Get on the bus – open top double-decker returns this weekend
By Amelia Cosgrove
From the top deck
Whoever said tour buses weren’t cool clearly has not tried Lincoln’s open top variety.
The Lincoln Tour Bus returned to its summer duties over the second May Bank Holiday but I took an early trip on the double-decker during the city’s Festival of History.
I spent 90 minutes up top, covering over 2,000 years' worth of history – and came away wondering why I'd waited so long to hop aboard – because for a city I've called home for many years, it turns out I had a lot of catching up to do.
Hop on, hop off – no faff required
If the words ‘hop on hop off’ conjure images of confusing routes, mystery stop locations, and a ticketing process that somehow requires three apps and a printed confirmation – put your mind at ease. Lincoln’s version is refreshingly straightforward.
The service caters well for accessibility needs, with easy to find stops in central locations.
Affordability starts with the adults; tickets coming in at £15, for young adults (16-19) at £10, and children ride FREE - a no faffs, hop on hop off experience. Just show up at your stop of choice and let the bus do the rest.
Tours start at 10am and the bus will run every 90 minutes daily for the rest of May. Tours are on weekends only during June, but return to a daily schedule until Thursday, August 27. The last tour is at 3pm.
The Journey
We were greeted by experienced driver Frank, all smiles behind the wheel with Leslie up front on the mic, ready to bring the city to life. And bring it to life she did.
Leslie's live commentary is half the magic; the kind of knowledgeable, warm delivery that makes you feel less like a tourist and more like a local.
The tour takes in eight key stops with the freedom to hop on and off at each one so you can go at your own pace.
For me Lincoln Cathedral was the starting point and it's a fittingly dramatic opener. Fun fact: between 1311 and 1548, Lincoln Cathedral was the tallest building in the world – and from the top deck, looking up at it, it's easy to believe.
From there, you wind through pretty, narrow streets before pulling up at Lincoln Castle – home to one of only four surviving original copies of the Magna Carta.
Up next, the Museum of Lincolnshire Life, charting the everyday lives of Lincolnshire folk through the centuries, with collections ranging from agricultural machinery to wartime memorabilia.
The tour then winds down to Brayford Waterfront, one of Lincolns most dramatic transformations. What is now England's oldest inland harbor, buzzing with bustling restaurants, bars, and the University of Lincoln – which was nearly filled in and turned into a car park in 1964. Take that in for a second.
Moving away from the centre now, the bus takes you to the International Bomber Command Centre, perched on Canwick Hill just outside the city. The memorial spire stands at exactly 102 feet tall, and on a clear day you can see the Lincoln Cathedral from it, which is no coincidence – the Cathedral served as a key navigation landmark for returning aircrews, meaning for many of the men named on the surrounding Walls of Names, it was the last sight of Britain they ever had. A sobering, but beautiful place.
From there, the bus brings you back down through the high street and drops you off exactly where you started – the Lincoln Cathedral, ideally with a new appreciation for the city at your feet, and a list of places you felt drawn to, to go back and explore properly on foot.
Who it’s perfect for
Whether you’ve called Lincoln home for decades and somehow never quite got round to learning its stories (no judgment, until recent I was in this camp), or you’ve just stepped off the train with a few hours to spare and a list of must-sees, there's a seat on this bus with your name on it.
Chatting to fellow passengers, the mix spoke for itself – families using the tour as a history lesson for their kids, couples ticking Lincoln off a weekend itinerary, the group of friends who are hoping to join the University of Lincoln in September, and a handful of long-time locals, who, like me, figured it was about time they properly met the city they call home.
A miscellany of lives, briefly sharing the same view.
The verdict: all aboard
The Lincoln bus tour earns its place firmly on your Lincoln must-do list.
In 90 minutes, you get the views, the stories, the landmarks, and the breathing room to actually take it all in.
No rushing, no missing the hidden in-between spots because you were too busy looking at your phone for directions.
Its low effort, high reward – whether you're visiting for the first time, or like me, finally getting properly acquainted with the place you’ve always lived.
Hop aboard – you won't regret the view from the top.
Find out more at https://www.lincolnbig.co.uk/experience/tour-bus/
