Influential guide says Lincoln should be a top destination

An influential travel guide has heaped praise on Lincoln as a top destination and described it as "an under-visited delight".

The Lonely Planet guide to Great Britain has given the city a glowing report.

But after the summer season, under-visited may not be an apt word to describe it.

With the recession prompting Brits to holiday at home and the strong Euro and the US dollar against the pound encouraging overseas visitors, the city's gems look set to be revealed to many more people this summer.

The independent review, published yesterday, puts Lincoln as one of the four cities in the Midlands to appear on the guide's Great Britain Going Up Barometer along with Nottingham, Leicester and Birmingham.

And the county gets a glowing review too and is described as "uncommonly friendly and remarkably varied".

Even Skegness is praised for keeping fresh generations of punters coming in.

Penny Baker, chief executive for Lincolnshire Tourism, said she was thrilled that both Lincoln and Lincolnshire have received the recognition it deserves.

"Now is the time for the county's tourism businesses to work together and use this opportunity to our advantage," she said.

"Lonely Planet is seen as one of the most credible voices in the travel and tourism industry."

Lincoln Cathedral's Roy Bentham said the signs are already there for a prosperous summer with visitor numbers already up at the cathedral, described by the Lonely Planet as 'extraordinary'.

"We are expecting a very good summer and so far our visitor numbers are holding up remarkably well seeing as we are in a deep recession," said Mr Bentham.

For the full story, see Friday's Lincolnshire Echo.