7 of the best guest houses / bed and breakfasts in Lincoln

Lincoln’s many guest houses and bed and breakfasts represent some of the most wonderful examples of the city’s highly reputed family-run businesses. When you stay with one of the hosts we highlight in this selection, you will be welcomed with trademark friendliness and experience the real, down-to-earth Lincoln, all while supporting independent accommodation. This compilation brings together our favourite guest houses / bed and breakfasts in Lincoln to make your next trip a memorable one.

For more accommodation options around the city, check out our rundown of the best hotels in Lincoln. You can find our recommended self-catered accommodation in our guide to the best Vrbo holiday lets in Lincoln.

This site contains links to some services we love and recommend, which we may make commission from at no extra cost to you.

Best guest houses in Lincoln

Creston Villa Guest House

• Location: a pleasant spot just outside of town, 20 minutes’ walk down the High Street from Lincoln Central train station.
• In a few words: a homely bed and breakfast with six guest rooms in a charmingly furnished old Victorian house.
• Ideal for: anyone looking to escape the city centre and stay somewhere with a bit of character and a warm local welcome.
• Facilities include: street parking, free wifi, flat-screen TV in rooms, licensed bar.

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Creston Villa is our favourite kind of guest house: a place with real charm and personality, where the hosts genuinely care about making your stay enjoyable. Whoever you are and wherever you are from, Anna and Iain will welcome you like an old friend; they’ve been running the place for years, and haven’t lost an ounce of their enthusiasm for good old-fashioned Lincolnshire hospitality.

The building itself is decorated with bright colours, local artwork and an array of vintage period features that Anna and Iain have picked up over the years. Every room is different and has its own unique feel. As with most Victorian buildings, the rooms are large and airy with high ceilings.

Downstairs, Creston Villa has a spacious dining area for serving daily continental breakfasts with cheeses, meats, eggs, fruits, yoghurts, and homemade cookies. You can take breakfast away in a bag if you have a busy schedule, or if you want to take it slow you can use the lounge space throughout the day, with tea, coffee and cake.

We live a short walk away from the guest house, so we know this part of the city well – and here’s why we love it. It’s really not that much effort to walk up the High Street or the River Witham path into the city centre (or there is a bus stop very close by), and at the same time you are within close reach of some lovely nature spots. The South Common has gorgeous views over the city, especially at sunset after a day of sightseeing, and Boultham Park is nearby too for a morning walk.

The Old Palace

• Location: tucked away in a quiet but central spot just beneath the cathedral in Lincoln’s historic quarter.
• In a few words: a boutique-style guest house in the quirky setting of a converted church.
• Ideal for: couples seeking somewhere with a special charm, or any traveller who likes out-of-the-ordinary accommodation.
• Facilities include: free parking, free wifi, TV, hospitality trays, tea/coffee.

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How does an overnight stay in a restored 19th-Century church sound to you? That’s what you can experience at The Old Palace, a guest house in Lincoln that has a little bit of everything.

Situated three quarters of the way up Steep Hill in the shadow of the cathedral it couldn’t be more conveniently located, and its hillside perch gives some gorgeous views across south Lincoln and the countryside beyond. And despite it being so central, its secluded setting away from busy roads makes it surprisingly calm and quiet.

The church of St Michael on the Mount was constructed in the 1850s and 60s, but hasn’t been used for religious purposes for many decades. After being repurposed as an art gallery and a studying facility it fell into disuse, but was rescued in 2011 when the idea was put forward to convert it into a guest house. And so the Old Palace was born.

The guest house has 16 rooms, ranging from the classic double, single and twins up to deluxe and master rooms. If you really want to push the boat out, the stunning Grand Suite has a double-height ceiling and is complete with tall church windows, a hand-carved canopy king-sized bed and en-suite bathroom.

Cathedral View Guest House

• Location: at the heart of uphill Lincoln smack-bang between the cathedral and castle.
• In a few words: a charming guest house in a lovingly restored 12-century building with medieval stonework and oak beams.
• Ideal for: history lovers, or any Lincoln visitors seeking a blend of convenience and character.
• Facilities include: free parking, free wifi, private showers and flatscreen TVs in all rooms.

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As you may have already guessed from the name, Cathedral View Guest House stands within close vicinity of Lincoln Cathedral and the wealth of historic sights around it. On the cusp of the popular Bailgate area it’s also a prime spot for exploring the city’s independent shop scene. But the thing we really love about this place is the medieval building in which it has been created.

The Grade II listed property was built in the 12th Century around the same time as the cathedral itself. From the 1600s through to nearly the present day it operated as the Black Horse Inn, but after that closed down, the building began to deteriorate. Paul and Christina, a local couple, came to the rescue in 2010 when they bought the building with a vision to transform it into a guest house.

Paul is a builder by trade, and oversaw the project himself, weaving many of the building’s original features into the décor. Each of the ten rooms has its own quirks, from medieval oak beams to big open brick fireplaces. The superior king room is a real beauty, set in a converted attic with a fully exposed beam-vaulted ceiling.

The hosts are friendly, welcoming and full of local knowledge if you need any insider tips. Oh, and the breakfast here is to die for, all locally sourced including famous Lincolnshire sausages from Redhill Farm.

Brayford House

• Location: in Lincoln’s west end, close to the Fossdyke canal and West Common, and a 15-minute walk to the city centre.
• In a few words: a traditional guest house in a Victorian building, great value for money.
• Ideal for: anyone visiting Lincoln on a budget seeking a comfortable stay for a weekend getaway.
• Facilities include: free street parking, free wifi, satellite TV.

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Marie is the friendly host who will welcome you to Brayford House, a traditional accommodation just outside the city centre. It’s one of those lovely spots where a short walk in one direction takes you into the heart of Lincoln, while a stroll in the other direction will bring you to the peace and natural surroundings of the Fossdyke canal and the West Common.

The rooms bear the typical traits of a Victorian-era building, being spacious and comfortable with high ceilings, bringing a ‘home away from home’ vibe. There are tons of good restaurants and pubs on this side of town, and the Brayford Waterfront is five minutes’ walk away. Altogether, this is a great option for value and convenience.

The Old Lodge Guest House

• Location: next to the South Common, close to the football ground, a mile south of the city centre.
• In a few words: set in a beautiful renovated four-storey townhouse built in the 19th century.
• Ideal for: weekend trips with leafy park views with the city close by, overnight football match trips.
• Facilities include: free street parking, free wifi, smart TVs, breakfast in room.

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Gordon and Debbie are the hosts at The Old Lodge Guest House, set in a simple-looking Victorian building with a surprisingly eventful history. It was built in 1879 as a residential property, and is typical of the townhouses of the time, with its huge bay windows, lofty high ceilings and spacious rooms.

Over the years it has served a variety of quirky purposes, including as a golfing club house, a base for soldier training and tank testing in World War I, and perhaps most bizarrely, a hub for the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffalos.

It wasn’t until 2021 that Gordon and Debbie opened its doors as a guest house for the first time, having bought it two years earlier, with a pandemic-induced delay in between. They used the time effectively to carry out a stunning and thorough renovation, taking care to preserve the historic charm and incorporate a variety artefacts from the building’s colourful past, as well as some carefully sourced antiques.

We love the location. Step outside the front door, cross the road, and you’re straight onto the sprawling South Common, one of the biggest parks in Lincoln and a lovely spot for morning walks. The park slopes up a hill, and from the top you can enjoy a stunning view of the city.

The four en-suite bedrooms are beautifully furnished. We highly recommend booking one with a view of the South Common! You’ll be warmly welcomed, and you can be sure of a delicious cooked breakfast in the morning – Gordon is well renowned for his skills in the kitchen.

Best bed and breakfasts in Lincoln

The Poplars

• Location: on the crest of the city-centre hillside right next to the Cathedral Quarter.
• In a few words: a charming bed and breakfast in a central location run by a creative local couple.
• Ideal for: couples and solo travellers looking to stay somewhere with character in a convenient location.
• Facilities include: free parking, free wifi, tea and coffee makers, courtesy Lincoln maps, widescreen TVs, free Netflix

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The Poplars is a bed and breakfast that is run by travellers for travellers. Before opening the business, local photographers Martin and Heike travelled together across the world on a year out, staying in all sorts of different accommodations along the way. The experience inspired them to open a guest house of their own after returning back home.

Martin and Heike designed The Poplars to be a place that they would love to stay in themselves. Their care and creativity has shone through in what they have created over the years. The business has grown from its beginnings as a two-bedroom accommodation to now offering nine rooms, which are colourful, breezy and decorated with local art. Breakfast is served right through to 11am, allowing you to set your own pace for the day.

The location is fabulous, too. Perched close to the top of the hill, it’s less than five minutes’ walk from the Cathedral and Steep Hill’s independent shops. Standing high on the hill’s slope, the tall building also gives some gorgeous views out across Lincoln and the surrounding countryside. Meanwhile, set back from the main road via a short footpath, it’s nicely secluded and quiet.

Martin and Heike have a personable approach to running The Poplars. They enjoy meeting and greeting guests and are full of tips on the best nearby spots for eating and drinking. Altogether, this place is one of the shining examples of Lincoln’s independent hospitality community.

Canal View Bed & Breakfast

• Location: overlooking the Fossdyke canal in Saxilby village, five miles outside Lincoln.
• In a few words: a luxurious en-suite bed and breakfast in one of Lincoln’s quaint suburb villages.
• Ideal for: travellers who prefer a quiet countryside village to busy streets, but with easy access to the city.
• Facilities include: free on-site parking, all rooms en suite, free wifi, digital TV, mini fridges.

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Saxilby is a lovely little village just outside Lincoln that sits on the historic Fossdyke canal. This is the setting for Canal View Bed & Breakfast, which is conveniently located on the main road that runs through the village, easy to reach by car. The village also has a train station, which is just a ten-minute journey into Lincoln Central.

Canal View Bed & Breakfast has won awards for its luxury accommodation, having been named Bed & Breakfast of the Year by Selection Lincolnshire and highly commended in the Lincolnshire Tourism Excellence Awards. Hosts Louise and Roland put a lot of love and care into this local business, with a real personal touch.

There are just three bedrooms on site, each with en-suite facilities, and complete with goose feather duvets and fluffy Egyptian cotton towels. The guest lounge is a comfy place to relax on the sofas or have a tinkle on the piano.

The breakfast is one of Lincolnshire’s finest: expect local bacon and sausages, and jams and preserves made in the city. There are also options for vegetarian and coeliac breakfasts. For evening food, Saxilby has a couple of proper village pubs and some takeaways. The Anglers is a lovely village pub that doesn’t serve food, but does have a regular schedule of evening entertainment.

Map of guest houses / bed and breakfasts in Lincoln

See the map below to locate the various guest houses and bed and breakfasts we have highlighted in this article:

For more inspiration, browse our posts on places to stay in Lincoln.

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