Lincoln is an ancient, well-built city, the capital of a county with the same name (Lincolnshire) and contains more than a dozen parishes (the count depends on the year you seek). It lies 132 miles north of London, 36 miles northwest of Boston and 18 miles southeast of Gainsborough. The city itself is bounded on the north by Riseholme and Nettleham parishes, to the west by Skellingthorpe and Boultham and on the south by Bracebridge and Canwick parishes. The city lies along the old Roman Road known as Ermine Street.