Which Lincoln Court Is Your Hearing At?
Lincoln has three court buildings, and searches for "Lincoln court" return all of them. Only the Crown Court sits inside the castle walls.
| Court | Where it is | What it deals with |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Crown Court | The Castle, Castle Hill, LN1 3GA | Jury trials, sentencing of serious offences, appeals from magistrates |
| Lincoln Magistrates' Court | 358 High Street, LN5 7QA | First appearances in criminal cases, less serious offences, motoring cases |
| Lincoln County Court and Family Court | 360 High Street, LN5 7PS | Civil claims, debt, housing and family cases |
The two High Street courts stand side by side in the lower city, well below the castle. Someone charged with an offence usually appears there first. When a case moves up for trial or sentence, the next letter names Lincoln Crown Court. From then on, go to the castle.
Appeals against a magistrates' decision also come up the hill. A person who was convicted or sentenced at 358 High Street and appeals will have that appeal heard at the castle, before a judge sitting with magistrates.
If the paperwork names a magistrates' or county court, use that court's own page instead, linked under nearby courts. The list on this page only covers hearings at the castle.
How Do You Reach the Court Inside Lincoln Castle?
Enter the castle grounds through the East Gate on Castle Hill, the open square between the castle and the cathedral. Entry to the grounds is free, and court users do not need a ticket.
| Gate | Where | Suitable for court users? |
|---|---|---|
| East Gate | Castle Hill, facing the cathedral | Yes; the main way in and the accessible entrance, with a paved route that avoids the cobbles |
| West Gate | Western side of the castle walls | Not the route to use; the castle says its ramp is too steep for accessible entry, and it is the far side from the Court House door |
Once through the East Gate, look straight across the grass. The Court House stands on the western side of the grounds, and its long Gothic front, with turrets at the corners, faces the gate you came in by.
The castle's visitor attractions are separate. Tickets cover the Victorian Prison, the Magna Carta vault and the wall walk. Walk past the ticket desk and the shop.
Security screening happens at the Court House door, not at the castle gate. Leave enough time for the walk, the gate and the queue, because GOV.UK advises arriving about 30 minutes before your hearing. The security checks guide explains what staff look for.
Hearings in Lincoln often start at 9.45am or 10am, around the time the castle opens to tourists. This page cannot confirm when the East Gate opens for court users. Ring the court the day before and ask. Anyone with limited mobility should also read Lincoln Castle's accessibility page first.
Getting Up the Hill From Lincoln Station and the City Centre
The castle sits in uphill Lincoln, the Cathedral Quarter, while the railway and bus stations are in the lower city. The gap is short in distance and steep in practice.
| Way up | What Lincoln Castle says about it |
|---|---|
| On foot from Lincoln Central station | About a 20-minute walk, with Steep Hill on the southern approach |
| Taxi from the station | About a 10-minute drive, from the rank outside the station |
| Buses 7, 8, 17 and 18 | Run from the bus station, next to the train station, into uphill Lincoln |
| Walk and Ride bus | Links the Cathedral Quarter with the stations, Monday to Saturday |
| Bicycle | Bike spaces in Castle Hill car park, just outside the East Gate |
Buses 7, 8, 17 and 18 stop at the Lincoln Hotel, Radio Lincolnshire, Cecil Street or the Museum of Lincolnshire Life. Each stop is a 5 to 10 minute walk from the castle, according to Lincoln Castle's travel page.
Steep Hill deserves its name. Lincoln Castle itself warns walkers about the gradient on the approach from the south. Anyone carrying papers, wearing smart shoes or walking with a stick may prefer the bus or a taxi to the walk.
Lincoln Castle lists direct trains to Lincoln from Newark, Nottingham, Sheffield, Leicester, Peterborough, Doncaster and London. Witnesses and jurors coming in from elsewhere in the county should check the first trains. A 10am hearing leaves little margin after the climb and the security queue.
Parking Near Lincoln Castle for a Court Day
There is no parking at the court, and the castle has no visitor parking on site. Small public car parks around the castle fill up quickly.
| Car park | Postcode | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Castle Hill | LN1 3AA | Just outside the East Gate; Find a Court's nearest disabled parking |
| The Lawn | LN1 3BU | West of the castle; also nearest disabled parking |
| St Paul's Lane | LN1 3AL | Small, close to the castle |
| Westgate 1, 2 and 3 | LN1 3BG | Small, close to the castle |
| Lucy Tower Street (multi-storey) | LN1 1XL | Larger, in the lower city; walk up or take a bus or taxi |
| Broadgate (multi-storey) | LN2 5AP | Larger, in the lower city; same climb |
Lincoln Castle lists these car parks and notes that capacity near the castle is very limited. None of them belongs to the court, so check charges and time limits on the signs before you leave the car.
Jurors and trial witnesses are often there for several days. Pay for a full day rather than a few hours, since a trial can sit past lunch and resume in the afternoon. On a full week of trials, a lower-city multi-storey and the bus up can work out simpler than hunting for an uphill space each morning.
Blue Badge holders have no spaces at the court itself. Find a Court points them to the Castle Hill and Lawn public car parks, so check the signs there for badge rules. Ring the court before the day if the route from either is a concern.
What Do Lincoln Crown Court Listings Usually Contain?
Lincoln is a small Crown Court with four courtrooms showing in its recent lists. The daily lists this site stored from 6 to 15 October 2026 show two to four rooms sitting each day.
Day by Day, 6 to 15 October 2026
| Date (2026) | Hearings listed | Courtrooms sitting | Listed start times |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 6 October | 13 | 4 | All at 10am |
| Wednesday 7 October | 14 | 4 | 10am to 10.30am |
| Thursday 8 October | 21 | 4 | 9.45am to noon |
| Friday 9 October | 26 | 4 | 9.45am to 2pm |
| Monday 12 October | 16 | 4 | 10am to 11am |
| Tuesday 13 October | 7 | 3 | 9.45am to 10am |
| Wednesday 14 October | 7 | 3 | 10am to 10.30am |
| Thursday 15 October | 10 | 2 | 9.45am to 10am |
Friday 9 October was the busiest day in that period, with 26 hearings across four rooms. It was also the only day with an afternoon start. It had the only remote hearing too, where someone took part by video. The next week was quieter, with three rooms or fewer from Tuesday.
The swing matters for planning. A quiet list can finish by lunch. A full one can keep a courtroom busy all day.
Courtrooms, Start Times and Prosecutors
Court 3 carried the most hearings in that period, followed by Court 2 and Court 4. Court 1 had the fewest. Your letter gives a courtroom. Check the list again on the morning, because cases do move rooms.
Most hearings had a 10am start, with a handful at 9.45am and a few later in the morning. A 10am time is when the court begins its list, so a case can be called well after that.
On most entries the prosecutor was the Crown Prosecution Service. A smaller share listed another prosecuting body, which on Crown Court lists can include agencies and local authorities that bring their own cases.
Hearing Types in the Lincoln Lists
| Hearing type in the Lincoln lists | Entries, 6 to 15 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| For Trial | 36 |
| Plea and Trial Preparation | 19 |
| For Mention | 13 |
| For Application | 12 |
| For Pre-Trial Review | 8 |
| For Sentence, Committal for Sentence, deferred sentence | 11 |
| Bail applications, reviews and breaches | 9 |
| No hearing type given | 6 |
Trials made up the largest single group. Witnesses and jurors on those cases can wait for whole days. Plea and trial preparation hearings came next, usually the first Crown Court hearing after a case arrives from the magistrates.
Some entries on every day carried a reporting restriction, between one and eight a day. Names on those rows show only as asterisks, and some rows are left out. If you cannot see your case, ask the court. The Daily List explainer covers what each column means, and the Warned List page covers trials waiting for a date.
Why Might a Lincoln Hearing Be Missing or Moved?
A case may not show yet because HMCTS has not published the next day's list. Lincoln's list for a sitting day normally appears in the afternoon before, and HMCTS can update it into the evening.
With only a few rooms sitting, a long trial in one courtroom can push other cases to another room or day. A hearing can also go ahead by video, or stay off the public list because of a reporting restriction. The guide on why a case is not listed lists the usual reasons, and when lists are published covers timing.
Still missing by the evening before? Ring the court or your solicitor. Do not assume the hearing is off.
What Do Defendants, Witnesses, Families and Jurors Need to Know?
Each person heading up to the castle has a different job on the day. The points below are the Lincoln-specific ones; the linked guides cover the rest.
Defendants
Arrive early enough to see your solicitor before the case is called. Find a Court says the two private interview rooms opposite Court 1 cannot be booked. On a busy morning they may be taken.
Defendants held in custody may appear from prison by video link, which Find a Court lists as available by prior arrangement. Family members should not assume the defendant will be in the dock. Missing a hearing without telling the court can lead to a warrant, so ring at once if anything goes wrong. The defendant's guide covers the rest of the day.
Witnesses
Use the Witness Service number in the contact panel on this page, taken from Find a Court. Some other websites print a different number for Lincoln. Compare any number you find with the Find a Court page.
Trials are the most common hearing at Lincoln, and a trial witness can wait for hours before being called. The Witness Service can arrange a visit before the trial date and support on the day. The guide for witnesses explains what to bring.
Family Members
Family can usually sit in the public gallery of the courtroom shown on the list. With only two to four rooms sitting most days, the courtroom number is quick to find once you are through security.
The judge can clear the gallery for some evidence, especially from young witnesses. If you leave the building for lunch, you go through the security search again on the way back. The family members' guide covers sitting near the defendant and what you can bring.
Jurors
Jurors follow the instructions in their summons, which give the date, the time and what to bring. Lincoln's lists are heavy with trials, and a trial can last several days.
Find a Court lists wireless internet in the building, which helps on long waits in the jury area. Plan parking or the bus for the whole period of service rather than one day.
Observers and Students
Most hearings are open, and adults can usually walk in and sit quietly in the gallery. Pick a trial on the list for the most to follow; a list of short mentions can be over in minutes.
HMCTS held a public open day in September 2023 to mark the building's 200 years, with tours of cells and jury rooms. Those areas are closed on normal court days. The public gallery guide explains gallery etiquette.
Waiting Inside the Court House and Taking a Break
Vending machines are the only refreshments inside, according to Find a Court. There is no café.
Bring water and something to eat, as long days are common in a trial week. The castle runs its own Langton's café, and the Bailgate shops are a short walk away, but every trip out means another security search. A portable hearing enhancement system is available if you arrange it with the court beforehand, and assistance dogs are welcome.
| Facility | Detail |
|---|---|
| No parking | There are no parking facilities at this building, however paid off-site parking is available nearby at a number of nearby public car parks. |
| Disabled access | If you have a disability and need help coming to a hearing, please contact the court to make sure the facilities meet your specific needs or to discuss a reasonable adjustment you need. This site does not have disabled parking. The nearest disabled parking provision is at the Lawn Car Park or the Castle Hill Car Park which are both in close proximity. |
| Assistance dogs | Assistance dogs are welcome. |
| Hearing Loop | The building has a portable hearing enhancement system available by prior arrangement. Please contact the court by telephone or email to let us know of your requirements. |
| Refreshments | Refreshments are available via vending machine. |
| Interview room | There are two private interview rooms available located opposite Court 1 and can not be booked in advance. |
| Video facilities | Court/hearing room video facilities and prison to court video link facilities are available by prior arrangement. Please contact the court by telephone or email to let us know of your requirements. |
| Wireless network connection | This court has wireless Internet access available within the building. |
| Witness service | www.witnessservice.org.uk |
Lincoln Crown Court Contact Details and Results Email
Lincoln Crown Court has its own email address for results, separate from general enquiries. Use it to ask about the outcome of a hearing.
Opening times
Contact
Telephone
The enquiries email also handles listing questions, such as a hearing that has disappeared or a date you cannot make. The address, phone numbers and opening hours above come from Find a Court.
Scammers have copied HMCTS phone numbers and email addresses. Never pay anyone who calls or emails claiming to be from the court. If a message worries you, ring the court back on the number in the panel above.
Directions from your location: Google Maps · Apple Maps
How Old Is the Court House at Lincoln Castle?
Building work on the current Court House began in 1823, to a design by Sir Robert Smirke. GOV.UK marked 200 years of the building in 2023 and noted that courts have sat on the castle site since the 11th century.
Smirke's design included a grand jury room and two courtrooms, one for criminal and one for civil cases. Historic England lists the building as the Assize Courts, Grade II*, a status it has held since 8 October 1953.
For most of its life the building housed the assizes, the travelling courts where senior judges tried the most serious cases. The Courts Act 1971 replaced the assizes with the Crown Court from 1972, and the same rooms have heard Crown Court cases ever since.
Its Gothic front, with crenellated parapet and octagonal corner turrets, was built to face the castle's East Gate. The full description is in the Historic England list entry.
Other Courts Near Lincoln Crown Court
The two High Street courts are the ones most often mixed up with the castle. Each has its own page and list on this site.
- Lincoln Magistrates' Court: on the High Street in the city centre
- Lincoln County Court and Family Court: civil and family cases
- Lincoln County Court and Family Court, LN5 7PS (1.2 km away)
- Lincoln Magistrates' Court, LN5 7QA (1.2 km away)
Frequently Asked Questions About Lincoln Crown Court
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Need a Lincoln Castle Ticket to Get to Court?
No. The castle grounds are free, and a ticket only covers the paid visitor attractions such as the wall walk. The Court House is a working building, separate from the attractions. Ring the court if you are unsure how early you can get in.
Where Is Lincoln Magistrates' Court?
Lincoln Magistrates' Court is at 358 High Street, Lincoln LN5 7QA, down in the lower city and a long uphill walk from the castle. Most criminal cases start there. A Crown Court hearing never takes place at that address, so read the court name on your letter before setting off.
Is Lincoln Crown Court Accessible for Wheelchair Users?
Ring the court before the day to check. Lincoln Castle names the East Gate as its accessible entrance, with a paved route avoiding the cobbles. Find a Court does not say whether the courtrooms are step-free. It points Blue Badge holders to the Castle Hill and Lawn public car parks, as the court has none.
Can Members of the Public Watch a Trial at Lincoln Crown Court?
Yes, most Crown Court hearings are open to the public, and adults can usually just turn up and sit in the gallery. The judge can close a hearing or ask people to leave, often when a young witness gives evidence. Phones must be off, and no recording or photography is allowed.
Can I See Lincoln Crown Court Listings for Tomorrow?
Yes, once HMCTS publishes the next day's Daily List, usually in the afternoon before. Select the day above the list to switch to it. Courtrooms and times can still change overnight, so look again on the morning of the hearing before you leave for the castle.
How Do I Find Out a Sentence Passed at Lincoln Crown Court?
Email the court's results address, listed in the contact panel on this page, and give the case details you have. Staff decide what they can release. Local news covers some cases, and for a small number the judiciary publishes sentencing remarks. This site shows hearings, not outcomes.
Where Do Jurors Go for Jury Service at Lincoln?
Jurors follow the reporting instructions in their summons, which name the court and the time to arrive. For Lincoln Crown Court that means the Court House in the castle, so use the East Gate and allow time for the climb and the security search. Bring the summons and any requested ID.
Can I Search the Lincoln List by a Defendant's Name?
No. The site never shows first names and has no name search. A surname may appear after asterisks when it reads clearly and no restriction applies; otherwise the entry shows asterisks only. Use the case number from the court letter, or the courtroom and time, to find an entry.
Can I Watch Lincoln Crown Court Online?
No, Crown Court trials are not streamed to the public. Remote viewing needs the court's permission in advance and is rare. A few sentencing remarks from Crown Courts in England are filmed and broadcast later, but that is chosen by the court and broadcasters, not something visitors can request for a hearing.
What Should I Wear to Court in Lincoln?
There is no formal dress code, but clean, tidy clothes suit a court and help defendants and witnesses feel ready. Hats come off in the courtroom unless worn for religious reasons. Choose flat shoes and a warm coat, since the walk up to the castle is steep and the grounds are exposed.