3 Best Sights in Lincoln, East Anglia

Facing the cathedral across Exchequer Gate, this castle was built by William the Conqueror in 1068, incorporating the remains of Roman walls. The castle was used as a debtor's prison from 1787 to 1878. In the chapel you can see cagelike stalls where convicts heard sermons; they were designed this way so inmates couldn't tell who their fellow prisoners were, thus supposedly preserving a modicum of dignity.

The castle's star exhibit is a copy of Magna Carta, signed by King John in 1215. This is one of only four surviving copies of the original document, and one of few ever to have left the country—it was secretly moved to Fort Knox for safekeeping during World War II. A major renovation opened up the wall walk, allowing you to make a complete circuit of the battlements (totaling more than ¼ mile). In addition, a 3-D cinema shows a high-tech film about the history of Magna Carta.

Lincoln's crowning glory (properly known as the Cathedral of St. Mary, although nobody calls it that) was, for centuries, Europe's tallest building. In 1072, the Norman Bishop Remigius began work on the Romanesque church, which was irremediably damaged, first by fire, then by earthquake. Today, its most striking feature is the west front's strikingly tall towers, best viewed from the 14th-century Exchequer Gate in front of the cathedral or from the castle battlements beyond.

Inside, a breathtaking impression of space and unity belies the many centuries of building and rebuilding. The stained glass window at the north end of the transept (known as the Dean's Eye) dates from the 13th century. Look for the Lincoln Imp on the pillar nearest St. Hugh's shrine; according to legend, an angel turned this creature into stone. Through a door on the north side is the chapterhouse, a 10-sided building with one of the world's oldest vaulted ceilings. It sometimes housed the medieval Parliament of England during the reigns of Edward I and Edward II. The cathedral library, designed by Christopher Wren (1632–1723), was built onto the north side of the cloisters after the original library collapsed.

Guided tours of the ground floor are included in the price. You can also book tours of the roof and tower (£7.50); these can be booked in advance with the visitor services team. For safety reasons, children under 14 are not allowed on those tours.

Surrounding the Lincoln Cathedral on three sides, Minster Yard contains buildings of different periods, including graceful Georgian architecture. A statue of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, who was born in Lincolnshire, stands on the green near the chapter house.