By Amelia Cosgrove
The Daily Telegraph has named Lincoln’s Steep Hill the Prettiest Street in England, and Amelia Cosgrove discovered it’s the people on the fairest of all thoroughfares that shape its heart and character.
The Telegraph had searched the country’s avenues and boulevards before naming Steep Hill the loveliest, and the accolade was picked up by TimeOut, shining a well-deserved spotlight on our much-loved cobbled climb.
Lincoln is often compared to York - rich in history, character and cobbled charm, just without the overwhelming crowds. But comparison is the thief of joy, and Steep Hill’s national recognition should finally set the record straight: Lincoln has never needed another city’s shadow to prove its beauty. So, to all those who still see us as a smaller York, listen up – we were the original Roman idyll.
And here’s the thing about Steep Hill - its cobblestones trace a route that dates back to Roman Lincoln, when this very path connected Lindum Colonia to the lower settlement by the river. Remnants of the Roman fortress’s upper South Gate can still be seen incorporated into the brickwork at No. 44, while two Norman houses nearby have stood on this hill since the 12th century.
The hill is also officially ranked among the four steepest streets in England - with a history of being a route passage for traders, pilgrims, soldiers, and now visitors, for centuries.
We haven’t glamorised or changed what it is - we’ve added shops and hospitality so we can live within its history – because we need not prettify what is already so beautiful.
The People of the Hill
At No. 44, you’ll find Stephen Smith of Bougie and Bijou, whose shop sits within the brickwork that holds part of the city’s Roman remains – he tells me there is a line that itself puts the Daily Telegraph’s decision into perfect perspective:
‘‘Where else do you walk up such a historic street to both a castle and a cathedral on opposite sides?’’
But beyond the accolade itself, what excites him most is the footfall of what this national spotlight could bring.
A few doors down, I had the privilege of speaking to Nicola Lockwood, chair of the Bailgate Area Guild and owner of Bell’s Tea Shop. When we spoke about Steep Hill’s new title as England’s prettiest street, she was delighted, but equally enthusiastic about the sense of community.
‘‘We all support each other up here – we’re independent, every one of us, so we’ve always got each other’s backs,’’ she expressed.
And in that moment, the historic aesthetics of the street melted away, and what became clear was why the Steep Hill remains so special today: it’s the people who care deeply for its history who are the very same people you’ll find behind its doors, keeping its character alive - every single day.
The Hill & Beyond
Glad you asked.
Between the cobbled gothics, ghost walks, and quirky community spirit, Steep Hill is more than a pretty face - and Lincoln has plenty to offer on the prettiness front.
The Bailgate
From Steep Hill to the Bailgate, the uphill quarter feels like one long independent trail – every shop, boutique, café, bookshop, restaurant, gallery, and pub etc… proudly stands as testament to the small business spirit that is the backbone of Britain.
My perfect day mooching through Bailgate looks a little something like this: start by grabbing a flat white at Coffee by The Arch, which tucks in at the end of the Bail’s cobbled paths, interlinking the Medieval Cathedral to the Roman-built Newport Arch (hence the name).
Caffeinate myself before pondering through the independent stores - browse for gold in Mansions Antiques, fall into Follie (as a local, my personal favourite), it is Lincoln’s little pink shop - selling the most beautiful handpicked homeware and accessories to cards and velvets cut by length (the earrings are my personal kryptonite).
Wander to the Fabric Quarter for creative haberdashery inspiration, then a few doors down to The Artisan Maker - my favourite for olive oil soaps.
Grab lunch at the Bailgate Deli or go for classic fish and chips from The Elite.
Pick up fresh flowers and local produce - fruit, vegetables and seasonal goods - at Little Produce Co., spilling out onto the cobbled streets just behind the castle.
And end with a cheap and cheerful pint in The Lion and Snake with the Cathedral looming over the pub’s roof, or a more boujee glass of wine in one of my favourites - The Duke William.
The Cathedral Quarter
Around Lincoln Cathedral and Lincoln Castle, the Cathedral Quarter bustles with monthly markets filled with fresh produce, artisan crafts and niche antiques.
The Lincoln Farmers Market has been running for more than 22 years, held on the third Saturday of every month, with a Vegan Market arriving this summer - offering visitors the chance to indulge in the true tastes of Lincolnshire.
Lincoln Castle
The castle walls have stood since 1068, and the grounds are free to roam. In the summer months, they become a venue for live music and an idyllic picnic spot - grass warmed by the sun, history all around you, and a high grassy hill where people sit with grass-stained legs from rolling down like children again.
Though for the full experience - including the Medieval Wall Walk, the Victorian Prison and the Magna Carta Vault, you’ll need a ticket. But being one of those rare places in England where you can quite literally walk the perimeter of history, tracing nearly a thousand years in a single circuit of stone, a ticket seems fair enough.
The Arboretum
Swap your tracks from the Cathedral Quarter to Lincoln’s Cultural Quarter, and park yourself on a bench in the heart of the Arboretum, giving yourself permission to quite literally stop and smell the roses. Designed, romantically in my opinion, during the Victorian era by Edward Milner, one of the most celebrated gardeners of his time, it offers free entry through the seasons; blooming in spring, luminous in autumn and on a still weekday morning, almost entirely yours to promenade.
Usher Gallery
Before reaching the Steep Hill’s ascent, sits the Usher Gallery. Opened in 1927 and bequeathed to the city by jeweller James Ward Usher, it holds work by Turner, Lowry, Stubbs, and Grayson Perry – not bad for somewhere that doesn’t charge a penny to get in.
What makes it more unique to a wider demographic of visitors is what happens after hours: Hatha Flow yoga classes are held amidst the paintings, and life drawing sessions every Thursday evening - where else can you practice your downward dog between a Turner and a Grayson Perry?
Surrounding the Gallery is a beautiful green space, with benches and an abundance of room to lay out your picnic blanket. Its neighbour, the Lincoln Museum, is currently closed for a full redevelopment – we know it’s going to be worth the wait.
The Brayford
Downhill, the cobbles and historic silhouettes give way to the water – with the marina acting as a natural divide between historic uphill Lincoln and the more modern city below. Once thronging with sailing barges, warehouses, maltings and mills, it is Lincoln's oldest quarter, settled in the first century BC - though the waterfront restaurants, hotels and cinema have become part of its evolving landscape.
Looking past the bobbing boats, across the waters, you’ll see the University of Lincoln campus standing directly opposite from the quayside – both are perfect spots to watch the sun sink over the water. If the familiarity of national chain restaurants and modernity is to your taste, this is the spot for you.
After the Accolade
Although it’s an honour that our pretty city has come under the national spotlight – the plaudits also belong to the people of Lincoln.
To Stephen, who opens the doors of No. 44 seven days a week beside a Roman wall and who calls that just another manic Monday.
To Nicki, who has spent years pouring tea and building a community on the prettiest street in England.
To every independent shopkeeper, baker, gallerist, pub landlord, historian, ghost walker – to the people who chose this hill, this city - and who understand that the charm and authenticity of a place are not preserved by accident, but by people willing to show up and protect them every day.
The Daily Telegraph got there in the end - Steep Hill, Lincoln, is the Prettiest Street in England.
We’ve known it for centuries. But it’s nice to have it in writing.
