Visit us

A Place of Beauty and so much more

“Lincoln Cathedral is arguably the finest gothic building in Europe. On this site you will find information about its past history, its present activities and our hopes for its future.

I hope you will come and visit Lincoln Cathedral to discover its wonders for yourself and receive a blessing.”

The Very Reverend Philip Buckler – Dean

Your visit

There is so much to see and experience. Lincoln Cathedral was for almost 300 years the tallest building in the world.Yet, in spite of its size, it is filled with intricate detail.

There is something for everyone. Children love seeking out the funny carvings. Not just the Imp, but the cat and mouse and so many other little details that brightened the masons’ days.

In Lincoln Cathedral the architects of the gothic style perhaps reached the pinnacle of their art. Watch this video clip to get a feel of what to expect. Everywhere you look there is the most intricate detail, walls, roofs elaborated by the finest carving. From above, the carving is at its best, yet not for the eye of mortal man.

From the time of the death of the saintly Bishop of Lincoln, Hugh of Avalon whose shine is shown in the picture to the right, thousands of people like you and me have come on pilgrimage to Lincoln Cathedral. It is place of pilgrimage, a place of holiness and of prayer, but also a place to explore.

Entry

You can enter free of charge and gaze at the nave; you can spend time of quiet in the Morning Chapel; you can visit the shop. But if you want to explore further, we do ask you to pay an entry charge. If you Gift Aid this, this will give you an entry pass for the ensuing year. All tours are included in the entry charge. On Sunday, there are no tours, but equally there is no charge. Follow this link to find why we ask you to pay.

So, what is there?

If you are interested in History, Remigius the Bishop who built the earliest part of the Cathedral came over with William the Conqueror.

If Architecture is your passion St Hugh, who so lovingly restored the Cathedral after the earthquake, brought with him architects who took the gothic form to the farthest reaches. The intricacy of this building is something to behold.

If Music is your love, come to choral evensong. You can listen to the week’s broadcast on-line, but that is nothing compared to hearing it live.

If you are book addict, visit the Medieval and Wren Libraries and discover the eclectic collection we keep.

Tours

You may be happy to go round on your own or with a handset. I would encourage you, though, to join one or more of our regular tours, which come in the price of your entry ticket: Floor tours, Roof tours and Tower tours.

Guide Books

We do have two guide books which are on sale at the shop. For those who want to dig deeper there is our book, Lincoln Cathedral, a journey from past to present.

We look forward to welcoming you

Please check the opening times page for details and charges. Special events and restrictions are shown in the diary on the home page. The Cathedral is a busy place and sometimes we have to restrict access to make way for a special event. E-mail visitors@lincolncathedral.com or phone our Visitor Services Team on 01522 561600.