Meet Hastings at Lincoln Castle, with free grounds entry

A five-metre-tall dragon now watches Lincoln Castle from the roof of its Heritage Skills Centre. Hastings was introduced in a Lincolnshire County Council announcement published on 25 August 2026 and is already in place at the Castle Hill attraction.

Visitors can see the sculpture while exploring the castle grounds, where admission is free except on event days. A castle day ticket or annual pass is required for the wider visitor experience. No closing date has been announced, making Hastings a new attraction for families, history enthusiasts and young explorers planning a visit to Lincoln.

Hastings joins Lincoln Castle’s two other dragons

Hastings is the third and largest mythical dragon installed at the castle, joining Lucy and Norman. The council says the best viewing point is the driveway on the lawn, looking towards the Heritage Skills Centre where the sculpture is perched.

The dragon takes his name from the Battle of Hastings in 1066, which preceded the construction of Lincoln Castle by two years. William the Conqueror ordered the stronghold to be built in 1068 as he sought to secure Norman rule in England.

That connection gives the sculpture a clear role beyond its scale. Hastings is intended to introduce visitors—particularly younger ones—to the Norman origins of the castle and the history beneath the surviving medieval site.

A dragon inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry

The design also draws on the mythical beasts depicted throughout the Bayeux Tapestry. Hastings has arrived as part of Bayeux Around Britain, a nationwide British Museum programme supported by WorldQuant that aims to share the tapestry’s story and significance with audiences around the country.

The programme coincides with the Bayeux Tapestry returning to the United Kingdom for a British Museum exhibition. The council announcement says this will be its first return to UK shores in a millennium, with the exhibition due to open in the month following Hastings’ arrival.

Kim Vickers, culture service manager at Lincolnshire County Council, said installing a five-metre dragon within an ancient monument presented challenges. She described the sculpture as a way to make the castle’s Norman history more engaging for visitors.

Councillor Natalie Oliver, the council’s executive member for children’s services and culture, said Lucy and Norman had already proved popular with visitors. Their presence has led to Lincoln Castle becoming informally known as the “castle of dragons”.

Free grounds access and ticket details

Lincoln Castle is at Castle Hill, Lincoln, LN1 3AA. Entry to the grounds is normally free, although charges can apply on event days. Visitors who want access to the complete castle experience need either a day ticket or an annual pass.

Paid admission includes access to one of four surviving original copies of the 1215 Magna Carta, the Victorian Prison and the medieval walls. The announcement does not provide daily opening times, individual ticket prices, transport guidance, accessibility information or an end date for the Hastings installation.

Visitors can check current admission arrangements and book day tickets or annual passes through the official Lincoln Castle website before travelling.

Source: Lincolnshire County Council