NOTE: Your lead guide is in charge of the tour and their instructions must be followed at all times. The Cathedral reserves the right to refuse any visitor admittance to the tour if any of the above criteria are not met. Any visitor found not to be following the instructions of the guide, displaying rude or aggressive behaviour and/or endangering the tour safety will be escorted from the tour immediately.

Thank you in advance for your co-operation. We hope that you enjoy the tour

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Fantastic roof and tower tours - Lincoln Cathedral

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Fantastic roof and tower tours

I lived in Lincoln many years ago and always loved the cathedral. Back for a weekend visit I went on the roof tour which was a real eye-opener. It lasted about an hour and a half and was a real eye-opener. It's not just the roof, but the whole front of the cathedral is full of the rooms that made up the old bishop's castle. Put this together with some wonderful views across the courtyard to the castle, and it was a fantastic time. So much so I also signed up for the tower tour. The tower tour was very good too, but if I had to choose I'd go for the roof tour every time.

The roof tour was a truly outstanding experience. Neville, a thoroughly knowledgeable - albeit sometime difficult to understand - tour guide. A tour that every visitor to Lincoln should experience. The views are magnificent and the trivia and understanding gathered about this William the Conquerer /Norman era cathedral is excellent. Learn which Hollywood movie filmed here, Which abbey was replicated here, why the cathedral survived WWII intact, and which other nation has contributed the most funding to the restoration of the cathedral than any other.

I went with some firneds to this epic catherdral. We eplored the nave and the choir and even took the stairs to the roof. Whew what a walk up those stairs. Very breathless when we got to the top and those stairs wound up and up and up . Well worth the view when we reached the top and it was certainly alot easier going down.

Went to Evensong. Choir is amazing. How such a small number of people can make such a dramatic noise is astonishing, and it is free to listen to them. This is one of the treasures of England. Long may it continue.

This is such an impressive place. Really makes you appreciate the craftmanship of the medieaval period. We had an audio guide which was really good value and ensured that we gained the most from the visit.

This is a magnificent building with an incredible history. It stands at the top of Lincoln and can be seen from many angles below. It dominates the city. The inside is magnificent. There is a cafe and a shop. The guides and volunteers are very helpful.

Guided Roof Tour of Lincoln Cathedral

Explore the roof space of Lincoln Cathedral with views across the City.

Select date and time

• Saturday May 4 11:00 AM
• Saturday May 4 1:00 PM
• Saturday May 4 3:00 PM
• Monday May 6 11:00 AM
• Monday May 6 1:00 PM
• More options

Lincoln Cathedral

Refund Policy

About this event.

Our friendly guides will you show you the fascinating structures that hold up the roof of the Cathedral. We'll give you an insight into the workmanship required to build and maintain this stunning building.

You'll also get up close to our stained glass windows, visit one of our bell chambers and for those who are not afraid of heights, there is an opportunity to enjoy views down the full length of the Nave and across the City from the Cathedral's West Front.

If you love architecture, this tour is for you.

Each tour will last approximately 1 hour 45 minutes and cost £7.50 per person in addition to the general admission fee.

Please note: A general level of fitness is required to climb the steep staircases.

For all Lincoln Cathedral tours, please arrive at least 15 minutes before the tour start time, and pay admission at our welcome desk and receive your tour information.

All tours are subject to change with no notice. We reserve the right to cancel any tour. If we do need to cancel all tickets will be refunded.

Tickets are sold as non-returnable and non-refundable.

An induction will be provided before the tour commences, and a guide will be with you at all times.

Tours are limited to 14 people so it is recommended that you book in advance to guarantee a place.

New dates will be added every two weeks, so please check back if your preferred dates are not yet available.

All participants must be 14 years or older.

Health and safety terms apply. Please wear sensible shoes, no flip flops or open-backed shoes allowed.

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Excellent roof tour - Lincoln Cathedral

• Europe    
• United Kingdom (UK)    
• England    
• Lincolnshire    
• Lincoln    
• Lincoln - Things to Do    
• Lincoln Cathedral

Excellent roof tour

We took the roof tour and had an excellent guide (Nigel) who gave us an interesting history of the cathedral and a very comprehensive tour which lasted for two hours - well over the advertised time. Highly recommended.

Nice building ,lots to see inside ,one part was a church inside a church When getting tickets you can donate part of the money that isn't taxed goes directly to help church , Plenty of seats ,the ticket can be used free entry for 12 months

A visit to Lincoln Cathedral is a must if you visit the city, it is an aweinspiring space full of beauty and history and the guided tour just brings it to life. We were very fortunate ot have Ken Moore as our tour guide - what a star! He used his wit and charm to impart his wide knowledge of the Cathedral giving us a wonderful history lesson which kept us all hanging on his every word and making us look with fresh eyes at the beauty of the place.

A fantastic tour by Kenneth Moore - we were shown around on a fantastically interesting and entertaining tour of the beautiful cathedral. Would highly recommend a visit and the free tour included with the entrance.

If you’re in Lincoln, do the cathedral ‘roof top tour’. Get up the towers, in among the roof beams and have 1000 years of history brought to life - our guide was Nigel and he was so knowledgeable and passionate about the building. Plus great tapas at Olivares in the square to recover from all those spiral stairs!

A beautiful building that has been used as a filming location. The art exhibition was worth seeing, some talented local artists being displayed. Really happy that I could remember where the imp hides out! If you are going to the castle, you must do the cathedral. If you are doing the cathedral, make sure you go to the castle too.

Medieval Studies Research Group

A Rooftop Tour of Lincoln Cathedral by Mike Barycki, a student on our MA in Medieval Studies

In early October I had the opportunity to take Lincoln cathedral’s ‘Guided Rooftop Tour.’  Due to COVID restrictions, there was only a 3-week window when the tours were reopened before unfortunately the national guidance changed and the tours ceased.  If, like me, you are fascinated with the history and architecture of cathedrals, then I strongly recommend signing up for one of these tours when they reopen.  You get a full 90 minutes of behind the scenes access.  Pictures are allowed to be taken on the tour, so I thought I would share some of my journey with those who might have interest.

The tour began in the southwest chapel (Ringers’ Chapel), dedicated to the cathedral’s bell ringers where the names of the lead ringers are written on the walls above the altar.  Thirteenth-century equilateral arcading and a colourfully decorated vaulted ceiling make even this first stop an enjoyable one.

My apologies for the poor quality of this image (above), but I wanted to show how narrow and tight the steps can be.  This section of the cathedral retains much of its Norman feel, and the stairwells are similar to those in the White Tower in London.  They go in a tight circle, so sturdy footwear and care in walking are a must.

Above the southwest chapel are some excellent examples of Norman architecture, such as these semi-circular arches.  These would have been on the ‘outside’ of the southwestern tower facing south prior to expansion.  Unlike the western front of the cathedral, these stones have been removed from the outdoor elements since the mid-thirteenth century and have not discoloured.

On the next floor up there are some excellent remnants of the cathedral’s challenging past.  These stones along the stairwell have turned red from the exposure to fire, possibly the one in 1141 that coincided with King Stephen’s siege of the castle, according to Jonathan Foyle.  The ‘X’ marks were from masons inspecting the integrity of the stone, where those that were comprised by the heat of the fire were removed and replaced, as you can see in the two at the bottom of this image (above).

The eleventh-century architecture is evident everywhere as you make your way up the western front of the cathedral, including here in the corner of the tower with a brightly lit western window and a closed off southern facing one.  The metal bar is one of many that help ensure the stabilisation of the oldest part of the building.  Earthquakes have been a historical problem for the cathedral, and these measures are intended to provide the building with an ability to ‘wobble’ slightly to prevent damage in the case of another earthquake.

The room that sits above the main western entrance is just below the roof between the two towers.  Visitors can see a large model of the cathedral encased here that gives an excellent representation of the cathedral from 1311 to 1548, where the spire of its central tower made it the tallest building in the world at 160m.

The room between the two towers also contains evidence of Norman architecture, long hidden from the public and the elements outdoors since expansion.  This side faces inwards towards the other tower.  It received the same level of detail as the western facing ones the public can see today from the ground.  Through the window (turned door) you can see the bell ringers’ room with the cords descending from the ceiling.  Due to the weight and counter-pull from the bells, ringing requires training and careful execution as it can be a dangerous task!

This (above) is the roof between the towers that runs from the western front of the building back to the central tower.  Our guide said that, while they replace wood that shows significant wear or strain, many of these beams are over 700 years old and most were made from the strong oaks in Sherwood Forest.

Here (above) you can see the vaulted ceiling and window bays of the nave below.

The tour also takes you outside to see both the southern and western views from atop the cathedral. The view from the western rooftop (above) provides a picturesque look at Lincoln castle.  It is plausible that King Stephen himself came up here to assess the progress of his siege in 1141 (and perhaps even to see his cousin, Robert of Gloucester, arriving with an army to attack him from the plains beyond the castle).

The western rooftop provides an opportunity to see the detail of the Norman stonework that cannot be appreciated from the ground level below with the naked eye.  Here (above) the stark contrast between different time periods of the tower’s ride upwards can be seen, with differences of stone use and architecture just above the higher row of arcading.

There is a breath-taking view of the nave as the tour heads down from the rooftops and crosses between the towers. Walking along the triforium provides some beautiful views of the nave below, but attention must be given to the beams that often cross the walkway.  Since I am vertically challenged, this was easier for me to navigate, but taller individuals should pay extra care on this part of the tour.

The tour also provides an opportunity to see some beautiful stained glass in the north transept that cannot be seen by the public below (above).  The tour then concludes after winding its way down the steps in the corner of the transept.  I took plenty of more pictures but tried to limit what I have shared here to provide an overview of what a guest would see on this tour.  When the tours open up again, I will be first in line for another opportunity to take it all in for a second time.  I firmly believe this is the best value of anything I have experienced here in the UK, and I am sure that any historian or architecture enthusiast would find this tour an invaluable part of the Lincoln experience.

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Lincoln Cathedral

More about the area

Lincoln Cathedral is one of the most spectacular Gothic buildings that held the record for the world’s tallest building for over two centuries. Enjoy exploring the magnificent exterior and interiors, colourful stained glass windows and discovering the famous Lincoln Imp. With free entry for children, Lincoln Students, and dogs, Lincoln Cathedral is the perfect place to visit with your entire family while discovering over 1000 years of history and culture.

01522 561 600

www.lincolncathedral.com

[email protected]

Internationally acclaimed, one of Europe’s finest examples of Gothic architecture

Discover Lincoln Cathedral, the spectacular and globally iconic landmark. Standing tall over the city of Lincoln for hundreds of years and appearing in Young Victoria and The Da Vinci Code, Lincoln Cathedral is an awe-inspiring and magnificent landmark recognised all over the world. William Conquerer commissioned Remiquius de Fécamp, the first Bishop of Lincoln to build Lincoln Cathedral in the 11th century during the Norman invasion of Britain.

Lincoln Cathedral was once the tallest building in the world after the spire was added in 1311, overtaking the Great Pyramid of Giza until 1549 when the spire collapsed in a turbulent storm.

Despite the cathedral’s dramatic scale there are many small and intricate hidden surprises to discover, including the famous Lincoln Imp.

Lincoln Cathedral has been described as “out and out the most precious piece of architecture in the British Isles and roughly speaking worth any two other cathedrals we have” by John Ruskin, leading Victorian art critic and writer. Lincoln Cathedral today remains recognised as one of the most precious pieces of architecture in the British Isles and on an international scale. Lincoln Cathedral is a must-see attraction when visiting the county.

Iconic Lincolnshire

Celebrating 950 years of Lincoln Cathedral.

Lincolnshire’s magnificent and treasured example of Gothic architecture that has stood tall over the city of Lincoln. Explore Lincolnshire’s heritage and experience an icon as never before – with their new visitor centre, shop and exhibition space that complement the story of the Cathedral’s 950 year-old story.

Gallery & Discovery Centre

As well as exploring the main Cathedral building, visitors can discover centuries of history in the exhibition gallery – where the internationally important Romanesque Frieze takes pride of place. In the Discovery Centre all members of the family can get hands on with history as they explore the engaging, interactive exhibits.

Free entry for children & students

Children under the age of 16 and Lincoln students can enter Lincoln Cathedral for free all year round. Younger children can also pick up an explorer’s backpack from the welcome desk to help interactively and creatively guide them through the Cathedral and to find the Lincoln Imp!

what's on at Lincoln Cathedral

Here is a selection of the events planned at Lincoln Cathedral. Visit their website for the complete calendar.

The Beatles by Candlelight at Lincoln Cathedral

Elton John by Candlelight at Lincoln Cathedral

Festival of Music – A concert by the Band of the Royal Air Force College

Libera in Concert at Lincoln Cathedral

G4 Christmas Concert at Lincoln Cathedral

Lincoln Cathedral Experiences

Guided Roof Tour

Duration 1.5 hours

Price: £7.50 plus general admission fee

What's included?

Explore the roof space of Lincoln Cathedral with views across the City. The friendly guides will show you the fascinating structures that hold up the roof of the Cathedral.

You'll get an insight into the workmanship required to build and maintain this stunning building. You’ll also get up close to the stained glass windows, visit one of the bell chambers and for those who are not afraid of heights, there is an opportunity to enjoy views down the full length of the Nave and across the City from the Cathedral’s West Front. If you love architecture, this tour is for you.

opening times

The Cathedral is open daily from Morning Prayer until the end of Evensong or Evening Prayer.

From time to time, Lincoln Cathedral will have restricted access to certain areas. This can be due to a number of reasons including services, events or maintenance.

Restricted Access Information

entry & prices

Access to services is always free of charge. 

Free entry to Lincoln Students (University of Lincoln, Bishop Grosseteste University, and Lincoln College - with valid ID)

*Donate your entry fee to the Cathedral and add gift aid in exchange for an annual pass (free access for 12 months)

If you are a companion or carer for a visitor with a disability, please let the Cathedral team know on arrival and they will provide complimentary admission.

more information

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Email: [email protected]

Tel: 01522 561 600

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Up on the roof of Lincoln Cathedral

‘Of course, it’s unlikely he had such a magnificent moustache. Contemporary accounts make him sound small and a bit insignificant.’ We’re high above the nave in Lincoln Cathedral, getting up close and personal with its first founder, Bishop Remigius, and it’s not doing my acrophobia any good, especially as Pork Belly is hanging over the parapet any chance he gets to take photos! But the stained-glass window is magnificent, all glowing colours and lush robes. And that moustache. Mesmerising. Our guide on the Lincoln Cathedral Roof Tour is full of facts, fun and humour. He knows his stuff well enough to be slightly irreverent and sometimes speculative.

‘No-one’s really sure why Remigius got the job. He was a monk from Fecamp Abbey who came over with William the Conqueror. An almoner, so not very important in the scheme of things.’

‘But he seems to have been related to William in some way and was rewarded with a bishopric, then commissioned to build a cathedral here in Lincoln, right next to the castle.’

Lincoln Cathedral – triumph and disaster

Remigius may have rushed the job, completing the original cathedral in about 20 years, dying just two days before it was consecrated in 1092.

A few years later, fire blazed through the building, then an earthquake hit, destroying almost everything except the tower and the west front.

Some, including our guide, say shoddy workmanship may have been more to blame than the weather!

This is where a behind-the-scenes tour becomes even more fascinating.

Most visitors to Lincoln Cathedral will get to see the stonework, the old doorways and carvings of Biblical tales that date from the original build.

A tour of the cathedral floor, included in the admission price, will unveil a few more snippets of information.

But pay a little extra, and you will get more … so much more.

Behind the scenes at Lincoln Cathedral

Unusually for a roof tour, we start outside, looking up at the frieze on the front of the cathedral.

Then, jangling a huge bunch of keys, our guide takes us inside and unlocks the door to the Ringers’ Chapel.

He shows us how the frieze extends from the front round to what was originally the side of the cathedral. Now covered up by the later additions, it’s only visible on a guided tour.

What was once brightly coloured has, even indoors, weathered into pale relief, but it’s extraordinary to see these carvings have survived wind, weather, fire and even lightning strikes for hundreds of years.

It’s here we get our safety instructions.

‘Mind your step, mind your head and take it slow. Oh, and if you’re not a fan of heights, don’t look down!’

The Guided Roof Tour is certainly not suitable for anyone with mobility problems, there are over 100 steps to the top. But, unless you suffer from specific health conditions, it’s open to all aged 14 and over.

Steep staircases and high, narrow passages await, but everything is so interesting I forgot for a moment that I really have no head for heights.

I just took my time and went with it.

There’s so much to take in, don’t be surprised if the tour, scheduled to take about 90 minutes, keeps you enthralled for more than 2 hours!

One member of the tour is designated the back-marker, responsible for switching off lights and closing doors behind us, the slam echoing through the cavernous spaces and adding to the atmosphere.

Hidden gems of Lincoln Cathedral

Leaving the side chapel, we stop at a small door in the oldest part of the tower, before climbing a broad set of stairs.

‘The wider the stairs, the more likely they were used by people of importance. This is probably the entrance Bishop Remigius would have used. Look how small it is! He clearly wasn’t a very big man!’

The sweep of the stairs, plenty big enough for armed soldiers, leads to an enclosed stone parapet that runs between the two, smaller towers at the front of the cathedral.

‘After the conquest things were pretty unsettled and the clergy had to be ready to defend themselves. Lincoln Castle was often besieged by rival factions, too busy to come and help, so the cathedral had its own methods of defence.’

‘Here there was once an opening where you could throw anything down on your attackers. And you’d stay safe up here behind these thick walls. But mostly it was used on saints days and celebrations to hang down long, colourful banners or scatter the crowds with petals. Feast days at the cathedral would have been a riot of colour and noise.’

Then it’s on to the more modern section – only 800 or so years old – that was the work of another Bishop, Hugh of Avalon, later canonised as Saint Hugh.

Saint Hugh at Lincoln cathedral

Taking on the ruins after the earthquake, Hugh had a very different, hands-on approach. Legend has it he would sometimes work as a hod carrier for the builders and took a personal interest in progress.

The tour takes you onto the roof at two points, one giving spectacular views over the south of the city and the nearby Bishop’s Palace, where Hugh prayed and planned his masterpiece.

The other takes you out above the front entrance of the cathedral, looking west over Exchequer Gate towards Lincoln Castle, so close you can wave at the people doing the castle wall walk.

Here we get a view of St Hugh himself, his statue high up, arms raised in blessing.

Opposite him, on the northwest tower, stands a very different figure – a shepherd playing his pipes.

‘Now that’s another Hugh legend. One day, a shepherd approached the bishop with a donation towards the rebuilding of the cathedral. It wasn’t much, just a few coins, but Hugh realised it was all the man possessed. He vowed that since the shepherd had given his all, that he deserved a statue as well.’

Fiction or fact? Nobody knows.

What is clear is that Bishop Hugh was a much better architect than Remigius! The rebuild took advantage of the latest Gothic style, with pointed arches, ribbed vaults and flying buttresses which could support huge windows, perfect for stained-glass.

But our guide is quick to point out its imperfections, too. He tells us to look down the length of the nave. From this height, something becomes apparent that we hadn’t spotted from the floor. In all this Gothic perfection, the nave is irregular, doing a little wobble as it reaches the western end.

It seems an odd mistake for Bishop Hugh to make, but there is a theory.

‘We know that Hugh began rebuilding the cathedral from the eastern end, working his way towards the remaining western frontage. It’s possible that he originally intended to pull the old part down, rather than incorporate it, so didn’t need the vaulting to match.’

But Hugh died before the transept and nave were completed, so we’ll never know.

Whatever the reason, it’s rather wonderful that parts of Lincoln Cathedral date back over 950 years.

Restoration at Lincoln Cathedral

And the battle to maintain it has been going on for almost as long!

Its once soaring spires were removed in 1807 amid fears of a collapse and over the years, beams and metal structures have been put in place to strengthen the walls.

These signs of restoration are clear in the hidden parts of the cathedral uncovered on the Roof Tour, from the detailed stonework on the tower parapets to the huge supporting beams in the bell tower.

Up in the roof

A few more steps, narrower this time, bring us to the main attraction – a walk above the vaulted nave ceiling itself.

Huge oak beams, cut hundreds of years ago from Sherwood Forest, still support the roof as they have for centuries.

Along the wooden walkway, we find carvings and graffiti from the craftsmen who’ve built and maintained the great ceiling over the years.

If graffiti is your thing, Lincoln Cathedral has a guided graffiti tour too.

St Hugh’s legacy

After Hugh’s death, the work to beautify and improve the cathedral continued.

Small miracles began to be reported by people visiting his grave, and he was canonised in 1220. A whole new choir was built, worthy of St Hugh’s resting place.

Angels swoop and soar above, but keep your eyes peeled for the mischievous Lincoln Imp just above St Hugh’s shrine, because the devil is everywhere!

And those windows!

Masterpieces of medieval glass work, painstakingly conserved throughout the years.

The final part of the roof tour, takes you through a tummy-squeezing, vertigo-inducing passageway, to give you a dramatic, close-up view of the Dean’s Eye, a work of extraordinary medieval craftsmanship.

Even I, legs a bit jelly-like by this stage, had to stop and marvel at the intricate stonework and glowing glass. Pork Belly was, of course, the last one down!

The perfect end to the Lincoln Cathedral roof tour.

Visiting Lincoln Cathedral There’s so much more to see, and if cathedrals are your thing, you’ll probably need to go back several times to take it all in. The Roof Tour costs £7.50 per person in 2023. This is in addition to the cathedral admission price of £11 for adults, (16s and under are free). For a full range of tours and opening hours, see Lincoln Cathedral website. While you’re there, why not visit the Medieval Bishop’s Palace just beside the cathedral, where Bishop Hugh lived during the rebuild. We were guests of Visit Lincoln and Lincoln Cathedral, but we think the tour is well worth the money for the informative and entertaining guides and the access to areas not usually seen.

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Home » Things to Do » Lincoln Cathedral Guided Tours

Lincoln Cathedral Guided Tours

There are several interesting and informative tours available at Lincoln Cathedral – all are included in the price of admission.

Floor Tours

Monday – Saturday Times of tour:  11.00, 13.00, 15.00 (March – October) and 11.00 & 14.00  (November – February) Duration: 60 minutes Pre-book: No Age Restrictions: None

Monday – Saturday Times of tour: 11.00 & 14.00  (March – October), 13.30  (Weekdays, November – February), 11.00 & 13.30  (Saturdays, November – February) Duration: 90 minutes Pre-book: Advisable (Telephone: 01522 561600) Age Restrictions: Minimum age: 14 years. 14-16 year olds must be accompanied by an adult.

Tower Tours

Saturday and Bank Holiday Monday Times of tour: 13.30 & 15.00 (March), 12.00, 13.30, 15.00 (April – September), 12.00 & 13.30 (November) Duration: 60 minutes Pre-book: Advisable (Telephone 01522 561600) Age Restrictions: Minimum age: 14 years. 14-16 year olds must be accompanied by an adult.

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Tour the tower of Lincoln Cathedral

Lincoln, lincolnshire.

For 300 years Lincoln Cathedral was the tallest building in the world. Take a tour of the iconic building for an unforgettable experience.

One of Europe's finest examples of Gothic Architecture; Lincoln Cathedral also owns one of only four remaining original copies of 1215 Magna Carta.

Visitors to the cathedral can tour the stunning nave on a floor tour - learn how Lincoln Cathedral was taller than the Pyramids of Giza, and hear the myth of the Lincoln Imp and see if you can catch a glimpse of the little character hidden in the nave!

Guided tower tours offer spectacular 360 degree views across Lincoln and Lincolnshire - if you're feeling energetic!  You can study the intricate stained glass windows up close with a roof tour as well as finding a view of the Cathedral’s interior that will take your breath away.

Lincoln Cathedral towers over the historic city of Lincoln and is something that has so much to explore. So climb the tower and share its wonderful view.

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• Find out more about Lincoln Cathedral and plan your visit
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• Lincoln Castle Hill Tic
• Email Address [email protected]
• Contact Details 01522 545458

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A complete visitors’ guide to Lincoln Cathedral

Lincoln Cathedral has been the defining building of this wonderful city for nearly a thousand years. Towering high on Lincoln’s high hill, the cathedral is a majestic centrepiece that can be seen for miles in every direction. No matter where you happen to be in the city, the cathedral looms above watchfully. But how do you visit Lincoln Cathedral? What are the quirks you need to know before you go, and the hidden stories to look out for? We unpack everything in this quick but comprehensive visitors’ guide.

To find more ideas for your trip, see our complete guide to things to do in Lincoln .

This site contains links to some products and services we love, which we may make commission from at no extra cost to you.

Is Lincoln Cathedral worth visiting?

There are lots of cathedrals in the UK. Most cities have one. They are often fabulous buildings that represent some of the greatest architectural achievements in our history, but… let’s be honest here… visiting cathedrals and churches isn’t always the most riveting takeaway from a city stay. Unless you are a historical architecture buff, it can become a little repetitive.

However. A select few of our cathedrals in the UK have a little extra pizazz that make them stand out above the rest. St Paul’s, York and Salisbury are good examples; and Lincoln Cathedral absolutely counts among this number. But why?

First of all, Lincoln Cathedral has a remarkable back-story that makes it significant not only in this country, but on the worldwide stage. Did you know that it was the tallest building in the world for more than 200 years? (For more nuggets of city trivia, check out our rundown of cool facts about Lincoln .)

How old is Lincoln Cathedral?

Lincoln Cathedral was first built in 1072, making it nearly 1,000 years old! But there have been many incidents, updates and refurbishments over the centuries that has changed the face of the cathedral.

When an expansion was completed on the cathedral in 1311, the tip of its spire reached 159 metres, making it the tallest man-made structure on our planet. This surpassed the record that had been held by the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt for thousands of years.

The cathedral then held this record until 1549, when its main spire collapsed in a storm; after this, it wasn’t until the completion of Ulm Minster in Germany in 1890 that another building surpassed the height of Lincoln Cathedral at its pomp.

Why is Lincoln Cathedral so famous?

Aside from its sheer size and architectural significance, Lincoln Cathedral has been at the crux of many events that have shaped British history. Many of the stories that have accumulated around the cathedral over the centuries can be discovered hidden away within its walls.

Two years after the Magna Carta was brought to Lincoln, the city became the focal point of fighting between the forces of King Henry III and Loui VIII of France. When they clashed in 1217 at the Second Battle of Lincoln, the cathedral was at the turning point of the day when high-ranking French knight Thomas du Perche was mortally wounded at the doors.

When the Magna Carta was published in 1215 – the document that laid the foundations of law and order in the UK – a copy was brought back to Lincoln by the city’s bishop, and has been owned by the cathedral ever since. Today, it is one of only four original copies that survive (although it is on permanent loan to nearby Lincoln Castle, where it can be seen when on display).

Did you know? As the owner of an original copy, Lincoln Cathedral traditionally hosts an annual Magna Carta Lecture, typically delivered by a high-profile dignitary or politician and exploring the history and impact of the charter.

Here is a lecture by former Bank of England Governor Mark Carney at Lincoln Cathedral in 2015 during the 800th anniversary celebrations:

It’s a symbol of home if you live here

For Lincoln locals, the cathedral is as much part of life’s furniture as the sofa in your living room. We can see it from almost anywhere in and around the city, around any corner we turn, as an ever-constant reminder that we are home.

Whether we’re out walking the dog in the evening along the river, shopping down the High Street or returning from a drive out into the countryside, the sight of the cathedral is a symbol of being home. It’s an especially impressive and comforting view at night when lit up against a dark sky, or at sunset when bathed in the last of the day’s light.

When you live in Lincoln, the cathedral becomes a part of your life.

Lincoln Cathedral facts at-a-glance

Things to see in Lincoln Cathedral

The splendour of Lincoln’s Cathedral’s interior provides more than enough to admire in itself, but there are also a few quirky and noteworthy features to keep an eye out for as you explore. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights…

St Hugh’s shrine

A name synonymous with Lincoln Cathedral is that of St Hugh, the man who rebuilt it after a devastating earthquake in 1185. The French nobleman was a hero of the downtrodden, remembered for standing up for the poor, rejecting laws that would bring about starvation, and giving sanctuary to oppressed Jews in Lincoln and elsewhere in the UK.

When St Hugh died in 1200 he was buried in Lincoln Cathedral, his tomb becoming a shrine for pilgrims and worshippers over the centuries. The shrine still stands by the east window, more than 800 years after his passing.

The Lincoln Imp

You may have heard of the fabled Lincoln Imp as the inspiration behind the nickname of Lincoln City Football Club . The legendary little creature also lends its name to some of our favourite hang-out spots around the city, like the Imp & Angel micropub. But what exactly is the Lincoln Imp?

You will find the answer inside the cathedral… but you will need to look carefully. The Lincoln Imp is a grotesque inside the cathedral walls with a back-story that has worked its way into the city’s folklore. So the legend goes, the imp wreaked havoc and mischief around Lincoln, until the angels became fed up of it and turned him to stone.

The imp is perched at just above the pillar closest to St Hugh’s Shrine. Don’t worry if you can’t spot it – you can pay 20p to light him up using a coin-operated machine near the Blessed Virgin Mary statue.

Which queen is buried in Lincoln Cathedral?

Queen Eleanor of Castile is one of the legendary historical figures associated with Lincoln Cathedral – but contrary to some beliefs, she is not actually buried in the building.

Ever wondered where Charing Cross in London gets its name? It was the last of a trail of crosses between Lincoln and London – known as the ‘Eleanor Crosses’ – erected as a memorial to Queen Eleanor, who died just outside Lincoln on her way to the city.

Eleanor’s husband, King Edward ‘Longshanks’ I of England, had her body moved to London after her death, but he also wanted to leave a piece of her legacy in Lincoln. As was customary at the time, he had her vital organs removed, and then had them buried beneath Lincoln Cathedral.

Inside the Cathedral, Eleanor’s memory is marked with a duplicate of her Westminster Abbey tomb. It stands solemnly next to St Hugh’s Shrine.

Henry Willis’ last pipe organ

The pipe organ is a classic feature of many a cathedral around the world. The elite among cathedrals in the UK are bestowed with organs built by Henry Willis, who was considered the greatest organ-builder of the Victorian era.

Over Willis’ lifetime he built over 1,000 organs, including those in the cathedrals of St Paul’s, Canterbury, Salisbury and Edinburgh. But the last organ he ever built – in 1898 – is Lincoln Cathedral’s. Constructed of some 4,000 pipes, this impressive instrument that continues to fill the cathedral with music is considered one of the finest organs in the UK.

The marvellous rose windows

Lincoln Cathedral is marked by two great circular stained-glass rose windows, facing each other on the north and south sides of the crossing. On the north side there is the Dean’s Eye, and on the south side the Bishop’s Eye.

Rose windows like these are a rare feature in English medieval architecture. The Bishop’s Eye is particularly impressive, originally built in the early 14th Century, and still containing fragments of medieval glass from the 16th Century.

Lincoln’s Wren Library

There are only two libraries remaining in the UK built by the celebrated architect Christopher Wren; one is at Trinity College at the University of Cambridge, and the other at… you’ve guessed it… Lincoln Cathedral.

Today, the 17th-Century Wren Library at Lincoln holds a collection of over 10,000 works, including over 250 original medieval manuscripts.

The Wren Library has been undergoing renovation work for some time and is closed to the public until further notice. We hope it will be back open soon and will keep the guide updated with any news.

What is the entrance fee to Lincoln Cathedral?

Admission to Lincoln Cathedral is payable on entry, and you can find details on the website . It is free to enter to attend services, but to explore the building as a tourist the fees are as follows, which includes a free floor tour:

• Adults: £11 (or £7 on Sundays)
• Children: free up to 16 years
• Students at University of Lincoln, Bishop Grosseteste University and Lincoln College: free

If you are a UK taxpayer, you have the option to add Gift Aid to your admission fee, which means that charities can claim an extra 25% of your fee at no extra cost to you. If you do this you will receive an annual pass, and so can return to explore the cathedral again any time within the next 12 months.

Can you take tours in Lincoln Cathedral?

Great news: admission to the cathedral includes a free tour of the floor. For an extra £7.50, you can also take one of the following themed tours:

• Monday to Saturday, 11am and 1pm, plus an additional 3pm Saturday tour
• 1 hour 45 minutes
• Available to book online

See the breathtaking cathedral roof space up close and learn insights into how it was designed and created.

• Saturdays at 11:15am and 1:15pm

Ascend to the top of the cathedral’s central tower and see incredible views of Lincoln from the highest perch in the city, and look out across the county beyond.

Medieval graffiti tour

• Wednesdays at 1:45pm

Explore hidden messages, symbols and statements made through the art of graffiti throughout the cathedral and learn their meanings from an expert guide.

Symbolism tour

• Thursdays at 1pm

Lincoln Cathedral is riddled with stone carvings and glassworks that conceal religious and political meanings, inside and out. Discover the stories behind the symbols on this tour.

Stained glass tour

• Last Friday of the month at 1:45pm

The cathedral’s stained glass windows are among its most stunning unique features. Join an expert guide to learn in detail about their history, designs, and how they were constructed and maintained.

Another way to gain insights into the building is to take the hop on hop off Lincoln sightseeing bus tour . Running through the summer months, it begins and ends outside the cathedral, and includes a detailed section about the building’s history and significance.

Cathedral shop and café

As part of major regeneration works at Lincoln Cathedral supported by £16.4 million of National Lottery funding, a new visitor centre was unveiled in 2021 on the west side of the complex.

The space repurposes the old deanery building into a contemporary shop and café. With high-ceilinged rooms, ample windows and white-painted walls, the new facilities are spacious and full of light, looking out onto the revitalised Dean’s Green gardens.

You will also find the shop and café putting forward an array of local produce and talent. The walls are adorned with works by local artists, and in the shop you can buy illustrations and glassworks by popular Lincolnshire-based crafters. The shelves are stocked with jams, chutneys, artisan chocolate, gins and ales made by independent local businesses.

Read more about the space in our review of the Lincoln Cathedral shop and café .

When can you visit Lincoln Cathedral?

Lincoln Cathedral is open seven days a week, from 10am–4pm Monday to Saturday and 11:30am–2:30pm on Sundays.

How to get to Lincoln Cathedral

Such is the dominance of Lincoln Cathedral on the city’s skyline that it’s impossible to miss when visiting. The entrance point is located in the heart of the uphill area, about 15–20 minutes’ walk from the train station. You can see the cathedral’s precise location on the map below:

Lincoln Cathedral parking

For short visits, there is a limited amount of free road parking around the city centre with maximum stays of 1–2 hours. However, to explore the cathedral in depth and allow time to enjoy the surrounding area, we recommend staying in one of the many car parks around the city centre.

The closest car parks to the cathedral are:

• Castle Hill – LN1 3AA
• Langworthgate – LN2 4AW
• Flaxengate – LN2 1JX
• St Paul’s Lane – LN1 3AL

Each of these is less than ten minutes’ walk away and priced similarly, around £5 for three hours (with options for shorter stays). You can find the full range of car parking options and price information on the City Council website .

Where can you stay near Lincoln Cathedral?

As the cathedral is Lincoln’s central landmark, naturally there is a good choice of places to stay nearby. These are some of our favourite hotels close to the building:

• White Hart Hotel : a bit of luxury in the middle of Lincoln’s historic quarter, just a stone’s throw away from the cathedral. Restaurant and bar on-site.
• Tower Hotel : we love this stylish boutique hotel with a restaurant and lounge bar in the Bailgate area, less than ten minutes’ walk from the cathedral.
• The Castle Hotel : a choice of luxury hotel rooms and self-catered apartments in a modernised Grade II listed building, with free on-site parking.
• The Lincoln Hotel : a Best Western hotel in a restored 1960s building with cathedral views.
• Pemberton House : not a hotel but a self-catered apartment, set inside one of the most iconic buildings in Lincoln. The Grade II listed Tudor building is situated at the top of Steep Hill, midway between the cathedral and castle.

For more ideas, read our guides to places to stay in Lincoln .

Restaurants near Lincoln Cathedral

There is no shortage of good places to eat near Lincoln Cathedral, with the uphill area featuring some of the best restaurants, cafés and pubs in the city. These are our picks of the best:

• The Wig & Mitre : this traditional old pub is part of the furniture in the historic quarter, and serves a lovely range of local and international cuisine with regular specials.
• Adam & Eve Tavern : great pub grub and friendly service in one of the city’s oldest buildings.
• Olé Olé Tapas Bar : our favourite among the many excellent international restaurants in Lincoln. Make sure you try the dátiles con bacon (dates wrapped in bacon).
• The Bronze Pig : one of Lincoln’s few fine dining restaurants. You’ll need to dig into your pocket, but it’s worth it to make the occasion special.
• White Hart Hotel : worth another mention here, as the hotel’s Grille restaurant serves delicious food. Come on Thursday for steak night!
• Dough LoCo : Lincoln has many brilliant pizza restaurants, but this one is our favourite! An amazing selection on sumptuous pizzas just a minute’s walk from the cathedral.

Lincoln Cathedral also has an annual marquee at the Lincolnshire Show , featuring various interactive workshops and replicas.

For something different, check out our rundown of Lincoln’s best tea rooms , several of which are in close vicinity of the cathedral.

Have you visited Lincoln cathedral? Let us know about your experience in the comments below.

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Alex Trembath

Alex is the co-founder and chief blogger at Lincoln and Beyond. He has over 15 years' experience in communications leadership and content strategy.

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Does Fr Geoffrey ex St Barnabas Nottingham work there? If so would like to contact

Is Fr Geoffrey, ex St Barnabas Nottingham at the Cathedral? Would like to contact

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In pictures: We went on a Lincoln Cathedral roof tour and the views were breathtaking

The tours offer stunning views looking out over the city

• 15:57, 27 MAY 2022

Lincoln Cathedral is a scenic sight in its own right but also boasts stunning views looking out over the city which can be accessed through both its roof and tower tours. Ascending the steep staircases with eager and welcoming guides, visitors are led to places such as the South West roof and West End balcony, where they can even see as far as the Peak District on a clear day.

Dave Fidler, 70, is from Caythorpe and has been a tour guide for Lincoln Cathedral since 2012. He is one of 21 volunteers who take visitors on the roof tours, along with 700 other volunteers who are floor guides.

He said the main thing he loves about volunteering for Lincoln Cathedral is "the privilege of bringing people around a 900-year-old building and interacting with the public. Stepping out onto the South West roof, along with the West End balcony gives a stunning view of Lincoln from up high.

Read more: Lincolnshire woman living in car to cope with the soaring cost of living

From the West End side, visitors look out at the Exchequer Gate and Lincoln Castle . The South West roof tour staircase is comprised of around 100 steps.

Before braving the stairs, the roof tour takes visitors past walls that are 18-feet thick on the West Front and a murder slot, otherwise known as the machicolation. This translates to "crush head," an open slot above the great door on the West Front which was used to drop stones, boiling water or other materials on attackers.

Out of 42 cathedrals in Britain, the spiral staircase leading up to the South West roof is the third largest spiral staircase after Colchester Castle and Durham Cathedral. Mr Fidler advised making use of ballet position number two when descending the roof stairs due to its narrow and steep nature, which we found to be an effective technique.

Before stepping out onto the gutter to gaze over Lincoln, the interior sight of the South West roof with its timber beams is an impressive sight. Mr Fidler told us the oldest piece of timber in the roof is 1100 years old, with wood from both the 1200s and 1700s being used to support the Cathedral's structure.

A wooden spade was also hung up on the wall of the roof amongst other tools, which would have been used to shift water and snow, which adds 100 tons of weight to the South West roof. Tickets cost £7.50 to undergo a roof tour and £7.50 separately to undergo a tower tour, which has a further 235 steps.

See below for a photo gallery from the roof tour.

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Standing out on the South West roof of Lincoln Cathedral

Little Saint Hugh of Lincoln statue on the south side of Lincoln Cathedral

Dave Fidler, 70, a tour guide at Lincoln Cathedral standing out on the South West roof.

Inside the roof of the South West side of the Cathedral.

The view of Lincoln Castle from the West End balcony

Another roof tour taking place with tour guide Sue Taylor.

View of the interior of Lincoln Cathedral

Graffiti from 1734

A view looking across Lincoln Cathedral's upper passageway

The view of Lincoln from the South West roof

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Under Chandelier of the Tent Roof Intercession Chapel

View from under the church chandelier on the ceiling interior of the main chapel of St. Basil's Cathedral , the Chapel of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin, with a tent roof structure. This Chapel was one of the earliest architectural experiments that placed two octagons sharing a ribbed roof on top of a square. This started a whole new trend in architecture. However, a tall structure like this with a small base plate is very difficult to heat, and cannot be used by many people praying at the same time, which is one of the reasons why very few churches like this were ever built. Tented roofs are thought to have originated in the Russian North, as they prevented snow from piling up on wooden buildings during long winters. This roof style was widely used in 16th- and 17th-century Russian architecture for churches, although there are examples of this style also in other parts of Europe.

Photo #359 taken on July 16, 2016, during a tour of St. Basil's Cathedral with my dear clients from the USA, Andrew and Karen Green.

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St Basil Cathedral Guided Tour with Red Square - Moscow

• duration: 1 hours
• price: 40 €
• order: Book

What You Will See on St Basil Cathedral Tour

St Basil Cathedral is one of the highlights of Moscow. During your guided private tour you will enjoy architectural forms of the ancient Moscow. The cathedral has unusual standards. Nine churches are set on a lofty pedestal; eight of them are grouped round the central Church of the Intercession whose hipped roof towers are above the others.

In 1588 a local Saint- Basil the Blessed was buried in the north-east corner of the cathedral. A tenth church dedicated to St. Basil was added to the existing structure directly above his tomb and since then the whole ensemble is commonly referred to as the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed.

The walls and vaults of the Cathedral are covered with frescoes and oil paintings with plant ornament and images of saints. The museum temporary exhibition presents rare examples of ancient Russian icon‐painting school and masterpieces of applied art.

It has seven domes, each of a different color. The inner gallery also contains amazing wall and ceiling paintings: stylized flower patterns of unique shapes and bright colors. This Cathedral is a masterpiece of Russian Architecture.

Details of the Tour

St. Basil Cathedral Tour last for 1 hour and during this time you will learn:

• why Ivan IV was given a nick name “Terrible”;
• what is the twin brother Cathedral to St. Basil Cathedral;
• the features and symbols of the Russian Architecture;
• who was that saint- Basil (Vasily) whose name the Cathedral bears;

The History of St Basil Cathedral

It was built by the order of Ivan IV, the Terrible and with the blessing of Metropolitan Macarius.

The Cathedral was designed by Russian masters and was built of brick in traditional Russian style.

The cathedral was meant to commemorate an important even- the victory of the Russian Army over Kazan Khanate and final liberation from the Tartar-Mongol Yoke. As a result of which the Russian lands were united round Moscow as their capital.

The building is shaped like the flame of a bonfire rising into the sky, a design that has no parallel in the Russian architecture.

The builders used brick as a decorative medium both inside and out, leaving as much brickwork open as possible; when location required the use of stone walls, it was decorated with a brickwork pattern painted over stucco.

There is a legend that says that Ivan the Terrible asked the builders if they could build anything finer than they had already done. When they answered that they could, he ordered that they be blinded so that there would never be anything more beautiful in the world than the Cathedral of Basil (Vasily) the Blessed.

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