Book lovers often flock to cities that have obvious ties to the literary greats. I am also drawn to places where authors were born, places that inspired their works or places that have ties to films inspired by books.
I wanted to put together a blog post about my home, Lincoln, which may not be an obvious choice for book lovers choosing a city to visit. Lincoln is a beautiful place and is steeped in history, but it is also home to some brilliant bookish spots which should be on any book lover’s list to visit. Here are my five bookish recommendations for visitors to Lincoln looking for a literary guide.
- Oxfam Books
I just love secondhand bookshops. You can find some real bargains, while supporting various charities in the process. In Lincoln you will find the Oxfam Bookshop located in the Cornhill. This is such a pretty area to visit anyway and has many wonderful restaurants if you’re looking for a bite to eat, but if you’re searching for some secondhand books, your first stop should be here. Shopping secondhand is also a fab, sustainable way to buy books. Pop along and see what you can find!
2. Waterstones
Next is the Waterstones located on the High Street. I am creating a bit of a trail here, so it’s good to follow in this order!
Most cities have a Waterstones, but I still love to visit the mainstream bookseller whenever I’m in a new city, just to see the layout and of course, to see if anything jumps out at me. The “Local Interest” section in Waterstones is always worth checking and I’ve spotted some fascinating Lincoln folk tales and ghost stories in this Waterstones. There’s also a café upstairs so you can stop off here if you need a break.
3. Jews’ Court Bookshop
As you make your way up the high street, you will get to the aplty named Steep Hill, which is so called as it is one of the steepest streets in England! Located on Steep Hill is Jews’ Court Bookshop. This Grade I listed building is really quaint and makes a great photo opportunity, head inside to browse Jews’ Court Bookshop to see the largest collection of Lincolnshire books anywhere! There are also good-quality secondhand fiction and non-fiction books too and it’s a great place to pick up some Lincoln postcards to send to your friends and family.
4. Lindum books
Located in the gorgeous Bailgate area of Lincoln, you will find Lindum Books. This is a lovely independent book shop which has a fantastic range of new releases, classics and much more. I really recommend Lindum Books, it is such a special place in Lincoln and the booksellers are always so helpful and friendly. I would love to see them stock Lindum Books tote bags because what book lover doesn’t love a good tote? And let’s be honest, this adorable shop front would look fantastic on a bag! You can find out more about Lindum Books in my previous blog post, ‘Independent Bookshops – A Change of Pace?’
5. Tennyson statue
John Taylor, who was a publisher of poet John Keats, initially attended Lincoln Grammar School. Additionally, various authors and novelists have called Lincolnshire home at some point, but of course, most notably, Poet Laureate Alfred, Lord Tennyson was born in Somersby, Lincolnshire. You might notice street names or buildings named after the poet in Lincoln, but if you walk around the cathedral, you will find a statue of Tennyson complete with poetry verse. This is another great photo opportunity, but I especially like to sit on the benches that surround the statue and read.
Bonus – Railway Reads Book Swap
The Railway Reads book swap can be found just inside the University of Lincoln campus near the footbridge over the railway tracks beside the Brayford. Readers can drop off any unwanted books they may have already read and pick up something new – all for free! You can find some real treasures here and it’s definitely well-stocked. I love book swaps because they’re an environmentally friendly way to share books with each other.
Lincoln might not be a book lover’s first choice, but I hope I have convinced you to give this stunning city a chance. There are so many hidden gems to find and so much more than I have mentioned here. Depending on what time of year you choose to visit Lincoln, there is so much on offer in the city. Have a look to see what’s going on and happy travels!
Until next time,
Rebecca x
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