Shopping in Lincoln
The nearest big town or city to Lincoln is around forty miles away, which has meant that Lincoln has had no choice but to develop an array of interesting and quirky independent stores of all shapes and sizes, alongside big shopping centres and high street brand names. In fact, Lincoln is regarded as being one of the most important shopping destinations in the East Midlands and within the top 50 in the UK.
The High Street
You’ll find all of your favourite high street brands, on the high street and within the two modern shopping centres, as well as some fantastic indoor markets and plenty of chain restaurants and bars to eat and drink. On the flip side you’ve also got a whole host of great independent retailers (over 200 local stores and boutiques in total in the city centre), making for an exciting retail experience. There are plenty of shops and stores with student discounts and promotions, and those places where you can find more bang for your buck. The beauty of shopping in Lincoln is that all of these shops and centres are found in a beautiful setting where the Romans once sat and enjoyed the town around 2,000 years ago.
Shopping Centres & Speciality
The Cathedral Quarter includes Bailgate Shopping where there are plenty of independent boutiques and shops lining the exquisite cobbled streets. From arts and crafts stores to plenty of specialities, tea rooms and restaurants to explore, you’ll have a great time in this part of town. Steep Hill (voted ‘Britain’s Best Street) and the Strait are both worth a visit, with plenty of retro, antique, and vintage stores to explore and rummage around for hidden gems, the Cheese Society deli and Goodies traditional sweet shop are important finds at The Strait.
Waterside Shopping Centre and St Marks Shopping Centre both provide much-loved high street names and big brands, an important part of student life as you come to terms with living independently, as it is important to have familiar home comforts at first in your Lincoln student accommodation. At the Cornhill Quarter expect to find some unique independent businesses and the wonderful Lincoln Central Market. There are different pop up street markets at various times throughout the year, so keep an eye out and you could find some great local produce, local art, trinkets, crafts, and clothing to suit your needs.
Our Recommendations
Homesense – Perfect for finding uni room stuff - it's quality & suitable for any budget.
Tesco’s Extra – Lesley's top tip - the new Tesco Extra is just down the waterfront from Brayford Quay and is fantastically well stocked. Nip in on the way to Lincoln University.
Yak – Vintage clothing store, bottom of steep hill, students love it. We love it. Can't recommend it enough.
Lincoln Christmas Market – I know it’s only once a year but it’s probably the most exciting shopping in Lincoln - it's beautiful for a cold winter evening.
Lincoln Eco Pantry – New shop near the castle that’s really eco friendly and seems to be popular. We're yet to head here but from what our students say - it's brilliant.
Lush – It's basic. It's popular. It's sustainable. It's Lush.
