Free things to do in Lincoln, and who runs each one
Most lists of free things to do in Lincoln are the same ten attractions. This one covers them too, and adds two things those lists leave out: who runs each place, and exactly what is free. Several of Lincoln’s best-known sights are free to walk into and charge for one part, and it helps to know which part before you arrive.
Everything here is run by a council, a charity or a local independent business. There are no chain attractions on the list.
Free to get in
- Lincoln Castle grounds, HeritageCastle Square, uphill. The castle says entry to the grounds is free, and you can walk the lawns inside the walls whenever it is open: every day except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Only the Medieval Wall Walk, the Magna Carta vault and the Victorian Prison need a ticket. It is run by Lincolnshire County Council.
- The Usher Gallery, Art galleryLindum Hill, beside Temple Gardens. Free entry, with donations welcome. The collection runs from the 16th century to now, with works by Turner, L.S. Lowry and Grayson Perry. It is open Thursday to Monday, 10am to 4pm, and closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. It is run by Lincolnshire County Council. The Lincoln Museum next door is closed for redevelopment.
- Museum of Lincolnshire Life, MuseumBurton Road, LN1 3LY, uphill beyond the castle. Life in the county from 1750 to today, with a First World War tank and the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment galleries. Entry is free except on event days. The county council runs it and doesn’t list opening days on its own page, so check its social media (@museumoflincolnshirelife) before you go.
- The Guildhall tours, HeritageAbove the Stonebow, on the High Street. The City of Lincoln Council runs free guided tours of the Council Chamber and the civic regalia. From March to November they run on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 10.30am and 2pm. From November to early March they run on Friday and Saturday only. No booking is needed, but arrive 5 to 10 minutes early: once a tour starts, nobody else can join. The Guildhall suggests ringing 01522 873303 first to check the tour is running.
- Lincoln Cathedral, outside visiting hours, HeritageThe cathedral charges for visits from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday, and from the end of the morning service to 2.30pm on Sunday. Services, prayer and lighting a candle are always free, so going to Evensong is a free way to see the building with its choir. UK students get in free with photo ID, and children come in free with their family.
Outdoors
- Whisby Nature Park, Nature reserveMoor Lane, Thorpe-on-the-Hill, LN6 9BW, on the south-west edge of the city. Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust runs it. Entry is free, but parking costs £3 from the end of March to October and £2 from November to February. It has six circular trails of 1.2 to 3 miles around flooded gravel pits, mostly on level hard paths, plus bird hides, a café and a play area. Bitterns and dragonflies are among the wildlife. The car park gate shuts at 6pm.
- Hartsholme Country Park, ParkSkellingthorpe Road, on the west side of the city. A Green Flag park with Victorian landscaped gardens, a large lake, woodland and grassland. There is a visitor centre, a play area and a café, and no charge to get in. It is run by the City of Lincoln Council.
- Lincoln Arboretum and Temple Gardens, ParksTwo free public gardens on the hill. The Arboretum, off Monks Road, is a Victorian park from the 1870s with lakes and fountains, run by the City of Lincoln Council. Temple Gardens, behind the Usher Gallery, has contemporary sculpture set into the slope.
The independent part
- Lincoln Free Walking Tour, Walking tourAn independent business started in 2021 by two friends, Brant and Matt, and now run with a small team of local guides. You pay what you think the tour was worth at the end, or nothing, and the guides carry a card machine. Tours run every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. The main tour leaves at 10am from Castle Square, next to the Exchequer Gate, and lasts 2 to 2.5 hours; the Saturday tour runs to about 3 hours.
- Steep Hill and Bailgate, Shopping streetsWalking up Steep Hill costs nothing but your breath, and the street and Bailgate at the top are mostly independent shops, cafés and galleries you can browse for free. Our Bailgate guide says who owns them, and the bookshops guide covers the second-hand shops worth an hour.
Free music
Many Lincoln pubs host free live music and open mic nights. For ticketed gigs and touring bands, see live music and events in Lincoln.
How this was checked
Every entry was checked on 17 September 2026 against the operator’s own website: Lincoln Castle, Lincoln Cathedral, the Guildhall, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, the Lincoln Museum and the walking tour. The Usher Gallery’s hours come from its Visit Lincolnshire listing and the museum’s own site, which agree. Opening days change with the seasons, so where an entry gives days, check them before a special trip.
Left out: the International Bomber Command Centre and the Medieval Bishops’ Palace, because both charge for entry, and the Lincoln Museum while it is closed.