David Burnip has travelled to many UK cities and towns, and has been left impressed by many of them – but none of them have made him react quite like Lincoln did
A YouTuber who has travelled across the UK, documenting the steady decline high streets and stress of crime-ridden towns, was left speechless after visiting what he says is the country’s “most underrated city”.
In a new video for his Wandering Turnip channel, David Burnip said he “can’t find a single negative about this place, it’s absolutely banging” upon his visit to the city of Lincoln.
Lincoln has preserved its industrial history, with independent shops that are still open and look busy, and nothing appears to be boarded up and empty.
David normally researches his destinations thoroughly but only did some minimal reading before visiting Lincoln to get an unbiased impression of the place that many have described as the UK’s most underrated city.
The city has resisted the trend of homogenisation that has made many places look alike, whether they be humble market towns or grand metropolises like London or Manchester. “This is legitimately amazing, I love Lincoln, it’s beautiful,” he marvelled, looking at well-preserved half-timbered shops and homes dating back to the late Medieval period.
There is ongoing building work in the city centre, but it doesn’t seem to detract from Lincoln’s historic character. Perhaps the biggest thrill for David was a plaque commemorating the workshop where Sir William Tritton presided over the design of a machine that would change the face of warfare.
The tank was constructed by Tritton’s Lincolnshire company, Foster and Sons, and it joined the British Army’s ranks in 1915. The fearsome war machine’s name was a clever ruse to mask its true purpose – they were shipped to France under the pretence of being water tanks.
David is clearly thrilled that one of these incredible machines is still on display at the Museum of Lincolnshire Life in Lincoln.
But the city offers a plethora of other fascinating sights, including a bustling high street devoid of vape shops or betting establishments.
“It’s such an intriguing city,” David enthuses. “Everywhere you turn, it feels like you’ve stepped into a different place. The area with the grand cathedral gives off a European vibe, while down here [near the canal] it feels like you’re in Bristol or even a coastal town.Despite being more than 30 miles from the coast, “you don’t feel like you’re inland with all those boats”. He added: “It’s an absolutely fantastic city, and I can’t wait to come back.”
