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Lancaster is sometimes described as a cathedral city that feels more like a cosy market town. Located in the north-west of England, it’s a quirky and vibrant hilltop city with loads of cultural heritage and plenty of stories to tell. It has a population of 52,000, of which 13,000 are students, making it a heavily student-oriented place to live. There’s a diversity of activities and attractions for students to get involved with, outside of studying of course! Here are 10 of our favourites.
1. Williamson Park
Good for: Stretching your legs and taking in the view.
What it is: 54 acres of beautiful parkland with breathtaking views across to Morecambe Bay.
Why you should go: Williamson Park is a great place to explore at any time of year. In addition to its sweeping lawns and wooded walks, there’s a tropical butterfly house, small animal enclosures, and the Pavilion Café which serves delicious food and drink all week. You can even see the sea from the top of the hill.
2. The Quarterhouse
Good for: Small plates and big tastes.
What it is: Popular bar restaurant with a daytime and evening menu and locally sourced produce.
Why you should go: The Quarterhouse is a local favourite. They serve some of the best small plates, brunches and sharing platters in town, and also stock a brilliant range of wines, craft beers, gins and spirits. The service is great, the vibes are good, and they make great coffee using locally roasted artisan beans. Hard to beat!
3. Lancaster Grand Theatre
Good for: Some classic live evening entertainment.
What it is: A historic theatre, in continuous use for 200 years.
Why you should go: Lancaster Grand Theatre first opened in 1782, and in its 200-year history has hosted thousands of shows, survived bankruptcies, and has even burned down and been rebuilt. Today, the theatre hosts a variety of performances including comedians, bands, touring theatre shows and in-house productions. Check out the schedule to see what's on or take a tour of the building. It has many secrets and maybe a ghost or two!
4. Lancaster Maritime Museum
Good for: Connecting with the region's history.
What it is: A maritime museum with interactive exhibitions.
Why you should go: Explore the heritage of the Port of Lancaster and take a look back at the histories which connect the local people to the sea. Learn about regional fishing traditions, sit on a packet boat on the Lancaster Canal, and discover the darker side of the city’s history, by uncovering its involvement in the Transatlantic slave trade. Lancaster Maritime Museum is a top visitor attraction, and not one to be missed.
5. Assembly Rooms Emporium
Good for: Finding a rare bargain.
What it is: An eclectic vintage market in the centre of town.
Why you should go: Step into Assembly Rooms Emporium, and step back in time, entering a world of vintage clothing, antique furniture, objects and artefacts from yesteryear. You’ll find steampunk and Victoriana styled market stalls alongside bookstores, art dealers, silverware and vintage jewellery, vinyl and music memorabilia. There’s food and coffee too, and it’s a great place to spend an afternoon browsing around.
6. Lancaster Comedy Club
Good for: A late night chuckle.
What it is: Weekly stand-up comedy shows with food and bar service.
Why you should go: It’s good for a laugh. Every Sunday at 8pm, Lancaster Comedy Club hosts some of the funniest comics around, so pull up a chair and prepare to have your funny bone tickled. Shows are fully seated, and there’s a restaurant on the premises too. The club offers a complementary bottle of wine to anyone who orders two main courses before the show.
7. Tipple
Good for: Well, maybe just one more..?
What it is: A boutique cocktail bar in the heart of Lancaster
Why you should go: Tipple is a popular cocktail bar which serves classic drinks and seasonal specialities with a relaxed ambience and a tasteful mix of class and style. Whether you’re after a long drink or a shot, something sweet, sour, savoury, or perhaps without any alcohol at all, the expert bartenders at Tipple will keep you refreshed and imbibed long into the evening. The bar opens from 5pm daily, so be sure to swing by.
8. Lancaster Escape
Good for: Testing your teamwork skills.
What it is: An immersive puzzle game, where you must solve your way out of a locked room.
Why you should go: 60 minutes to escape, can you do it? Lancaster Escape provides a choice of four different rooms, each with their own individual themes and storyline, brought to life with props, animatronics and sounds. You and your team must work together to solve a sequence of riddles, puzzles, and clues in order to make it out in time. After the game, you’ll be invited to the bar area which happens to be the only whisky bar in the whole of Lancashire. Have a drink, you've earned it!
9. Sultan of Lancaster
Good for: Feasting.
What it is: Delicious Indian cuisine, in a unique restaurant environment.
Why you should go: When you step inside Sultan of Lancaster, you enter another world. The restaurant is housed in a disused church in the city centre, and its lofty pillars, detailed stone carvings and atmospheric lighting conjures up the feeling of a traditional banquet hall. Speaking of banquets, the food here is second to none. There’s a fantastic array of starter dishes for sharing among friends or family, and a superb selection of speciality mains, including a spicy salmon masala, lamb chops, seekh kebab, chicken tikka and tandoori. All dishes are halal, with varying levels of spiciness and vegetarian options available.
10. Grizedale Cafe Bar
Good for: Boozing after class.
What it is: Lively student bar located on Lancaster’s uni campus.
Why you should go: Predictably a student favourite, Grizedale is easily the best bar for cocktails at Lancaster University. The staff are relaxed and very knowledgeable, and you'll find a range of offers running throughout the week, as well as a great selection of mocktails.
Key info about Lancaster
Lancaster is a compact heritage city which has had a pivotal role in the history of England. Today it stands as a bustling modern town with a wealth of culture and creativity, affordable housing, and access to some of the North West’s best coastline and scenery.
Lancaster University is home to around 10,000 students and definitely fuels the city’s social scene. It’s one of only a few UK universities to be organised using a collegiate system, in which each student belongs to a college, whether or not they live on campus. There’s truly something for everyone in Lancaster, and the city is known for its welcoming and inclusive atmosphere which makes it a popular university choice.
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