Trails
Over the years, Lincoln BIG has created a series of engaging trails designed to encourage exploration, discovery, and footfall across the city centre. These trails have showcased Lincoln’s rich heritage, independent businesses, seasonal events, and hidden gems, offering visitors and residents a fun and interactive way to experience the city.
From festive-themed adventures and family-friendly hunts to cultural and historical routes, each trail has been carefully designed to highlight different parts of Lincoln’s identity while supporting local businesses and attractions along the way.
This page celebrates the creativity and impact of past trails and the role they’ve played in bringing people into the heart of the city.
In summer 2027, Lincoln will come alive for Isaac Newton 300 — a spectacular ten-week city-wide art trail celebrating one of history’s greatest thinkers.
The trail will transform the city with a vibrant public art experience, featuring large artist-designed apple sculptures alongside medium sculptures created by talented local schools. Free to explore, fun for all ages, and fully accessible, the trail is set to bring thousands of residents and visitors into the heart of Lincoln.
Alongside the creative installations, the trail will support our Charity Partner, Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance, helping to raise awareness and vital funds throughout the event.
More details will be shared soon as plans develop for this landmark celebration.
Lincoln BIG welcomed a stampede of Elmer, the much-loved patchwork elephant, and eleven friends, created by David McKee, from Saturday 13 July to Sunday 15 September across the city.
To see a recap of the Summer of Fun click here
Our third sculpture trail which ran during the summer and spring of 2021 across Lincoln city centre. This was a mass participation public art event to celebrate Lincoln, its art, culture and heritage.
Lincoln is Britain’s best small city, and to encourage more people to visit and experience its vibrant and contemporary edge, Lincoln BIG hosted a third sculpture trail, following the success of the Barons’ Charter Trail in 2015 and the Knights’ Trail in 2017. The trail was postponed from 2020 until Summer 2021 due to the Coronavirus pandemic. We saw visitors from across the UK and the world visit in this Covid-secure outdoor event.
Lincoln is famous for many things, however we wanted visitors in the city to know about our IMP. The people of Lincoln resonate with the IMP, children have fun with the cheeky Chappy, Lincoln City FC has it as their emblem and the IMP resides in Lincoln Cathedral. There are many myths and legends also associated with the IMPs coming to Lincoln and with this in mind, we decided to bring the story of the Lincoln IMP to Lincoln’s High Street. The sculpture was based on the WH Goss pottery imp model that was produced by the Falcon Stoke-on-Trent pottery in the late 1800s/early 1900s.
The key event was a fun art trail of 31 colourful IMP sculptures that were strategically placed across Lincoln’s historical city centre during the summer of 2021 for visitors to follow. To complement the main trail, the EBP recruited 60 Lincolnshire Schools to take part in the Education Programme. This programme included a number of curriculum activities and a half-size imp to design and paint. These half-size imps went on display in venues across the city for the summer and are now on display within the schools as a legacy to the trail.
During September, our IMPish friends joined together at Lincoln Castle to say farewell before moving to Lincoln Cathedral on 1st October to be auctioned in aid of St Barnabas. We are delighted that the evening raised £125,000 with all the Imps finding new homes.
We would like to thank our Partners and Sponsors for getting involved and supporting our Charity Partner, St Barnabas:
- Bailgate Guild
- Bottomley Distillers
- Branston Ltd
- Chestnut Homes
- City of Lincoln Council
- Continental Landscapes
- Daniel Charles Construction
- Denby Transport
- Duckworth Motor Group
- GAME Engineering Ltd
- Girlguiding in Lincolnshire
- New Theatre Royal
- Nicholsons Chartered Accountants
- Investors in Lincoln
- Jacksons Workwear Rental Ltd
- Just Audi VW
- Lincoln Business Club
- Lincoln Cathedral
- Lincoln City Football Club
- Lincoln College
- Lincoln Digs
- Lincs Archiving Solutions Ltd
- Lincolnshire Economic Action Partnership
- Lincolnshire Freemasons
- Lincolnshire Live
- Lincolnshire Society of Architects
- Rotary Clubs of Lincoln
- Ruddocks
- Running Imp
- St Barnabas
- St Marks Shopping Centre
- Saul Fairholm Chartered Accountants
- Stagecoach East Midlands
- The Cornhill Quarter
- The EBP
- The Lincolnite
- The Lincoln Hotel
- Waterside Shopping Centre
- Wild in Art
- University of Lincoln
Piecing Us Together was a project commissioned through Lincoln Creates | Lincoln BIG, and proposed and designed by local Lincoln artist, Mel Langton.
The trail involved displaying pieces of the Piecing Us Together jigsaw puzzle in the windows of businesses across Lincoln City Centre.
In total there were 40 puzzle pieces and within these pieces is the unique ‘main character’. Businesses had the opportunity to share with Mel on how they wanted their ‘character’ to appear - to best reflect and interpret their business.
The Piecing Us Together project has had great success with both the businesses and public. Through art, this jigsaw puzzle has showcased and celebrated the quality and diversity of businesses based in Lincoln City Centre!
Buy your own Piecing Us Together jigsaw and A3 giclée art print from Mel Langton, please click here to find out more.
The Lincoln Ale Trail was a popular city centre experience that encouraged locals and visitors to explore the very best of Lincoln’s pubs and bars.
From the historic public houses of Steep Hill to the lively venues along the Brayford Waterfront, the trail showcased the city’s wide variety of places to enjoy a perfectly poured pint of ale or a refreshing beer.
Participants were invited to visit a selection of 24 venues across the city centre, rating their experience as they went and discovering new favourites along the way. The challenge was to complete the full trail—though not necessarily in one visit!
Alongside the Ale Trail, Lincoln offers a vibrant year-round social scene, with live music, beer festivals, quiz nights, and a thriving food and drink culture set against a stunning historic backdrop. As one of England’s finest cathedral cities, Lincoln provides the perfect setting for a relaxed evening or a lively night out.
The Ale Trail celebrated the city’s diverse mix of traditional inns and contemporary bars, highlighting something for every taste and style.
The Lincoln Cocktail Trail was a popular city centre experience designed to showcase the very best of Lincoln’s vibrant cocktail scene.
From hidden speakeasies to lively bars along the Brayford Waterfront, the trail highlighted the city’s diverse range of venues serving expertly crafted cocktails in unique and welcoming settings.
Participants were invited to explore a selection of bars across the city, discovering new favourites while enjoying everything from classic mixes to innovative signature serves. The trail offered a fun and sociable way to experience Lincoln’s nightlife and hospitality offering.
Alongside the Cocktail Trail, Lincoln continues to offer a dynamic year-round events calendar, including bottomless brunches, live entertainment, and seasonal celebrations. As one of England’s finest cathedral cities, it provides a stunning historic backdrop, alongside great shopping and a thriving food and drink scene.
The Cocktail Trail celebrated the city’s blend of characterful historic venues and stylish contemporary bars, ensuring there was something to suit every taste and occasion.
