The beautiful little English city that’s home to one of the prettiest streets

In the historic city of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, in the East Midlands, is a steep, cobbled street dotted with independent shops, restaurants, tea rooms and shops. 

The aptly named Steep Hill, nestled in the Medieval heart of the city, leads to the famous Lincoln Cathedral. 

But the street itself deserves some attention as in 2012, it received the Great Street Award from the Academy of Urbanism, thanks to it “adapting while respecting and enhancing its heritage”.

Halfway up the street is Norman House, a picturesque building dating back to around 1170, one of the oldest surviving, domestic buildings in the UK.

Today, it is home to a specialist tea shop but it was originally built for Aaron of Lincoln, a Jewish moneylender who advanced large sums of money to nobility such as King Henry II.

It is also home to what is regarded as some of the city’s best restaurants. 

Within one of the 12th-century stone buildings at the foot of Steep Hill is The Jews House, an independent restaurant offering both an a la carte and a tasting menu made up of locally sourced food. 

Steep Hill aside, there is plenty of history and impressive buildings to marvel at in Lincoln. 

The city’s centrepiece is the iconic Lincoln Cathedral which was the world’s tallest building for more than two centuries.

It held onto this record until 1549 when the spire collapsed. Had it remained standing, the 160-metre-tall building would have remained the world’s tallest building for almost six centuries. 

The cathedral is also home to one of the world’s two surviving Wren Libraries. 

Built in the 17th century, the library was described by art historian Sir Roy Strong as “the most beautiful room in England”.

Famous architect Sir Christopher Wren, behind St Paul’s Cathedral and Kensington Palace, constructed the timber-framed building full of oak reading desks now used by students and academics from around.

There is more history to relish as Lincoln is home to a castle built by William the Conqueror in 1068 following the Battle of Hastings.

The castle is home to an original of one of the most famous documents in the world, a 1215 Magna Carta, as well as a Victorian prison which was used for debtors until 1878. 

The prison also included a “separate system”, in order to encourage prisoners to reflect, repent and reform on their actions.