The allure of LINCOLN

Head off the beaten track to one of the UK’s greatest historic cities

- ZOE WEST

If you're after a cultural getaway without the crowds, head for the stunning city of Lincoln. Surrounded by rolling countryside, it's a historical dream with a hilltop cathedral to rival the likes of York or Canterbury, a Norman castle and the ancient cobbled streets of Bailgate. There's retail therapy too, with plenty of boutique shops making for an idyllic weekend break.

Historic hotspot The tallest building in the world until its spire collapsed in a storm in 1548, Lincoln Cathedral (lincolncathedral.com) is truly magnificent. One of the great masterpieces of Gothic architecture, medieval graffiti, stunning stained-glass windows and panoramic views from the roof make this the city's crowning glory.

For literary fans who devoured Anya Seton's historical classic Katherine, a pilgrimage to Katherine Swynford's tomb by the cathedral's High Altar is highly recommended.

Also in the ancient Cathedral Quarter is Lincoln Castle (lincolncastle.com). It's notable for its rare double-motte design, with walkable medieval walls, and for housing one of the four

surviving copies of the Magna Carta. It also houses a Victorian prison - one of the best preserved in the country - which has featured in both Downton Abbey and Call the Midwife. Dedicated historians will want to see The Charter of the Forest, another critical medieval document.