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City in Lancashire, England
Photo: Lupin at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The city of Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire in Northwest England, named for the Roman camp (castrum) on the River Lune. It has an old castle and numerous Victorian buildings. It has a large student population, with Lancaster University main campus lying a few miles south. The historic core is small but modern burbs stretch out, which to the west merge into Morecambe.
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St Peter's
Roman Catholic church built piecemeal from 1857 in Victorian Gothic style, and designated a cathedral in 1924. The nave, baptistry and organ are notable. The cathedral is in active use for services, funerals etc.
Huge Edwardian folly, but only in the sense that the Taj Mahal is merely a folly, both being grandiose memorials to a deceased wife. There are European capital cities with cathedrals smaller than this baroque cenotaph, prominent for miles around. Lord Ashton (1842-1930) was a linoleum tycoon, politician and philanthropist. His second wife Jessy died in 1904 and he built this memorial from Portland stone with a gleaming copper dome, which swiftly weathered to verdigris. It's now used as an exhibition space and for weddings, open air theatre etc. There's a butterfly house in the park and a cafe. Lord Ashton re-married and lived at Ashton Hall a few miles south; that is now the city golf club.
This is the gaunt castle of the Duke of Lancaster, also known as King Charles III. The oldest parts are 11th century though with much Victorian addition. It was in use as a prison until 2011 and is still used as a court room. Visit the interior only by guided tour: this takes in the state rooms, court rooms, and prison cells. Tour access varies as a lot of building work is still going on to re-furbish the disused prison.
Reflecting Lancaster's 18th-century period as sea port, plus displays on the canal.
Lancaster Priory, built in the 11th century and formally the Priory Church of St Mary, is the Church of England parish church of the city of Lancaster. It is on the hill next to Lancaster Castle.
Lancaster University is 9th in the UK according to The Guardian newspaper 2019 ranking. The InfoLab21 building, housing the School of Computing and Communications, was nominated for a national design award.
Lancaster has a multiplex cinema where you can catch the latest releases. Nearby bars and restaurants often have food and cinema deals.
The Dukes is Lancashire's professional producing theatre. The Dukes' drama productions include classics and new plays performed in two auditoria, plus Summertime theatre, an unmissable outdoor experience. Dukes Cinema is one of the most successful independent screens in the country, offering a huge range of mainstream and non-mainstream programming, with Dolby Digital surround sound. Other events include a selection of touring drama, music, literature, art exhibitions. Plus there's a relaxing bar.
One of the first permanent English performance venues outside of London, this theatre has been producing shows since 1780. The last major makeover took place in 1908, which left the theatre with a gorgeous Edwardian feel. With 497 seats, the venue feels more "grand" than you might expect. For more than half a century, the Grand has been owned by the Lancaster Footlights, a thriving amateur troupe. Between Footlights shows, you can see touring productions as well as a large variety of comedians and musicians.
Upmarket dinner location specializing in French style fish and meat dishes. Very good seafood including oysters.
An award winning takeaway. Also Delhicious at 8 Damside St is another excellent Indian takeaway.
Arts & community centre with hippy-style food and drink. Jazz, folk, salsa, etc. in the bar and in the dance hall.
formerly Starving Marvin
If you'd like to try the Northern specialty known as Parmo, here's your chance.
Fantastic veggie cafe which is famous for its salads and specials.
Eat in or takeaway, this place has all the usual curry-tastic suspects, plus at least five varieties of curries you've probably never heard of.
Cult pizza restaurant, opposite the Dukes. Excellent for a quick bite before a play.
Indian restaurant housed in an old church and famous for amazing Islamic decor as well as the fab vegetarian selections. It now has a cafe and deli downstairs, which is very comfortable and does Mediterranean and Middle Eastern as well as Indian food. The Indian sweets are particularly good.
Chinese restaurant, speciality is crab.
Pizza takeaway.
Canalside pub with outdoor seating and very good food. The pub offers a huge selection of continental beers, as well as many local hand-pulled bitters.
Wetherspoons
This is a large Weatherspoons chain pub, usual drink & menu selection and reasonable prices. Food till 11PM, bring your own atmosphere.
Canalside pub with lots of space inside and outdoor seating as well. Offers food too.
This is a dive bar, and one which favours an older, working-class crowd. However, if you're feeling a bit brave, venture in for a cheap beer and a conversation with a local. Everyone has their story to tell, and sometimes the best memories can be made in conversation with the least likely people.
A quiet pub, south edge of city on bus route to Lancaster University.
Girl-friendly wine bar, pub and hotel with restaurant at the back and good terrace for sitting outside in summer.
A quiet pub south of city on bus route to Lancaster University. This pub offers live music during certain days of the week.
A quiet pub south of city on a bus route out to Lancaster University. This pub has one good sized room with open design and a bar at the back.
Pub just below the Castle. It is said to connect to the Castle via a tunnel, as the pub used to be the powder storage room for the castle. The pub is a series of three bricked tunnels just off of a small bar. There is also a second floor housing a washroom.
Has accommodation above the pub and though parking can be a problem it's a nice modern place to stay. The bar is expensive but a nice range of European beers.
A beautifully restored pub by the river, which does good food and also has rooms. Backs onto the Vicarage fields, and next to the Quite Simply French restaurant.
Small hotel in a grade II listed building. Reserve well in advance, because they don't have many rooms available.
By train
Lancaster train station is on the West Coast Main Line providing connections to London in as little as 2 hr 30 min, or Edinburgh/Glasgow in just over 2 hr.
By bus
Lancaster Bus Station is in the city centre with local services and links to further afield such as Blackpool, Preston, The Lake District and West Yorkshire.
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Leeds, West Yorkshire · International · LBA
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