Discover more about the City of Lancaster, one of England’s Heritage Cities, from the pre-historic era through to today. Our immersive galleries are packed with objects and stories exploring every aspect of the history of this wonderful city and its people.
The impressive City Museum is housed in Lancaster’s former town hall, right on the edge of the busy Market Square. The elegant Georgian building was constructed between 1781-3 to the designs of Major Thomas Jarrett and Thomas Harrison.
The museum itself was founded in 1923 and its varied collection and dioramas lead visitors through the social and industrial history and archaeology of Lancaster, and the stories of the people who have made the city what it is today. Don't miss our fine art collection or the programme of changing exhibitions in our ground floor gallery.
The City Museum building is also home to the King’s Own Royal Regiment Museum, a fascinating insight into the military heritage of the city’s own regiment from 1680 onwards.
Opening Times
Monday
10:30 – 16:00
Tuesday
10:30 – 16:00
Wednesday
CLOSED
Thursday
CLOSED
Friday
10:30 – 16:00
Saturday
10:30 – 16:00
Sunday
10:30 – 16:00
OPEN on all Spring & Summer Bank Holidays. Closed Christmas and New Year.
Please note that our other museums each have different opening days and times.
Annual Multipass £10 - Huge savings for regular visitors to the district!
Important Notes
DOGS: Assistance dogs only. Other dogs are not permitted in the museum. Even well-behaved dogs are curious, and they sometimes need the loo. We can’t risk it for the sake of our fragile museum objects, which might get knocked over by a very waggy tail - and for other visitors who may be nervous around dogs.
CHILDREN: Must be accompanied by a responsible adult or obtain a Young Person's Pass (details above).
What's On
'Under the Frame' - a new fine art exhibition on the main stairs.
From our rolling programme of exhibitions to talks, tours, kids' craft sessions and more, you can find details of events and activities at all of our museums here:
The Shop @ The City Museum has an ever-changing range of locally produced and sustainable goods with a historical theme.
Everyone is welcome to drop in and browse the shop without paying for museum admission.
You'll find everything from rocks and fossils to Roman-inspired jewellery, toys and t-shirts, cards, candles and ceramics, soaps, scarves, local honey, jam and chutney, traditional homewares and cleaning products, Lancaster-themed stationery and souvenirs, and of course a huge range of books on local history. There's something for everyone, whether you're into dinosaurs, witchcraft, or women's history, militaria or the middle ages.
Don't miss our seasonal specialties, or the clearance cupboard in the corner!
There are cycle parking stands in front of the museum in Market Square and behind the museum in New Street. Please dismount your bike when you enter the pedestrian area.
Toilets: There are NO public toilets or baby changing facilities available on site. The closest public toilets are located in the Marketgate Shopping Centre. These include an accessible toilet requiring a RADAR key. Keys are available for sale in the museum shop.
Wheelchairaccess: the museum is fully accessible via ramps and a stairlift (rated for 250kg), but please note that fire evacuation for wheelchair users from the upper floor of the City Museum relies on an Evac Chair and the presence of trained staff. This means that we are only able to provide access for one wheelchair user at a time to the upper floor. You must also be able to transfer yourself into an Evac Chair in the event of an emergency.
Wheelchair available: ask a member of staff if you'd like to borrow it.
Pushchairs: We can accommodate prams and pushchairs on the ground floor, but if you wish to take them upstairs you will need to carry them. Alternatively please ask the museum assistant at reception where you can leave your pram on the ground floor.
Parking: There is Blue Badge parking in New Street, behind the museum. Please note we are in a pedestrian area, so other visitors will need to park elsewhere and walk to the museum. There are several pay and display car parks nearby.
Digital Guide: The Lancaster City Museum guide is now LIVE on the Bloomberg Connects Arts and Culture app. Featuring exhibition highlights, interactive floor plans and audio guides, the app is designed with accessibility in mind. Visit our Bloomberg Connects page to find out more.
Access Hub: the City Museum has a dedicated corner where you can find out more about our access offer and borrow the resources you may require to enhance or support your visit, including sensory items, printed materials, magnifiers and more. Visit our Accessibility page to find out more.
We are currently developing a new way for those with visual impairments to enjoy our collections. Find out more here: Touch and See.
If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call or email the museum for more details before your visit: 01524 64637, lancastercitymuseum@lancaster.gov.uk
Visit our Accessibility page for more details on accessibility in all our museums.
NEW for 2026: The guide to Lancaster City Museum & the King's Own Museum is now LIVE on the Bloomberg Connects Arts and Culture app.
Download the guide anywhere and explore the museum at your leisure. It features exhibition highlights, interactive floor plans, audio guides, multi-lingual translations, and more. We'll be adding to this over time as well as creating new guides for our other museums.
If you plan to visit us with a group of 12 or more people, please look at our Group Visits page. We offer a range of options from simple self-guided visits to talks, tours and hands-on activities.
If you’d like to bring a school group or other educational group, please look at our Learning page. We offer a range of options from simple self-guided visits to full-day structured sessions.
By joining, you’ll be helping to keep Lancaster’s rich history alive while enjoying a welcoming community of people who share your interest in local heritage.
