Bail House & Mews is situated in the Bailgate in the Cathedral Quarter

Bailgate is the most important throughfare in uphill Lincoln. It forms the North South axis between the Roman North and the South gates and is on the line of the famous Roman road Ermine Street. At one end of Bailgate is Newport Arch, originally the North gate of the Roman walled city and is now the only surviving Roman gateway in Britain still used by traffic. The other end of Bailgate leads into Castle Hill, the medieval space which forms the setting across which the Cathedral and Castle face each other, dating from 1072 and 1068 respectively.


Lincoln Cathedral, visible from many of the bedrooms, is one of the best in England. It is set in 6 acres of land and has triple towers and many stained glass windows. The Cathedral is open to the public most days and services are held every week including Evensong. The bells are still in use and practice is usually held on a Thursday evening which can be heard all across the city.

Lincoln Castle was built by William the Conqueror and most of it is still standing and accessible to the public after some renovation. Within the castle wall stands a 19th century prison and the County Court which is still in use today. The grounds of the Castle provides an ideal setting for concerts and other forms of entertainment such as jousting competitions and historical battle re-enactments.

Lincoln was originally named “Lindum Colonia ” by the Romans in AD54 and became the capital of the Roman province covering most of Eastern England by 300AD. As an important Roman settlement substantial buildings were erected, mainly in the Bailgate area on top of the hill, an obvious vantage point. Bailgate is known for its Roman artefacts which have been preserved below the current street level. These include many wells, columns and part of an old Roman Town Hall which stands just beside the entrance to our car park at the rear of Bailhouse. The Mint Wall, as it is known, was built over 1800 years ago and has survived to the present day.

The modern day city centre is just ten minutes walk away down the picturesque Steep Hill which runs down between the Castle and Cathedral. The street is lined with small shops selling everything from wine and spirits to paintings, clothes and jewellery. There are many fine restaurants and teashops also on Steep Hill, details of which can be obtained from us. We will also be happy to book tables for you at any of the local restaurants. The city centre boasts a large selection of independent shops as well as all major high street stores.

Other attractions in Lincoln include

The Museum of Lincolnshire Life,

The Usher Gallery

The Lawn

The Collection - New Art and Archaeology Museum

Medieval Bishops Palace - English Heritage Property