Why go now?
There will be free entry to many Lincoln attractions as part of the Discover Lincolnshire weekend (28-29 March), including the cathedral and the open-top buses. There’ll be tours of the Guildhall, cathedral quarter and Jewish area, plus ghost and photography walks and a craft market (details at visitlincolnshire.com).

Anything else happening?
Lincoln’s Norman castle reopens on 1 April after a four-year restoration. There is a medieval wall walk, a new Magna Carta display vault and a Victorian prison. The Lincolnshire Great Exhibition (27 June-27 September) will display treasures from around the world in several city museums.

Anywhere decent for dinner?
Try a posh pie – wild rabbit with elderflower, perhaps – in Brown’s Pie Shop, a Lincoln institution. The Old Bakery, a restaurant with rooms, has a B&B plus five-course tasting menu offer of £149 for two.

How about a drink?
Newcomers Brewhaus and Craft Bar and Kitchen serve a huge range of beers and cocktails. At Brewhaus, the Bartender’s Breakfast is bourbon with roast duck fat, plum syrup and cucumber. Sip real ale at the Magna Carta, which has just had a makeover, or a gin and tonic afternoon tea at the Old Palace hotel.

A room for less than £100 a night?
The Rest is a boutique hotel in a former 1920s church hall with roof terrace (doubles from £89). The Bail House was once a medieval hall (doubles from £79).

Do I need a car?
The city is served by East Midlands, Virgin and Northern Rail trains, and is very walkable: there is a shuttle bus if you can’t face the climb up Steep Hill.
• visitlincoln.com