Whilst you are a student at university, you will enjoy fantastic social aspects of this life. This may leave you wondering, “What can I do with my friends in Lincoln?”. Read on to find out the many activities that you can do in this beautiful city, and how to make the most of your surroundings.
Daytime Activities
There is a wide range of things to do during the day in the city, meaning that there’s something to suit every taste and each individual. For instance, you might want to take a boat tour on the Brayford, where you will have a tour guide, which enables you to find out more about the city, including interesting facts about it. Other Brayford activities include canoeing, where you can take one out and get some great views of the city from the Brayford.
If you would prefer to stay on dry land, don’t worry as there is no shortage of things to do here either. Lincoln has a splendid high street, where you can find your well-known brands such as Primark, H&M, etc. Howevery, you will also find many independent shops and hospitality venues which are definitely worth checking out and supporting these local businesses. Many of these can be found along the high street, as well as up Steep Hill. If you’re feeling brave, you can take on Steep Hill (trust me, it’s called that for a reason), but it is so worth the strength you’ll put into tackling it.
As previously mentioned, many independent shops and venues such as coffee shops, ice cream parlours, etc. can be found up here, and you can also experience the stunning Lincoln Castle and Cathedral here too (commonly referred to as “Cathy”). The Castle has vast grounds to explore with a lot of field space, perfect for a picnic on a sunny day. There’s also a café here, and you can pay to walk the Castle walls and see it from above.
Lincoln Cathedral has to be one of the most iconic cathedrals in the country, set on top of Steep Hill, it is visible from almost anywhere in the city. There are some fantastic photo opportunities here outside of this grand building, and some church services are held here too. Moreover, the Cathedral is open to the public at certain times on Sundays for free, allowing you to see the inside of it. Tours are available, along with a Tower Tour which takes you up the Central Tower. More information can be found on the website: https://lincolncathedral.com/visit-us/admission-tickets/
Fancy a bite to eat or drink? In Lincoln, you’re spoilt for choice with the number of options available to you. There are many nice pubs and restaurants to get some food in your belly; ranging from traditional pub grub with some of the independent, local pubs, alongside two Wetherspoons, to hearty and authentic feasts in the restaurants on offer along the Brayford (including Ask Italian, Wagamama, and Nando’s among others). You won’t be disappointed with the options available. Some of these businesses offer student discounts too, making it important to have your Student ID card on you, as well as making sure that you sign up to student discount apps like UniDays and Student Beans, as some discounts are available on there.
Nightlife in Lincoln
“I’m a party-goer and a night-owl, what’s the nightlife like in Lincoln?”, I hear you ask. This is another area in which Lincoln delivers well. From pubs to bars to nightclubs, Lincoln has it all!
Wetherspoons is always a popular choice, especially among us students; with there being one pub on the Brayford and another in the high street, you’ll never be far from a Wetherspoons pub, regardless of where you live in the city.
If you fancy supporting an independent pub, then there’s certainly no shortage of these, either! There are some nice pubs along the Brayford as well as in the high street to grab a good pint or soft drink. A lot of these have outdoor seating too, so when the sun is shining, it really does feel like you could be abroad! Friendly atmospheres and warm welcomes await you, making these pubs perfect to have a catch-up with your friends in.
The Swan is a pub operated by the Students’ Union, with lots of indoor and outdoor seating, as well as brilliant deals aimed at students! There are even board games to play here too, along with pool. Sunday night is the quiz night here, with entry just being £1 and prizes on offer for the lucky winners. It has a country pub vibe, set beside the Brayford, and is the perfect place for some casual drinks!
What about the bars? Well, there are plenty of nice bars in the city centre, too! Red Five and Trebles are particularly popular with students, thanks to their amazing student deals, meaning they are ideal to do a night-out on a budget. The atmosphere is buzzing and lively in both of these, so why not give them a go? Other bars include The Mailbox (owned by the Stonegate group) and Walkabout, both great for watching sport in and shooting some pool. They also have the ideal atmosphere for partying, with karaoke on certain nights.
Slug and Lettuce is another popular choice, which can be found further up the high street, near Home nightclub. The 2-4-1 cocktails (which are top quality), will enable you to get your cocktail fix with family and friends. You can never go wrong with a good cocktail or two! There are many other bars on offer too, each one unique, so you’re never limited for options on where to go for your night-out. Your Students’ Union bar is called Towers, which has a sports bar vibe, offering food and drink deals as well as pool, especially for students. A lovely beer garden is out the front, with lots of indoor seating availability too. It also hosts a weekly quiz night on Thursdays where entry is just £1, and great prizes are to be won here.
So that just leaves nightclubs to talk about. Once again, there is something for everyone! Home nightclub is one of the most well-known, boasting 5 floors of music across 6 rooms, with each room having a different genre of music playing! If you need a breather then the outdoor areas are plentiful to get some fresh air and relax in. Student nights are on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays here, with cheaper drinks available and primarily aimed at students.
Bierkeller is another popular choice, where you can dance on the benches in this Bavarian-style establishment, drinking lager or cocktails out of two-pint steins (other drink choices are available). Cheaper entry and drinks deals for students is an option from Monday-Thursday, with Friday boasting an event called “Superbull”. This is when Bierkeller opens up to the nightclubs above (called Moka and Void), offering 3 floors of different genres of music, as well as some drinks deals.
The Scene is Lincoln’s biggest LGBTQI+ venue, offering the chance to club with others from the community. There is a massive outdoor area here which sells hot dogs too, as well as an area with booths available to sit on and have a breather from the madness of the main dance floor. Usually over weekends, the upstairs floor is open too. With Scene being open until 5am Monday-Sunday, it’s also a great choice for the after-party once the other nightclubs close at 3am. Free entry is offered before midnight on Sunday-Thursday too, making it even better for a night-out on a budget!
Lincoln’s Students’ Union hosts a weekly club night every Wednesday called Quack! Whether you are having a society social or just want a night-out with your friends, there is an amazing atmosphere in a room filled with students, as well as amazingly cheap drinks! The Engine Shed is the venue that hosts this, on-campus. Other events such as gigs and tribute acts are also hosted in here, making it an amazing venue to party in!
To summarise…Lincoln is amazing and will never leave you bored
With such a wide range of things to do in this amazing city, you’ll never run out of options! There’s so much to discover and explore, whether that be with your family or friends. I hope that this blog post has given you ideas for days out with your friends once you arrive in Lincoln, with the Visit Lincoln website providing even more information, which can be found here: https://www.visitlincoln.com/
Thank you for reading, and I hope that you love Lincoln as much as I do! (I’m sure you will).
Benjamin Hamilton, BSc (Hons) Business Psychology student.
