By Amelia Cosgrove
I've been an honorary ducky of Lincoln for the best part of 15 years, so I've come to know the city’s waterfronts pretty well.
From my university days walking down by Brayford Pool, morning coffee in hand amid the morning rush of students, the early sun bouncing off the water, and the local swans floating in peace as we’d speed by.
To adult afternoons admiring the quaint canal boats floating a top one of England’s oldest inland harbours, to watching the sunset over the Burton Waters with a drink in hand.
Contextually Cool Facts
This Lincoln waterfront has been an important trading hub since the Roman era when the Romans built the Fossdyke Canal around AD 120 - creating a pilotable link between the River Trent and Lincoln.
Today, the Fossdyke is widely regarded as the oldest canal in England still in use.
Since then, the waterfront has evolved from a busy industrial port into a historic landmark which shares the water with modern cruisers, rowing boats and university activities – all the while the surrounding area is filled with cafés, restaurants, bars and scenic walkways.
One of my beloved parts of the canal is the famously pictured - Glory Hole – one of the oldest medieval stone arch bridges in England, and one of the only places where you can actually sail beneath centuries of living history.
Today, the bridge supports a row of charming Tudor-era timber-framed buildings, including the much-loved Stokes High Bridge Café, where visitors can stop for freshly baked cakes, traditional English treats, or simply watch boats glide through the hole below.
Today, Lincoln's waterfronts are the perfect blend of history and modern life.
A place where you can choose a centuries-old waterway or a lively urban atmosphere – both perfect for a summer itinerary.
Staying On the Water
So, take a leaf out of my book and become a Lincoln ducky for a day and getting on to the water and, ideally, don’t leave until morning.
Enter Burton Waters stage left, where a fleet of floating lodges lets you swap room with a view for a room that is the view.
Each lodge comes with its own private decking and a couple of chairs for admiring the marina. One of the two, is pet-friendly - so your pup doesn't have to sit this one out.
There's a David Lloyd gym on-site too, for anyone whose idea of a slow mini break still involves a treadmill or a tennis match.
Ducky's-Eye View
Starting your day doesn't so much begin as it drifts in, with ripples of soft clinking boats nearby.
From the calm of Burton Waters, discover the Fossdyke Canal and hire a self-drive boat to pootle off at your own pace.
No schedule, no stress, just you, a boat picnic, and perhaps a dog who has appointed itself as Captain.
Float toward historic Lincoln or out into open countryside; either way, the canal delivers a lazy, layered slideshow of fields, bridges, and wildlife.
Back in the city, a Brayford boat trip turns Lincoln into something like a very good diorama - brick, glass, and greenery stacked into neat, glinting layers as you glide the pool.
Or, you want it even more up-close-and-personal? Grab a kayak. Or maybe just keep a look out for the University of Lincoln’s Kayaks society if that sounds a little too energetic.
By evening, set sail back to Burton Waters. And no day on the water ends without dinner somewhere that understands the assignment - cue Laziza Indian Bar & Restaurant, marina-side and made for golden hour.
Sit outside and indulge yourself in their curated tandoori selection, marinated to perfection and grilled over open flames. It delivers a rich, smoky depth that captures the true spirit of Indian cuisine - the lamb madras is my particular favourite if you want heat done properly, rich and layered rather than just a burn.
Save room, too, for dessert - the matka kulfi or gulab jamun are the kind of Indian classics that transport you.
So, with slow mornings, slower boats, and a sunset with excellent taste in restaurants, Lincoln's water experiences, it turns out, are best enjoyed at the lazy speed of a canal.
