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HOW IT RATES Lincoln is divided by the River Witham into uphill and downhill areas. Uphill, in the historic quarter, the cathedral towers above the city. The city centre is in the downhill area, and the aptly named Steep Hill connects the two parts of the city. The Romans established Lincoln, and several centuries later the Normans started the castle and cathedral. In the 12th century the wool trade arrived and with it the development of Lincoln green cloth, apparently worn by Robin Hood.

ARCHITECTURAL GEMS The cathedral, consecrated in 1092, sits at the top of the hill, its three great towers dominating the city. Opposite the cathedral stands Lincoln castle, which dates from 1068. South of the cathedral are the ruins of the medieval Bishops' Palace. For something more modern, Empowerment, a sculpture by Stephen Broadbent, represents two figures reaching to each other across the Witham.

WHAT'S NEW Witham Wharf is a waterside development of 114 one and two-bedroom apartments and penthouses. They offer great views over the water and cathedral. The penthouses are now available, costing from £455,000. Contact Savills (01522 508908).

QUALITY OF LIFE Pretty good. The historical buildings, traditional pubs and low crime rate give a pleasant feel to city living. There is easy access to the coast and to the Wolds.

TRAVEL The city is 142 miles (228km) from London, 94 miles from Cambridge, 81 miles from York and 15 miles from the A1. Trains from London take about two hours - there is no direct link at the moment, but there are plans for a service to London King's Cross by 2010.

SMARTEST STREETS Unlike most of the UK, estate agents here are boasting that sales are up on last year. The uphill area near the cathedral is very popular, as are the surrounding areas of Scampton, Brattleby and Burton. Savills has just sold a four-bedroom property with huge garden and good views for £600,000 in Burton, two miles north of Lincoln.

BEST RESTAURANTS One of Lincoln's top restaurants is the Jews House, in an impressive 900-year-old building. Another eatery in a historic building - this one dates from the 14th century - is the Wig & Mitre, which serves pricey but good pub food. Try some of Lincolnshire's finest pies at Browns Restaurant & Pie Shop.

TOP NIGHTLIFE The Theatre Royal is host to touring companies and pre-West End plays. Orchestral concerts are a regular in the cathedral, and you can see plays and concerts in the castle and palace grounds in the warmer months. The Victoria Pub hosts its own beer festival. Being a university town, there are plenty of pubs and clubs to visit.

EDUCATION The main university started life in Hull as the University of Lincolnshire and Humberside. But when the Lincoln campus opened next to Brayford Pool marina it quickly became the main campus, changing its name to the University of Lincoln in 2002.

WORKING LIFE Lincoln was an industrial city but this declined steadily in the mid-20th century. Today, Lincoln's economy is based mainly on public administration, commerce and manufacturing. The opening of the new university campus in the 1990s attracted students to the city, which has increased the number of people working in pubs and restaurants.

UPSIDE Housing in and around Lincoln is cheap: you can still grab the odd vicarage or barn conversion for a decent price. The annual books festival takes place this month, with the Waterfront Festival following in July. The German-style Christmas market attracts an ample crowd at the end of the year.

DOWNSIDE The student population is ever-growing, which could put people off. There are traffic problems on the outskirts. The city has failed to attract as many commuters as the property prices might suggest, possibly because of the lack of a direct train to London.

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