AttractionEnglish Heritage

Lincoln Medieval Bishops' Palace

Lincoln, Lincolnshire

The remains of a great medieval palace beside Lincoln Cathedral, with a working vineyard on the terrace, best walked with your dog as part of a historic Lincoln loop.

This was one of the most impressive buildings in medieval England, sitting right beside the cathedral at the top of Lincoln's hill. The bishops of Lincoln ran a diocese stretching from the Humber to the Thames, and the palace reflected that: a great hall, a chapel range and undercrofts terraced into the hillside. A £2.5 million conservation project completed in 2023 stabilised the stonework and opened more of it up.

Whilst you follow the film, exhibition and audio tour covering five centuries of use, and take in the south facing terrace which still has a vineyard as it did in the Middle Ages, your dog gets a compact terraced site with good views out over the city rooftops. It is best treated as one stop on a walk round historic Lincoln rather than a destination in itself.

Dogs are allowed on leads. Be warned about parking: there is strictly none at the site, limited short term free parking around the cathedral if you are lucky, and otherwise the charged city car parks and a steep walk up. There is picnic seating. The terraces involve steps and slopes throughout.

At a Glance

Dog Access: On-lead in the grounds; Dogs are allowed on leads.
Site Type: House & Palace
Entry: Paid entry
Members: Free for English Heritage members
Facilities: Parking, Picnic seating
Telephone: 0370 333 1181
Parking: Strictly no parking at site. Limited short-term free parking is sometimes available around the cathedral. There are plentiful charged public car parks nearby.

English Heritage Membership

Planning Your Visit

Opening times

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: CLOSED
Thursday: CLOSED
Friday: 13:00 - 16:00
Saturday: CLOSED
Sunday: CLOSED

Opening times and prices were checked on 26 August 2026 and are subject to change, and some sites close for events or over winter. Confirm on the English Heritage site page before you travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lincoln Medieval Bishops' Palace dog friendly?
Yes, dogs are welcome at Lincoln Medieval Bishops' Palace, though they must be kept on leads throughout the site. It's a compact, terraced space with good views over Lincoln's rooftops, and there's picnic seating if you want to take a breather.
Are dogs allowed at Lincoln Medieval Bishops' Palace year round?
The listing doesn't specify any seasonal restrictions on dogs, so they appear to be welcome throughout the year. It's worth checking directly with English Heritage before visiting if you want to be certain.
What should I know before visiting Lincoln Medieval Bishops' Palace with my dog?
The biggest practical consideration is parking — there is strictly none at the site itself, with only limited short-term free parking sometimes available near the cathedral and charged city car parks otherwise, followed by a steep walk up the hill. The terraces involve steps and slopes throughout, so it's worth bearing that in mind if your dog finds uneven ground tricky. The site is fairly compact, so it works best as one stop on a broader walk around historic Lincoln rather than a standalone day out.