A cathedral city crowned by one of the great churches of Europe, with a castle wall walk and a nature reserve that all welcome dogs. Here is how we would spend a day in Lincoln with your dog.
Lincoln is a city with a proper wow moment: crest the hill and there is one of the finest Gothic cathedrals in Europe filling the sky, with a Norman castle beside it. The old quarter, all cobbles and independent shops running up the aptly named Steep Hill, is a joy to potter round with a dog, and both the cathedral and the castle welcome them inside. Beyond the hill, the city has country parks and a nature reserve for a proper leg-stretch.
A landmark or two in the morning, a wander up the old hill, a good lunch and a pint in a historic pub is the shape of a Lincoln day. This is how we would spend it, with the real, well-reviewed places we would actually take our own dog.
1
Morning: cathedral, castle and wall walk
Start at the top. Lincoln Cathedral welcomes well-behaved dogs on leads inside, so you can stand your dog beneath those soaring arches, and next door Lincoln Castle lets dogs on leads walk the Medieval Wall Walk right round the ramparts, with views over the city and out to the flat Lincolnshire country beyond. For an unusual, moving stop, the International Bomber Command Centre welcomes dogs across its grounds and memorial.
It is a rare thing to take a dog inside a cathedral and round a castle wall in one morning, and Lincoln lets you do both.
For a real run, head out to the parks. Hartsholme Country Park is a very dog-friendly spot of woods, lake and grass with its own dog-friendly cafe, and Whisby Nature Park has miles of trails with off-lead sections under control. Closer in, the Lincoln Arboretum is a handsome Victorian park for a gentler stroll before or after the hill.
The old quarter around the cathedral eats well. Slow Rise Pizza is an excellent dog-friendly spot, the Rogue's Coffee House and Kitchen is a fun music-themed cafe that welcomes dogs, and the Bailgate Deli takes them too. And for the ultimate treat, Sazzy's Dog Cafe is a dedicated dog cafe with its own doggy menu, so yours can lunch in style.
The Strugglers Inn, tucked beneath the castle wall, is a tiny, characterful dog-friendly pub with a beer garden and a fine reputation. BeerHeadz is a friendly dog-friendly craft-beer bar, and the Dog and Bone, aptly named, is a proper real-ale pub that welcomes dogs. All three keep a warm welcome for a thirsty hound.
Just outside the city, Washingborough Hall is a country-house hotel that welcomes dogs throughout except the main dining room, a peaceful base by the river. In the city, the Tower Hotel welcomes dogs in reserved rooms and the bar, handy for the uphill sights.
A dog on a lead beneath the arches of one of Europe's great cathedrals, then round a castle wall with the whole county laid out below. Lincoln does grand days out.
What to pack for a day out
The short list that turns a good day into an easy one. Throw it in the boot before you set off.
Water bottle and collapsible bowl
Towel for the boot
Poo bags, always
Spare lead and a long line
Treats for the pub
ID tag and vaccinations up to date
Questions dog owners ask
Can dogs go in Lincoln Cathedral?
Yes, well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome inside Lincoln Cathedral, which is unusual and rather wonderful. Keep them close and quiet, and you can see one of the great Gothic interiors of Europe together.
Can dogs go in Lincoln Castle?
Yes. Dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds and on the Medieval Wall Walk around the ramparts, which gives superb views over the city and countryside. Assistance dogs are welcome throughout, including the Victorian prison and Magna Carta vault.
What is the best dog walk in Lincoln?
Hartsholme Country Park has woods, a lake and its own dog-friendly cafe, Whisby Nature Park has miles of trails with off-lead sections, and the Lincoln Arboretum is a handsome Victorian park for a gentler city stroll.
Which Lincoln pubs take dogs?
The tiny Strugglers Inn beneath the castle wall is a characterful dog-friendly favourite, BeerHeadz is a dog-friendly craft-beer bar, and the aptly named Dog and Bone is a real-ale pub that welcomes dogs.
Where can I stay in Lincoln with a dog?
Washingborough Hall just outside the city welcomes dogs throughout except the main dining room, and the Tower Hotel in the city welcomes dogs in reserved rooms and the bar, handy for the uphill sights.
Lincoln through the seasons
Spring
The arboretum blossoms and the country parks come alive. A wall walk in the fresh air and a coffee up the hill is Lincoln in spring at its best, before the summer visitors arrive.
Summer
The cobbled hill can get busy and warm, so start early, carry water, and escape to the shade of Hartsholme or Whisby in the heat of the afternoon. The cathedral stays cool inside.
Autumn
The parks turn golden and the light on the cathedral stone is lovely. Crisp walks, quiet cobbles and cosy historic pubs make for a fine autumn day in the city.
Winter
The cathedral looks magnificent against a grey sky and the pubs are at their cosiest. Wrap up for a park walk, then thaw out at the Strugglers under the castle wall with a dog at your feet.