East Midlands Station code LCN
Lincoln
Lincoln by train: a hilltop cathedral and Norman castle with Magna Carta, the Usher Gallery and Bomber Command memorial, under two hours from London.
- Around 1 hour 45 minutes from London
- 1 LNER route
- 5 things to do
Lincoln Cathedral seen from the walls of Lincoln CastlePhoto: Howardgannaway, CC BY-SA 4.0
About Lincoln
Lincoln began as the Roman colony of Lindum on the River Witham and has been an important city ever since. Its crowning glory is the cathedral, begun in 1072 and for more than two centuries the tallest building in the world, which shares the hilltop with the castle built by William the Conqueror.
The castle holds one of only four surviving copies of the 1215 Magna Carta, alongside a Victorian prison. Between the lower city and the cathedral quarter runs Steep Hill, a lane of independent shops and tearooms with a gradient of one in seven.
LNER runs a direct train to Lincoln roughly every two hours, making it an easy day trip. Beyond the historic core there is a fine art gallery, a museum of county life in an old barracks and, on the ridge south of the city, the International Bomber Command Centre.
Journey
LCN- Fastest from London King's Cross
- Around 1 hour 45 minutes
- LNER routes calling
- 1
| Route | Previous stop | Next stop |
|---|---|---|
| London – Lincoln stop 5 of 5 | Newark Northgate | End of route |
May–December 2026 timetable · not every train calls at every station
The fastest LNER train in the May–December 2026 timetable takes 1 hour 46 minutes; there are about seven direct LNER trains a day from King's Cross on weekdays.
Journey times are from LNER's May–December 2026 timetable and vary by train. Check yours with LNER timetables or the National Rail journey planner.
Key facts
- Opened
- 17 October 1848 (Great Northern Railway)
- Architect
- Attributed to John Henry Taylor; Historic England says possibly Taylor or Joseph Cubitt
- Heritage status
- Grade II listed
- Platforms
- 5
- Managed by
- East Midlands Railway
- Passengers a year
- 2.3 million (April 2024 – March 2025) Source: orr.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Did you know?
- The station kept the name Lincoln Central until 2019, even though Lincoln St Marks, the city's other station, had closed in 1985.
- Lincoln went for years without a regular direct train to London: East Coast started a single daily service in 2011, and LNER now runs roughly every two hours.
- When four signal boxes were replaced by one signalling centre in 2007–08, two of them, High Street and East Holmes, were kept as listed buildings.
Photos of Lincoln
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Lincoln Cathedral seen from the walls of Lincoln Castle Photo: Howardgannaway, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
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The 1848 station front, facing the plaza created as part of the Lincoln Transport Hub Photo: Ian Rob, CC BY-SA 2.0 -
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Looking along the platforms towards the footbridge Photo: SergeantSpud, CC BY-SA 4.0
Arriving at Lincoln
Platform 3 runs alongside the main building and ticket gates; platforms 4 and 5 are on the island opposite, linked by lifts and a footbridge. Leave by the main entrance on St Mary's Street on to the pedestrian plaza: the bus station is a couple of minutes away and the Cornhill shopping area a few minutes' walk. The cathedral and castle are uphill, about 20 minutes on foot by way of the High Street and Steep Hill.
Lincoln station is in the lower city, a few minutes' walk from the Cornhill shopping area. The cathedral and castle are uphill, about 20 minutes' walk away, and the city's main bus station is a couple of minutes from the station entrance.
Getting around
The walk up to the cathedral quarter climbs Steep Hill and is steep in places. Lincoln Central bus station, a couple of minutes from the railway station, serves the wider city and county.
Other train services and connections
- East Midlands Railway (Nottingham, Peterborough via Sleaford, Doncaster via Gainsborough, Cleethorpes via Market Rasen)
- Northern (Leeds via Retford, Sheffield and Barnsley)
Station facilities
- Step-free accessStep-free to all platforms (category A)
- LiftsServing platforms 1 and 3, and platforms 4 and 5
- Ticket officeIn the booking hall: Mon–Sat 05:15–19:30, Sun 10:45–21:10
- Ticket machinesAvailable
- ToiletsOn platform 4: Mon–Sat 05:00–19:30, Sun 10:30–21:30
- Accessible toiletOn platform 3 (RADAR key)
- Waiting roomOn the island platform (4 and 5): Mon–Sat 05:25–19:30, Sun 12:30–20:00
- Wi-FiNo station Wi-Fi listed
- Food and drinkCafé and vending machine
- ShopsAvailable
- Cash machineAvailable
- Left luggageNot available
- Car parkSmall station car park: 38 spaces, run by East Midlands Railway, open 24 hours
- Cycle hub198 sheltered spaces with CCTV, open 24 hours, with changing facilities and a toilet, between the station front and St Mary's Church
- Taxi rankOn St Mary's Street
- BusesLincoln Central bus station, a couple of minutes' walk; Stagecoach city and county routes, PlusBus tickets available
- HelpNo help points; assistance is arranged at the ticket office or ticket gates
- StaffingMon–Fri 05:00–23:45, Sat 05:00–22:45, Sun 08:00–23:45
Checked September 2026. Facilities and opening hours change — see the National Rail Enquiries station page (opens in a new tab) for the latest details.
History of the station
The Great Northern Railway's loop line from Peterborough via Spalding and Boston reached Lincoln on 17 October 1848, and the station buildings went up for the company the same year: yellow brick with stone dressings in a Tudor revival style, with a crenellated tower. Lincoln once had two stations, but since Lincoln St Marks closed in 1985 every train has used this one, which carried the name Lincoln Central until 2019.
Direct trains to London were a long time coming. East Coast introduced a single daily train in 2011, and LNER now runs roughly every two hours. A resignalling scheme in 2007–08 allowed all three through platforms to be used in both directions, and the Lincoln Transport Hub, built between 2016 and 2018, added a new bus station and a pedestrian plaza outside the St Mary's Street entrance.
A day in Lincoln
Up the hill for the cathedral and Magna Carta, then slowly back down Steep Hill.
-
Morning
Lincoln Cathedral
Climb the High Street and Steep Hill (about 20 minutes) to the cathedral, begun in 1072.
-
Late morning
Magna Carta and the castle
Walk over to Lincoln Castle for its 1215 Magna Carta and the Victorian prison.
-
Lunch
Lunch on Steep Hill
The Wig & Mitre sits on Steep Hill between the cathedral and the castle and serves food from noon.
-
Afternoon
The Usher Gallery
Head back downhill to Lincolnshire's main art gallery, with works by Turner and Lowry.
-
Evening
A pie supper
From Wednesday to Saturday, Hobbsons on Steep Hill serves home-made pies into the evening (it closes earlier on Sundays and all day on Mondays and Tuesdays).
Things to do near Lincoln
Lincoln Cathedral
A Grade I listed Gothic cathedral, begun in 1072 and rebuilt after an earthquake in 1185, and among the largest in the UK by floor area. Admission includes its exhibition gallery and Discovery Centre.
Lincoln Castle
Built by William the Conqueror on a Roman site, the castle is home to an original 1215 Magna Carta and an imposing Victorian prison. Part of the medieval wall walk was closed for repairs in September 2026.
Usher Gallery
Lincolnshire's main art gallery, opened in 1927 through a bequest from jeweller James Ward Usher, with works by painters including Turner and Lowry. The neighbouring Lincoln Museum was closed for redevelopment in September 2026.
Museum of Lincolnshire Life
A social history museum in Victorian militia barracks on Burton Road, with around 250,000 objects including a First World War tank and galleries on the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment.
International Bomber Command Centre
A memorial and visitor centre overlooking the city, with a 31-metre steel spire, walls of names and the interactive Chadwick Centre telling the story of RAF Bomber Command. Closed on Mondays except bank holidays.
Distances are approximate. Opening times and prices change — check the official website before you go.
Eat & drink near the station
-
Pub
Wig & Mitre
A characterful pub on Steep Hill, in the Cathedral Quarter between the cathedral and the castle, serving food from noon every day.
-
Restaurant
Hobbsons Restaurant and Pie Shop
The successor to Browns Pie Shop, which traded here from 1987, serving home-made pies and afternoon tea in a Steep Hill house where, it says, T. E. Lawrence lived in 1925. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Day trips from Lincoln
-
Newark-on-Trent
Castle ruins on the Trent, the National Civil War Centre and a great parish church.
Direct LNER trains take about 25 minutes to Newark Northgate (May–December 2026 timetable).
-
Nottingham
The East Midlands city, via Newark Castle.
East Midlands Railway's direct trains take about 55 minutes to an hour, twice an hour (checked on National Rail for October 2026).
Where to stay in Lincoln
Lincoln has hotels both in the lower city near the station and up in the historic quarter around the cathedral. Compare them with the search link.
Tips for your visit
- Wear comfortable shoes: Steep Hill really is steep, with a one-in-seven gradient.
- LNER's Lincoln trains run roughly every two hours, so check the return times before you set out.
Questions about Lincoln station
Is Lincoln station step-free?
Yes. National Rail lists step-free access to all platforms (category A), with lifts serving platforms 1 and 3 and the island platform (4 and 5).
How far is Lincoln Cathedral from the station?
About 20 minutes' walk, uphill. The route climbs the High Street and Steep Hill, which has a gradient of one in seven in places.
Where is the bus station?
Lincoln Central bus station is a couple of minutes' walk from the station entrance, across the pedestrian plaza.
Is there parking at Lincoln station?
Only a small car park: National Rail lists 38 spaces, run by East Midlands Railway. There is also a 24-hour cycle hub with 198 spaces.
How often do LNER trains run between Lincoln and London?
Roughly every two hours, with about seven direct trains a day on weekdays in the May–December 2026 timetable. The fastest takes 1 hour 46 minutes.
Can I leave luggage at Lincoln station?
No. National Rail does not list a left-luggage service at Lincoln.
Sources we checked (September 2026)
We researched this page using the sources below. They are listed for transparency and are not links; always check official websites for the latest details.
- assets.ctfassets.net/mxack5k9p2sw/7jQOjS38muWdVQbPCRGxyV/809f4c4fe0a29fcd38233147ab0f48…
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_railway_station
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln,_England
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Cathedral
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Castle
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steep_Hill
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usher_Gallery
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Bomber_Command_Centre
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_of_Lincolnshire_Life
- lincolncathedral.com/visit-us/
- lincolncastle.com/
- lincolnmuseum.com/
- internationalbcc.co.uk/
- lincolnshire.gov.uk/history-heritage/museum-lincolnshire-life
- routing.openstreetmap.de/
- nationalrail.co.uk/stations/lcn/
- historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1388752
- dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage
- wig-lincoln.com/
- hobbsons.co.uk/
- nationalrail.co.uk/journey-planner/
Travelling to Lincoln?
Check live times and fares with LNER, or compare prices on Trip.com. Book early for the best chance of a cheaper Advance fare.