h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

You've forgotten one major attraction - the Lincoln Christmas Market. O.K., it only happens once a year, but the atmosphere is great, especially if you go in the afternoon / evening. Richard and I have been at least 3 times. We've a couple of candle lanterns bought from the Lincoln Round Table (I think, it might have been the Lions) stall. They look really nice when lit in the evening, and people always stop us and ask where they came from. It eventually gets to the point where we wish we had a tape-recorded message. 'You go in through the castle gate. Go along a bit, then turn right. It's on the right, towards the back. It's got a large flashing lantern on the top. You can't miss it!'

Do you know, despite living in Caistor (about 20 miles down the A46 from Lincoln) for nearly a decade of my young life I never went to the Christmas market.

I did once go to the Lincolnshire Show which is on about this time of year but don't remember enough about it to write a guide entry
(It was sunny and there was this cider tent ..... )

My childhood memories of the Lincolnshire show are rather different, revolving around large farm animals and running about looking for answers to a quiz provided by my schoolteachers.

The Christmas market also has lots of Germanic atmosphere. The German sausages, German gluwhein and German biscuits are always the highlights for me.

My favourite shop on Steep Hill is the Tea Shop selling hundreds of varieties of loose leaf tea. It does have a good cafe attached too, with a dizzying range of teas on the menu. Absolute heaven for the dedicated tea drinker.

My favourite shop on Steep Hill is Barter Books, a pair of second-hand bookshops, one either side of the road.

I agree with you about the Germanic influence, brought along by representatives of Lincoln's twin town, I believe. No visit to the Christmas market is complete without a cup of gluhwein.

Although its not technically on steep hill, my favourite shop is (obviously) the Whisky Shop. Also the "wig and (something)" pub seems to have moved two doors down. Can anyone confirm this or do we put it down to my unreliable memory?

I have visited the whisky shop. Unfortunately, I'm not made of money so I've never bought any of their more unusual whiskies. Fortunately I'm very happy with Highland Park 12 Year Old Single Malt, readily available from my local Tesco, so it's not a problem. (£22ish, so affordable at the rate I drink it!)

I have just made my first visit,bought umbrellas,earrings and lavender bags from the craft and W1 tent, half a case of German wine and a soppy tie for Dunx. Also have some wondrously silly pictures of long-haired sheep. Aren't prize boars enormous?

What was this wine like then?
How is it all I get is a soppy tie?

Don't know. We put some in the fridge for your visit and took it out again, as there wasn't time to open it. Xmas start then How come when I go to Lincs show there is NO sunshine of any sort

Hi there,
Yes indeed The Wig & Mitre Pub has moved downhill. I think it moved one place down in a row about it's expansion which was blocked. The owners simply sold the premises on the left, or uphill and bought the larger, downhill premises. It is a sort of property hopscotch. Whilst in Licoln why not try the Tap & Spile pub. This is packed to gills with eccentric, real ale drinking, round chess playing, music and theatre types. Also as its all of 50 metres off the main drag it does not attract the young no brainers who flow like wilderbeast from the bailgate at the top to the Yates and other theme plastic nights out without a glance to the side. They have live music on Fridays which is usually live and not wannabe kareoke singers with a backing track blaring away.
Howie

I used to quite like the Queen Vic., but mainly because I know several of the locals there. Ah sepiatone salad days - memories of doing the pub crawl the wrong way round and having to walk all the way up that hill carrying a few pints in my belly .

Mitre

As Howie said.
I'm not sure I can deal with pubs moving up and down steep hill, but it's not the oddest thing to happen in Lincoln by a long chalk