Lincoln is one of England's most striking medieval cities, built on a dramatic limestone ridge that rises sharply above the surrounding flatlands of Lincolnshire. The hilltop is crowned by two buildings that have defined the city for nearly a thousand years: the castle, begun by William the Conqueror in 1068, and the cathedral, whose central tower once made it the tallest structure in the world.
The castle is worth a visit for its walls alone, which you can walk in their entirety, but the real draw is inside: one of only four surviving original copies of the Magna Carta. Lincoln Cathedral, meanwhile, is a masterpiece of English Gothic architecture, its honey-coloured stone and triple towers visible from miles across the fens.
Between the two, Steep Hill drops sharply toward the lower town, lined with independent shops, bookshops, and tea rooms packed into medieval timber-framed buildings. The street regularly tops lists of England's best, and the climb is rewarded with fine views at every turn. At the bottom, the Brayford Pool waterfront offers a more modern scene of restaurants and bars along the old Roman harbour basin.