Lincolnshire folk know how to welcome people! Our county is famous for its good old-fashioned hospitality, and you will find an array of places to stay in Lincoln that embody that spirit. Whatever type of accommodation you fancy, something here will suit your style, whether it’s a small family-run B&B, a swanky hotel with bedside bubbles, or a charming holiday apartment. In this guide to where to stay in Lincoln, we pick out the best accommodation options plus our tips on the best areas.
This site contains links to accommodation we think you’ll love, which we may make commission from at no extra cost to you.
Places to stay in Lincoln: quick links
Looking for quick tips? These are our personal picks for accommodation in Lincoln:
Best places to stay in Lincoln city centre
🏰 White Hart Hotel: boutique stay with heritage feel, heart of the Cathedral Quarter
⛪ Old Palace Lodge: boutique guest house in a converted 19th-century church
🪵 Duke William Hotel: gastropub with rooms in 17th-century cottage
🌄 Poplars Boutique B&B: charming bed and breakfast near centre, hillside views
💷 The Old Bakery: excellent value rooms in not-for-profit restaurant, central
Best places to stay near Lincoln
🍺 The Pyewipe: riverside pub with accommodation on the picturesque Fossdyke
🏡 Creston Villa Guest House: family-run homely vibe to the south of the city centre
🌿 Little Redlands B&B: friendly hospitality between Lincoln and Hykeham
🚤 Canal View B&B: award-winning guest house by the Fossdyke in nearby Saxilby
Best areas to stay in Lincoln
Before you go ahead choosing accommodation, it’s worth pausing to consider what is the best area to stay in Lincoln for your trip.
Without a doubt, the Cathedral Quarter is the best area to stay in Lincoln for tourists visiting for the first time. This is where all of the historic landmarks and attractions are located, like the cathedral and castle, as well as the independent shopping scenes of Steep Hill and Bailgate.
The Cathedral Quarter sits within the area known as “uphill Lincoln” and has the highest concentration of hotels in the city. Read on in the sections below for our favourites.
If you’re looking for something a little different, you want to stay somewhere quiet, or you’re here for a specific purpose, these are some other areas to stay in Lincoln:
- Brayford Waterfront. This is the UK’s oldest inland harbour and is like a little village within the city, with a bunch of waterside restaurants on one side and the university on the other. It’s also just a couple of minutes’ walk from Lincoln High Street. The Swan Guesthouse overlooks the water and has some of the city’s cheapest rooms.
- South Lincoln. The area stretching along the High Street and Newark Road between the city centre and Hykeham has some lovely B&Bs, like Creston Villa and Little Redlands. This area is also ideal if you’re staying over for a Lincoln City FC football match.
- Burton Waters and the Fossdyke. Stretching to the west of Lincoln, the Fossdyke is the UK’s oldest working canal, and there is some lovely accommodation on its banks as you pass through Burton Waters and Saxilby. The Pyewipe and Canal View B&B are standouts.
💡 Useful tip: if you stay in downhill Lincoln (Brayford Waterfront, south side of the city), be aware that it’s a steep walk up the Cathedral Quarter. If you have mobility issues, you can take a walk and ride bus to the top.
Where to stay in Lincoln by style
Ready to dive into some Lincoln accommodation options? In this section we pick out the city’s best hotels, guest houses, B&Bs and holiday apartments.
Hotels in Lincoln
Our guide to the best hotels in Lincoln features the full range of options in the city. But these are our top choices:
White Hart Hotel
📍 Cathedral Quarter | 🐾 Dog friendly
No accommodation in Lincoln has a better location than the White Hart Hotel, which stands right next to Castle Square at the heart of the Cathedral Quarter. And for our money it’s the city’s finest for a prestigious hotel experience, set in a lodging house originally constructed for King Richard II to visit in the 14th century.
The surviving building dates mostly to the 18th century, and has that heritage essence about it. Expect a luxurious boutique hotel vibe inside the hotel, where you can also dine at the award-winning Grille restaurant or take in cathedral views from the terrace.
View prices on Booking.comTower Hotel
📍 Cathedral Quarter | 🐾 Dog friendly
Set a short walk away from Castle Square and uphill Lincoln’s highlights, Tower Hotel has more of a modern boutique hotel vibe. It also boasts an excellent gastro restaurant and wine bar, which features a relaxing lounge and a lovely secluded rear garden area.
There are 15 rooms at the hotel which are comfy, elegantly decorated, and complete with TVs and work desks. Dogs are welcome here too! Overall it’s a classy and convenient base for a weekend break in Lincoln.
View prices on Booking.comThe Duke William
📍 Cathedral Quarter (Bailgate)
One of the city’s very few pub-hotels, The Duke William is a warm and welcoming gastropub set in a 17th-century cottage on the iconic Bailgate. And as it’s on the far side, near the Roman-era Newport Arch, you’re close to the heart of the Cathedral Quarter while also being in a nice quiet spot.
There is a good choice of rooms, including doubles, kings and family rooms, all grandly decorated with rich and dark colours. The pub itself is part of the small local Ever So Sensible chain and does excellent food. Stay here in winter for the cosiness of the roaring fire.
View prices on Booking.comGuest houses and B&Bs in Lincoln
Our guide to the best guest houses and B&Bs in Lincoln features a full selection. Here we share our favourite picks that showcase the best of the city’s family-run hospitality.
The Old Palace Lodge
📍 Close to Cathedral Quarter
If you’re looking for unique places to stay in Lincoln, The Old Palace Lodge should be right at the top of your list. This quirky boutique-style guest house is set in a converted 19th-century church perched at the top of the city hillside, with views across the county from outside on the lawn.
You’re only a couple of minutes’ walk from Steep Hill and Castle Square, but it’s beautifully tucked away under the cathedral on the hill’s brow. For a truly special stay, you can book the Grand Suite, featuring tall church ceilings, a double-height ceiling and a hand-carved canopy king-sized bed.
View prices on Booking.comThe Poplars Boutique B&B
📍 Close to Cathedral Quarter
We have a particular soft spot for The Poplars, run by a local couple who have travelled across the world and brought their experiences home to Lincoln into this beautiful bed and breakfast. It has a boutique but homely style, with some gorgeously decorated rooms, and probably the best guest house breakfast in the city.
Like the Old Palace, it has perch close to the top of the hillside in a quiet spot with glorious views, while also being short walking distance from the heart of the Cathedral Quarter.
View prices on Booking.comCheap places to stay in Lincoln
Travelling to Lincoln on a budget? Here are some affordable accommodation options where you don’t need to compromise on quality.
The Old Bakery
📍 Uphill Lincoln, near Cathedral Quarter
One of Lincoln’s few fine-dining restaurants, The Old Bakery, has a unique story. Since being taken over by the local college it has become Lincolnshire’s only not-for-profit restaurant, and you can have delicious tasting menus with wine flights prepared for you by catering students completing their schooling.
With this setup, it’s the most affordable high-end food experience in Lincoln, and you get 10% off the menu when you stay. The rooms are extremely good value as well for such a central location. There’s no breakfast served but you have no shortage of options nearby.
View prices on Booking.comThe Swan Guesthouse
📍 Brayford Waterfront
Overlooking the calm waters of the Brayford, The Swan Guesthouse is set on the University of Lincoln campus, but in a quiet spot at the corner of the city’s famous inland harbour. It’s a scenic location, especially when lit up at night, and it’s not far to walk from here to Lincoln High Street.
Room rates are among the most affordable in Lincoln, and you get a comfortable base with quality facilities. You also have access to a university pub-restaurant on site. It’s a particularly ideal option if you’re seeing a gig at the Engine Shed, which is a minute’s walk across the campus.
View prices on Booking.comHoliday apartments in Lincoln
From charming cottages to lush modern apartments, Lincoln has a wide choice of holiday lets. Our guide to the best VRBO holiday lets in Lincoln features a longer selection, but these are our top picks for different styles.
The Minster Apartment – perfect for couples
📍 Cathedral Quarter
This one-bedroom apartment is located in a relaxed and leafy corner of uphill Lincoln, within direct view of the cathedral, which is a short walk away. It’s a great setting as you’re in a peaceful residential spot but close to the city’s historic highlights.
Even better, the apartment is on the upper floor of the building, which is a refurbished period property with high ceilings. Ideal if you’re on a couple’s weekend break and want your own space.
View prices on Booking.comArch Cottage – perfect for families
📍 Cathedral Quarter (Newport Arch)
If you’re visiting Lincoln with the family or a large group, you have the option to stay at one of the city’s historical structures at Arch Cottage. The stony cottage is built into the structure of Newport Arch, the only Roman archway in the UK still used for traffic.
The heritage feel continues inside the cottage, with period features throughout, and a stunning dining room with a wooden-beamed ceiling and long mahogany table for sharing those special dinner occasions.
View prices on Booking.comLove Lane Villa – with a hot tub!
📍 East Lincoln | 🐾 Dog friendly
If you’re looking for places to stay in Lincoln with a hot tub, look no further! Love Lane Villa is set in a red-brick villa in a Victorian-era neighbourhood just east of the city centre, close to the sculpted park gardens of the Arboretum.
The three-bedroom villa can accommodate a group of up to eight people (plus up to two dogs!), with an extra sofa bed in the living room. It has that high-ceiling Victorian vibe, plus everything for your summer outdoor needs with a decking area, hot tub and BBQ.
View prices on Booking.comPlaces to stay near Lincoln
Lincoln is surrounding by lush countryside, canals and quintessential English villages. So, if you’d prefer a slower pace, there are some lovely places to stay near Lincoln that still give you quick access to the city.
Canal View B&B
📍 Saxilby
Saxilby is a sleepy little village that sits about 10 kilometres outside Lincoln along the historic Fossdyke Canal, and you can stay by the waterside at Canal View B&B. This is an award-winning family-run bed and breakfast with a touch of luxury, including goose feather duvets and Egyptian cotton towels in the bedrooms.
It has a small and homely feel, with just three guest bedrooms. Breakfast is superb and prepared with local produce. Overall this is a lovely relaxing base if you’d prefer to stay outside the city and enjoy a Lincolnshire village vibe, and great value for the quality. It’s only a ten-minute journey to Lincoln by road or rail, or you could take the scenic walk along the canal.
View prices on Booking.comThe Pyewipe Lodge Hotel
📍 Fossdyke, between Lincoln and Saxilby
Lincolnshire has its fair share of charming British riverside pubs, and The Pyewipe might just be our favourite. You can walk from the Brayford Waterfront to the Pyewipe in about 40 minutes along the Fossdyke Canal, and there’s a warm welcome awaiting when you arrive.
It’s a great day out on a Sunday for a roast, or you can even choose to stay here by the waterside at the Pyewipe Lodge Hotel, which adjoins the pub. The rooms are large and comfortable with high quality furnishings, and the food in the pub is excellent. It’s very easy to reach by road as well, situated just off the bypass to the west of Lincoln.
View prices on Booking.comCosy log cabin in South Carlton
📍 South Carlton | 🐾 Dog friendly
For something completely different, what about staying in this cosy log cabin in a quiet village four miles outside Lincoln? Set among camping grounds in South Carlton, the one-bedroom cabin is beautifully furnished and has its own kitchen, bathroom and living area.
The bedroom features a king-sized bed, and outside it features a cute veranda where you can enjoy the weather. A great little choice for an alternative couple’s break just outside Lincoln, a short drive away from the city.
View prices on Booking.comDog friendly places to stay in Lincoln
Look out for the 🐾 symbol in the listings featured above in this guide for dog-friendly places to stay in Lincoln!
Our top two dog-friendly accommodation recommendations in central Lincoln are:
- White Hart Hotel: extra charge, £20 per dog
- Tower Hotel: extra charge, £15 per dog
Places to stay in Lincoln: map
You can click the map below to explore the full range of our recommended places to stay in Lincoln:
Do you have any of your own recommendations for places to stay in Lincoln UK? Let us know in the comments below.
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