What Is the Magna Carta? The Secret Deal That Shackled a King

In 1215, the Magna Carta forced King John to accept that even a king must obey the law and shortly after it was signed, one of this country's biggest mysteries unfolded… the king lost the crown jewels…   

With Mystery Guides, you have a chance to find King John’s lost crown that's hidden somewhere in the city... following treasure hunt clues to uncover it for yourself…

A Mystery That Begins in Lincoln

Lincoln isn’t just a beautiful city with a spectacular cathedral and a leg-burning hill… it’s a key location in the chaotic story that followed Magna Carta.

After King John was forced to seal the Magna Carta in 1215, England didn’t suddenly become peaceful… Quite the opposite… the country slid into civil war.
Somewhere in that chaos, part of the royal treasure vanished… including King John’s crown.

That’s where The Mystery of King John’s Lost Crown begins.

With Mystery Guides, Lincoln becomes your puzzle board. You’ll explore Lincoln Cathedral, one of the most amazing medieval buildings in Europe and climb up the famously steep Steep Hill, uncovering treasure hunt clues, hidden details, and forgotten stories as you go. This isn’t a guided tour that talks at you… it’s a story you actively solve.

Think outdoor escape room… but with 800 years of real, fascinating history baked in.

How Magna Carta Sets the Scene

So, I hear you ask, where does the Magna Carta fit into all this?

Quite simply… it’s the reason everything starts to fall apart. King John didn’t sign Magna Carta because he wanted to share power. He was forced into it by angry barons who were fed up with heavy taxes, military failures, and a king who played fast and loose with the rules. The agreement, sealed at Runnymede, was meant to limit royal power and protect certain rights. But John had no intention of sticking to it.

Within a few months, the deal had collapsed, rebellion flared, and England became at war with itself. It’s during this turbulent period that John raced around the country, losing support, losing control… and, according to legend and records, losing his royal crown in the process.

Which makes Lincoln not only a pretty backdrop… but a perfect stage for this mystery.

Turn History Into an Adventure

What makes Lincoln Mystery Guides so different is that you don’t just hear this story… you chase it.

You follow riddles through the city. You piece together what happened. You spot details most people walk straight past. And slowly, the bigger picture emerges… a king in trouble, a kingdom in turmoil, and a mystery that history never fully tied up.

You can start when you like, go at your own pace, and stop for a coffee whenever your brain needs a breather. It’s a flexible, fun, and brilliantly immersive day out.

The Past, Brought to Life

The Magna Carta might be the document that “shackled a king”… but in Lincoln, you discover the human story behind it. The panic. The chaos. The consequences.
And with Mystery Guides: The Mystery of King John’s Lost Crown, you don’t just read about history… you walk straight into it.