For those wanting to enjoy one of the best UK city breaks, the royal City of Lancaster has a rich history worth exploring.
If you’re walking around the City of Lancaster, there are several historic landmarks within a short distance of each other.
Long before UK city breaks became popular, the Romans built a fort here in Lancaster. Built in the first century AD, it sat above the River Lon, or Lune. The Latin derivative word for fort ‘castra’ translated to ‘ceaster’ in Anglo Saxon, so the fort became ‘Lonceaster’, and eventually Lancaster.
Here are five historic Lancaster landmarks you might want to visit on your UK city break.
During your city break hotel stay in Lancaster, the castle is an unmissable highlight.
William the Conqueror gave Roger of Poitou the land on which Lancaster Castle proudly sits. Building commenced in the late 11th century. Only the courts and the prison of the original castle remains.
You can see a chilling early set of gallows from the so called ‘Hanging Town’. Indeed, more people than anywhere else in the country, outside London, were executed here.
Lancaster Priory is next to the castle on Castel Hill. A Roman oil lamp discovered in the grounds of the priory indicates that there may have been some kind of Christian worship on the site since around 180 AD. Certainly there has been church building here since the 600s, with a Saxon doorway visible today in the west wall of the present nave.
Created by wealthy landowner, James Williamson, the park was intended as a scheme for the unemployed of the city. It transformed the bleak moorland and quarries into a lush and beautiful parkland for all to enjoy.
His son, also James, continued the work and built the imposing Ashton Memorial, known locally as the Taj Mahal of Lancaster, to commemorate his second wife, Jessie, who died in 1904.
It’s also well worth dropping in at the old Victorian Palm House, now home to butterflies which flutter elegantly around their leafy surroundings.
This imposing monument depicts the queen guarded by four lions, one at each corner representing Truth, Wisdom, Justice and Freedom. Also worth noting are the famous names from Victoria's reign etched in the panels. These include Robert Peel, William Makepeace Thackeray, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Florence Nightingale and Mary Ann Evans (aka George Eliot).
The oldest townhouse in Lancaster, and the first in the city to have shutters. It was home to Thomas Covell, Keeper of Lancaster Castle and notorious witch hunter. It went on to be used by judges when exercising the law twice yearly at the Assize Court.
At those times the city would buzz with the excesses of the noble and the great who came to be entertained by the law in action. Now a Grade 1 listed building, it was converted to a museum in 1975. It features a Museum of Childhood and the antique Gillow furniture collection.
So why is Lancaster one of the best places to go for a city break? The City of Lancaster is steeped in history and heritage. It has a vibrant arts and café culture as well as beautiful landscapes to discover.
Some of the best UK city breaks incorporate a bit of a show, so why not visit Lancaster when Play in the Park is on?
Organised each year by The Dukes, It’s the UK’s biggest walkabout outdoor theatre which always takes the audience on an adventure to capture the imagination.
Set within Lancaster’s Williamson Park, Play in the Park has enjoyed over 30 years of award-winning performances. The Jungle Book, Alice in Wonderland and Around the World in 80 Days have all provided spectacular city break entertainment in recent years.
It may be a city break, but it’s worth making time for a short walk in the country. Bring your walking boots and be prepared for some spectacular views.
The Forest of Bowland, on the edge of Lancaster, is a relatively undiscovered area of grandeur and rugged scenery. It’s where JRR Tolkien drew inspiration to write Lord of the Rings. It’s also home to 500 listed buildings and monuments.
Rich pasture land makes it the perfect location for the eighteen Lancashire cheese producers in the area, many with international awards for the quality of their goods.
After a stroll around the city discovering the secrets of the past, why not enjoy some traditional Lancastrian fayre in our restaurant, The Foodworks, or sample a glass of Sandeman Port at The Sandeman Bar, Lancaster House Hotel.
When planning your UK city breaks, consider the assurance of a warm welcome and comfortable surroundings at Lancaster House Hotel. So why not come and stay with us?
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