About the City
Just a stone’s throw from our conference centre, Lancaster is small enough to explore on foot and there are regular bus services linking it with the campus. It was designated a Cycling Town in 2005 and has a network of linked cycle tracks in the city centre and around the local area. The beautiful River Lune and the Lancaster Canal also run through the city centre.
Lancaster is full of museums celebrating the past, including the City Museum, the Old Cells in Lancaster Castle, the Regency Period rooms of the Judges' Lodgings and the Lancaster Maritime Museum. Another slice of local history, the landmark Ashton Memorial, often referred to as the 'Taj Mahal of the North', sits within the beautiful 54-acre Williamson Park close to the city centre.
Nightlife involves live music at many local pubs, and the University's own nightclub, The Sugarhouse, which is located centrally near to other venues including Elements, Hustle, Toast, Revolution and The Lounge. The Dukes Theatre runs a programme of contemporary plays, which alternate with film screenings in a cosy cinema where you can sip your favourite tipple as you watch. The Grand Theatre is one of the oldest theatres in England and combines local amateur productions with touring professional shows. And, just minutes out of town, the Gregson Community and Arts Centre provides nourishment, entertainment and good company by a roaring fire.
There are plenty of places to eat in Lancaster, from low budget Italian happy hours to a Japanese theatrical treat or modern British cuisine. And the city is brimming with independent coffee shops with squashy sofas and speciality coffees, smoothies and milkshakes. And of course, there are plenty of pubs and bars too!
For those who enjoy retail therapy, independent and individual shops sit alongside a multitude of renowned retail names in the city centre. From speciality foods, to music, to retro clothing and antiques, there is something for everyone. And Lancaster's twice-weekly Charter Market in Market Square is complemented by a very popular Farmers' Market every second Saturday in the month.