Welcome to Lincoln

The city of Lincoln, the administrative centre for the county of Lincolnshire, is situated 141 miles north of London and 17 miles north-east of Newark-on-Trent.

The city has a population of around 81,100 and covers an area of approximately 3,570 hectares (13.8 sq miles).

It is dominated by the magnificent Lincoln Cathedral, third largest in the country after St.Paul's in London and York Minster, standing on top of Lincoln edge. Although having a superb heritage to preserve, Lincoln today is a thriving progressive city. Such recent additions as, for example, the Lincoln University building in 1996 have attracted ever greater numbers of young people to reside here and given the city fresh vitality. As one would expect there are many excellent shopping, entertainment and leisure facilities available.

Historically the town's economy was based upon agriculture and later the engineering industry. Today manufacturing is a major employer with production including heavy machinery, light engineering products, automobile and electronic parts, and food products. The tourist, retail and service sectors are also increasingly important.

Its name to ancient Britons was Lindon meaning pool ('lin') at the foot of the hill ('don'), after the location of its first settlement by Brayford Pool, and when the Romans arrived they simply latinized the name to Lindum. Later, as the strategic significance of Lincoln lessened and the city became more established as a retirement settlement for legionnaires, its status increased and the name was changed to Lindum Colonia. In 1086 it is referred to in the Domesday Book as 'Civitas Lincolia', from which the modern 'City of Lincoln' derives.