City of Lincoln

image
Region: East Midlands
Country: England

§ This page provides an overview of an officially designated city in the UK, bringing together various information to help you better understand this city.

Lincoln’s city status is ancient, rooted in the establishment of the diocese in the 11th–12th centuries and centuries of borough government around the Brayford Pool and Roman Lindum Colonia. In 1974 the modern City of Lincoln Council was constituted as a non-metropolitan district (retaining city status) within Lincolnshire’s two-tier system. A major change in the regional landscape arrived in 2025 with the creation of the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority, led by an elected mayor, to take on strategic powers over transport, skills and investment across the wider county while the City of Lincoln Council continues to deliver district services.

City Council Status

City of Lincoln Council is a non-metropolitan district within Lincolnshire’s two-tier system and is a constituent of the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority for strategic powers.

In the UK, a city is not defined by size or population but by formal status granted by the monarch, often through historical charters or, more recently, civic honours competitions. There are 76 officially recognised cities, some of which are relatively small compared to other urban areas. In contrast, local authority districts (361 in total) are administrative areas created for local government purposes and may include a mix of urban centres, suburbs, and rural communities. Within districts, there may be one or more towns, which generally refer to sizeable urban settlements but do not hold city status unless it has been formally granted. In practice, a city can exist within a district, and a district can cover multiple towns, showing the clear distinction between legal status, administrative boundaries, and everyday usage.

Cities in East Midlands