Museum of Lincolnshire Life

Lincoln is the birthplace of the tank; becoming known at one point as ‘Tank Town’ due to the sheer number of the armoured military vehicles that came off its production lines. Only a handful of tanks from the Great War survive in one piece today, with ‘Daphne’ being one of them. Standing next to the behemoth is an awe-inspiring experience, in part thanks to the fact that they helped to turn the tide during the stalemate of WWI, but also because of the sheer scale and ingenuity of the invention that’s now over 100 years old.

There’s a strong military theme to the Museum of Lincolnshire Life. It’s understandable when you think that the city’s industrial boom and prosperity were in part driven by the production of tanks. But the museum also commemorates the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment with award-winning interactive galleries that take you all the way back to when it was formed in 1685.

Stepping away from Lincoln’s military history, you’ll also find a wide array of exhibits that showcase the city’s commercial, domestic, agricultural and industrial past. Immerse yourself in the old shops and house interiors that have been painstakingly recreated with the help of original and replica artefacts. And as if that wasn’t enough, there’s also farming equipment from local companies, steam engines and locomotives.

Best of all, access to the Museum of Lincolnshire Life is absolutely free. You’ll find plenty of volunteers on-site that can talk you through the various exhibits – there’s even a daredevil that tries his hand at riding a penny farthing. Their local knowledge is really impressive; we guarantee that you’ll leave having learned something new.

We’d really recommend a visit to the museum, just to step back in time and see what life was like in Lincolnshire during the 19th and 20th centuries. You’ll find it in the Old Barracks, up the road from Lincoln Castle. So if you’re spending the day in the city’s Cultural Quarter, why not pop in for a visit? It won’t cost you a penny, and we think that the chance to see the tank is worth it alone.