History, connections and tourism

A rich history
Greater Lincoln has a rich history that stretches back further than Roman occupation, and the region boasts a historic castle, magnificent medieval manor houses and vibrant museums. The 11th century Lincoln Cathedral is one of Europe's architectural jewels and roads built by the Romans are still in use today. More recently, in 1916 Lincoln was the birthplace of the military tank and the region has been associated with aviation since the Great War. It is still an important area for the Royal Air Force and is the home of the world-famous Red Arrows display team.

The right connections
Situated in the East Midlands, Greater Lincoln is excellently placed for access to the whole of the UK and mainland Europe. The rest of the Midlands, South East, North West and North East are all within easy reach by road, while the east coast ports, rail network (London is just an hour away by train) and regional airports, of which there are five, make Greater Lincoln one of the most accessible areas in the UK.

A vibrant tourist economy
Over 16.5 million tourists visit Lincolnshire every year. During the time they spend in Greater Lincoln they can do something different everyday: take a look round the cathedral, see one of the four remaining copies of Magna Carta in Lincoln castle, visit picturesque villages, shop for antiques or explore the region's vast network of waterways. Each year, tourists from around the world also flock to Greater Lincoln's antique fairs, the Lincoln Christmas Market and Waddington Air Show. Lincoln was recently voted by the Guardian as one of the UK's top ten destination cities and a raft of feature films and TV series using Greater Lincoln locations (including The Da Vinci Code) have increased the region's profile in recent years.