Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A Side Trip from Nottinghamshire: Lincoln & its Cathedral
This ancient city, 20 miles northeast of
Newark, was the site of a Bronze Age
settlement. Then, in the 3rd century, it
was one of four provincial capitals of
Roman Britain. In the Middle Ages, it was
the center of Lindsey, a famous Anglo-
Saxon kingdom. After the Norman con-
quest, it grew increasingly important, its
merchants becoming rich by shipping
wool directly to Flanders.
Much of the past lives on, in the form
of medieval streets, half-timbered
Tudor houses, the Norman
castle
(
&
01522/511068;
www.lincolnshire.gov.
uk), and, best of all, magnificent
Lincoln
Cathedral
(
&
01522/561600;
www.lincolncathedral.com), which domi-
nates its surroundings like no other Eng-
lish minster, with a central tower 81-m
(271-ft.) high and visible from up to 30
miles away. Construction on the original
Norman cathedral was begun in 1072,
but the present cathedral is Gothic in
style, particularly the Early English and
Decorated periods. Virtually in its
shadow, the ruined
Lincoln Medieval
Bishops' Palace,
Minster Yard
(
&
01522/527468;
www.english-
heritage.org.uk) was the site of the big-
gest diocese in England in the Middle
Ages. Also worth a wander are
the
Museum of Lincolnshire Life,
Burton Road (
&
01522/528448;
www.
lincolnshire.gov.uk) and
The
Collection
and Usher Gallery,
Lindum Road
(
&
01522/550990;
http://www.
lincolnshire.gov.uk), with paintings,
antique clocks, ceramics, and literary
mementos, including portraits of Lincoln-
shire-born Alfred Lord Tennyson.
Lincoln lacks appealing stop-over
options. If you come to sightsee, have
brunch or lunch at
The Cheese Society
(
&
01522/511003;
www.thecheese
society.co.uk), serving breakfasts from
10 to 11:30am and lunch until 4:30pm,
and featuring the likes of Lincolnshire
Poacher cheese and scallion pâté with
homemade chutney. In the evening,
Jews House Restaurant,
15 The Strait
(
&
01522/524851;
www.jews
houserestaurant.co.uk), in one of the
city's most historic buildings, is popular
for its inventive Modern European cui-
sine (sample dish: roast pigeon, truffle
custard, smoked bacon foam, and
girolles). The
Wig and Mitre pub,
30-32
Steep Hill (
&
01522/535190;
www.
wigandmitre.com), is good for eating
and drinking.
On the coast 35 miles southeast of
Lincoln,
Boston
has a Pilgrim Fathers
Memorial dedicated to those who emi-
grated from here, often to found other
settlements of the same name, most
notably in Massachusetts.
14
Main St., Norwell, Nottinghamshire NG23 6JN. www.willoughbyhousebandb.co.uk.
&
01636/636266.
4 units. Free parking. AE, MC, V. £65-£105 double.
Amenities:
Lounge; evening meals by arrangement.
In room:
TV, hair dryer, free Wi-Fi.
LEICESTERSHIRE & RUTLAND
Leicester: 100 miles N of London
In the south of the East Midlands region, industrialized
Leicester
(pronounced
Les
-
ter) combines a vibrant multi-ethnic cultural scene and modern museums with a rich
history, while surrounding
Leicestershire
harbors more historic sites, including one
of England's most important battlefields. At its north, Leicestershire links with Der-
byshire and Staffordshire by means of the
National Forest,
which, though only a
