VisitEngland has named Lincoln Castle among the top 20 most visited free attractions in 2022.
With over 660,000 visitors last year, the castle joins a prestigious list of tourism heavyweights like the Natural History Museum, British Library and Tate Modern in the top 20. And, in a crowded field of museums and art galleries, Lincoln stands out as the only castle to make the list.
Lincoln Castle general manager, Kimberley Vickers, is delighted to see the medieval monument in the top 20. She said:
“After two years affected by the various lockdowns and restrictions, 2022 was a strong return to doing what we do best; providing a warm welcome and a memorable day out.
“Our location in the historic heart of Lincoln means we’re uniquely placed to not only be a must-see for tourists in the city, but also an ideal green space for locals to meet with friends or enjoy a picnic. On top of that is our varied programme of events and activities, which create special moments for thousands more visitors.
“The huge increase in visitors last year was undoubtedly helped by a certain friendly fire-breather who took up residence in grounds in April. Lucy the Dragon proved so popular that she extended her stay by three months to see through Christmas and New Year with us.
“This year, Lucy’s return – this time with new friend Norman in tow – has solidified our reputation as the castle of dragons, and the pair are growling their greetings at even more visitors.”
Entry to the grounds of Lincoln Castle is free, but many visitors also choose to make the most of their trip with a castle day ticket and enjoy the Medieval Wall Walk, Victorian Prison and Magna Carta too.
As the summer holidays kick off, Lincoln Castle is getting ready to host two weekends celebrating the best food and drink from across Greater Lincolnshire on 22, 23, 29 and 30 July. Then, in August, the thunderous sound of hooves will return to the grounds for the Grand Medieval Joust over the 12 and 13 August.
Keep up to date with all the events and activities at Lincoln Castle by finding them on Facebook and Instagram, and plan your visit now at www.lincolncastle.com.