The Uphill quarter sits on the limestone ridge above the rest of the city — the original Roman fortress town, later the medieval ecclesiastical and military heart of Lincoln. Almost all the city's grand monuments are here: the cathedral and its close, Lincoln Castle, the Bishop's Palace, the medieval Bailgate (a single broad street lined with independent shops, tea rooms, and pubs), and the surviving Roman gates and walls.
The atmosphere is markedly quieter and more village-like than the busy commercial city below. Most visitors approach Uphill by climbing Steep Hill, which arrives directly into Castle Hill Square between the two main monuments. Several small museums and the Tourist Information Centre cluster in the same area. Best appreciated on a slow half-day walk.