Palace

Lincoln Medieval Bishop's Palace

Canwick, Lincolnshire
Directions
  • Closed for the season
  • Free entry
  • Dogs in the grounds
  • No car park on site
  • English Heritage
Lincoln Medieval Bishop's Palace: The Bishops Palace owned by English Heritage in the background is Lincoln Cathedral
Photo: Kspindley · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

Quick answer

Checked 14 Oct 2026

Lincoln Medieval Bishop's Palace is currently closed for the season. Open on select dates only; closed for winter and every day in the calendar through 16 Mar 2027; open days to be confirmed. Lincoln Medieval Bishop's Palace is a palace near Canwick, Lincolnshire, managed by English Heritage. Entry is free. Dogs on a lead are welcome in the grounds but not inside. There is no car park on site.

Lincoln Medieval Bishop's Palace opening times

Last checked 14 Oct 2026
  1. Mon 12 Not listed
  2. Tue 13 Not listed
  3. Wed 14 Closed
  4. Today Thu 15 Closed
  5. Fri 16 Closed
  6. Sat 17 Closed
  7. Sun 18 Closed
Opening times by season
Season Dates Days Hours Last entry
Winter closure (calendar 14 Oct 2026 - 16 Mar 2027) 14 Oct to 16 Mar Closed Closed n/a

Opening times change with the season and can change at short notice. Check the official site before you travel.

Getting to Lincoln Medieval Bishop's Palace and parking

Plan your route

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Directions to Lincoln Medieval Bishop's Palace View on a map
Parking
No car park on site, paid. Strictly no parking at site; limited short-term free parking sometimes around the cathedral; plentiful charged public car parks nearby. One disabled space outside the gift shop. Charged public car parks nearby
By train
Lincoln Central is 0.5 miles away.
Public transport
15-minute walk from Lincoln City bus station (buses: lincolnbus.co.uk).

Dogs, accessibility and facilities

Dogs

Partly
  • Welcome: in the grounds.
  • Not allowed: inside the buildings.
  • Leads: dogs must be kept on a lead.
  • Page says only 'Dogs are allowed on leads'; does not say dogs may enter the exhibition/buildings, so lesser value grounds_only.

Accessibility

Not step-free
  • Step-free: no step-free access.
  • Paths and surfaces: No wheelchair access: steps, gradients, many worn uneven stone steps; level path and seating in garden; exhibition has level access.
Full access statement

Food and facilities

  • Shop Yes
  • Picnic area Yes
  • Audio guide Yes

What to see at Lincoln Medieval Bishop's Palace

  • 01

    Exhibition

    Displays and exhibitions to see.

  • 02

    Gardens

    Gardens you can walk around.

  • 03

    Views

    Notable views from the site.

History of Lincoln Medieval Bishop's Palace

  1. 1072 Bishop Remigius moves his seat from Dorchester-on-Thames to Lincoln.
  2. 1155 Building begins in earnest under Bishop Robert de Chesney (1155-8).
  3. 1185 Earthquake damages the cathedral and possibly the palace.
  4. 1186 Hugh of Avalon becomes bishop and starts rebuilding.
  5. 1234 Henry III grants 40 Sherwood oaks for the west hall roof.
  6. 1329 Bishop Burghersh gets licence to crenellate the precinct walls.
  7. 1541 Henry VIII visits the palace.
  8. 2023 £2.5 million conservation project completed.

Photos

Castles near Lincoln Medieval Bishop's Palace

All 4 castles in Lincolnshire

Sources

Every fact on this page last verified 14 Oct 2026
Suggest a correction
  1. Page on english-heritage.org.uk · checked 14 Oct 2026
  2. Wikidata · checked 15 Oct 2026
  3. Page on english-heritage.org.uk · checked 14 Oct 2026
  4. Page on english-heritage.org.uk · checked 14 Oct 2026
  5. Page on english-heritage.org.uk · checked 14 Oct 2026
  6. Page on english-heritage.org.uk · checked 14 Oct 2026
  7. Page on english-heritage.org.uk · checked 14 Oct 2026

We are independent and not affiliated with English Heritage. Prices and times can change at short notice, so check the operator's site on the day. How we check our data