Events
Our events programme has something for everyone.
- Drop in for a public talk
- Book your place on an expertly guided walk or museum tour to explore the city's history in more depth
- Bring your own discoveries along to one of our Finds Days
- Or check out our special events on Lancaster Day!
And if nothing here catches your eye right now, why not follow us on Facebook or Instagram for all the latest updates?
Thursday 12 June 2025
Lancaster Day is a city-wide celebration of our heritage and history, marking the signing of the original charter on June the 12th, 1193. There will be opportunities to visit many of the city’s finest heritage attractions, listen to talks from local history experts, participate in guided walks and join in with some vintage entertainment.
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Lancaster City Museum is taking part with a special open day offering FREE ADMISSION to the ground floor displays, including our summer exhibition Insus Unearthed: a journey through Roman Lancaster. Drop in from 10:30am to 4pm.
- We're also hosting a Heritage Hub in the City Museum's Education Room. Come and learn about the Regional Heritage Centre, Lancaster University Library, Lancashire Archives, Lancaster & District Heritage Group and Global Link's local heritage work, and the Friends of Lancaster City Museum. FREE ADMISSION via the entrance on New Street, behind the Museum. Drop in from 10:30am to 4pm.
Scroll down for the full list of Thursday's events, or click here to download a printable version (DOCX, 20KB).
Organisation |
Type of event |
Time |
Event details |
Cost |
Open venues |
||||
|
Priory |
Open |
10.00-16.00 |
The Priory will be open, with tours at 10.30 and 14.45 Lancaster Flag will be flying all day |
Free |
|
Lancaster Local History Library (off New Street) |
Open |
10.00-12.00 14.00-16.00 |
We will be displaying some of our treasured collections and talking to customers about how to get involved in discovering Lancaster's rich heritage through volunteering opportunities or by researching your Lancastrian ancestors |
Free |
|
Lancaster Library |
Open |
10.00-12.00 |
Family History drop-in A chance to meet others who are researching their own families online and volunteers with vast experience who are happy to help beginners. Members are researching families all over the country and share their stories and tips. You will also have free access in the library to subscription family history resources that we've paid for so you don't have to. Families are more than names and dates and we look in online newspapers, military and other records to find out more about our ancestors' lives. |
Free |
|
Lancaster Library |
Cafe |
11.00-15.00 |
Friends of Lancaster Library volunteers will be running their café as usual but serving traditional recipes. During this time there will be a number of activities, including; wood-burning, weaving, bookmark making and folk music. (No exact times for each activity). |
Refreshments to purchase |
|
City Museum |
Open |
10.30-16.00 |
‘Insus Unearthed: a journey through Roman Lancaster’ exhibition and shop only (due to installation of a new stair lift) |
Free entry |
|
City Museum Education Room (off New Street) |
Heritage Hub |
10.30-16.00 |
Come and learn about the Regional Heritage Centre, Lancaster University Library, Lancashire Archives, Lancaster & District Heritage Group and Global Link's local heritage work, Friends of Lancaster City Museum. |
Free entry |
|
Lancashire Police Museum |
Open |
10.30-12.30 13.30-16.00 |
Come and find out more about policing by exploring our museum, mobile police station. Say hi to our mounted police officers who will be present in the morning. |
Free entry |
|
Judges Lodgings |
Open |
11.00-16.00 |
Judges Lodgings, Gillow Museum, Museum of Childhood |
Free entry |
Talks & Tours |
||||
|
Town Hall |
Tour |
10.00-11.00 |
Tour of Lancaster Town Hall with the Beadle, Chris Clifford. Meet at Reception at 9.55am |
Free – first come basis (20 people) |
|
Tom Hudson |
Tour |
10.00-11.30 |
Coachman ‘Johnny Eccleston’s’ guide to Georgian Lancaster Meet at Market Square outside City Museum |
Free – first come basis |
|
Lancaster Priory |
Tour |
10.30-11.15 14.45-15.30 |
Tour of the Priory and its history With Andrew Nicholson |
Free |
|
Lancaster Library (Sanctuary Room) |
Talk |
11.00-11.20 12.35-12.55 14.30-14.50 |
‘2000 years in 20 minutes: a (talking) tour through Lancaster’s history’
Dr Chris Donaldson, Regional Heritage Centre |
Free |
|
Lancaster Library (Sanctuary Room) |
Talk |
11.30-12.30 |
Time-Honoured Lancaster: John of Gaunt
In Lancaster Castle, through the institution of the Duchy of Lancaster, two of the most significant figures in the history of the English monarchy find their communion. John of Gaunt himself visited the Castle in 1393, while our late Queen last visited in 2015 to celebrate the 750-year connection between the Duchy, in its predecessor form as the Earldom of Lancaster, and the Crown.
This lecture seeks to honour, in our time, Time-Honoured Lancaster, as a man, as a warrior, as the dynast of dynasties, here and across the world.
Dr Chris Tinmouth on behalf of the Friends of Lancaster City Museum |
Free |
|
Judges Lodgings |
Talk |
13.00-14.00 |
The Judge’s Lecture Delve into Lancaster's dark past with a look at the Red Judges of the Assizes who presided over the cases at Lancaster Castle and stayed at Judges Lodgings. Find out about the personalities behind the cases, like 'Acid Drop' known for his harsh sentencing, and some of the shocking cases they presided over. Speaker Penny Blackburn reveals her original research into the historic visitor book at the Judges Lodgings and shares the lighter side of Judges' lives, from amateur athletics to family life. Talk by Penny Blackburn |
Free – booking required |
|
Lancaster Civic Vision |
Tour |
14.00-15.00 |
The architecture of Castle Hill With Roger Frankland Meet at Covell’s cross outside Judges Lodgings |
Free – first come basis |
|
Lancaster Library (Sanctuary Room) |
Talk |
15.00-16.00 |
‘The shipwreck at Snatchems: Imperatriz or Winifred? and some other local maritime archaeology"
The Imperatriz (meaning 'Empress') was a two-masted Portuguese wooden sailing ship, which ran aground between Snatchems / The Golden Ball pub and its destination of the New Quay, while under tow by a steam tug, on 1st June 1866. Parts of a wreck are still visible, at low tide when river silt has been washed away. The talk will focus on Lancaster and District Heritage Group's efforts to identify and record the wreck, and illuminate its story – which ship is it? The talk will also touch on the remains of Lancaster's medieval bridge.
Talk by Nigel Neil on behalf of Lancaster & District Heritage Group |
Free |
|
Tom Hudson |
Tour |
17.00-18.30 |
Coachman ‘Johnny Eccleston’s’ guide to Georgian Lancaster Meet at Market Square outside City Museum |
Free – first come basis |
This year there will also be a second day of events on Sunday 15th June. Find out more here: Lancaster BID Events - Lancaster Day.
STORY TOURS
Everyone has a story... Our unique Story Tours let you discover our local history in a brand new way, through the personal stories of the people who lived it.
Join our expert tour guides and knowledgeable museum team to explore the city of Lancaster, its museums, and the stories of Lancastrians through the centuries - from Roman warriors to lighthouse keepers, transported female convicts to a 70s gay commune which fought for a better world.
With a variety of tours running between March and October, indoors and out, there's something for everyone. Many of our tours are family friendly too!
Advance booking is recommended to guarantee your place:
- BOOK ONLINE using the direct links for each tour listed below, OR to see all available options, go to the main Booking Page and select Story Tours from the drop-down Categories menu.
- Buy tickets in person at Lancaster City Museum or the Maritime Museum.
- Email historydetectives@lancaster.gov.uk. Please include your phone number so we can call to arrange payment over the phone.
- Call us on 01524 64637.
Read on for details of the next few tours...
LGBTQ+ Lancaster
Discover some of the people and places from Lancaster's LGBT History from 1751 to the present day on this city centre walking tour with Eleanor Levin. Including prisoners at Lancaster Castle, Lancaster's gay MPs, a pioneering trans activist, and a 1970s gay commune which fought for a better world.
Outdoor tour, 1.5 hours.
Dates
- Saturday 14 June @ 11am
Tickets
- Adults - £10 - BOOK ONLINE
- Children (under 18) - £2.50 - BOOK ONLINE
Location & Accessibilty
Starting from Lancaster City Museum, this outdoor walking tour will take you around the city centre. From the City Museum you'll head up to the Castle and Priory area then down to Westfield Memorial Village on West Road. It is wheelchair accessible throughout and the walking pace is leisurely and can be adapted to the needs of participants. There are cobbles around the Judges Lodgings and Castle but these can be avoided by staying on pavements and adapting the route slightly. Please get in touch with any further questions: lancastercitymuseum@lancaster.gov.uk.
Between the Land and the Sea
Tour the Maritime Museum galleries and hear about those who lived on the edge between land and sea: the female lighthouse keepers, those who dared to cross the sands, and some of Lancaster’s wealthiest 18th century merchants. These tours take place when the Maritime Museum would normally be closed on a Wednesday or before it opens on a Saturday, so you'll have exclusive access.
Indoor tour, 1 hour.
Dates
- Wednesday 18 June @ 11am, 11:30am, 1:30pm & 2pm
- Saturday 5 July @ 11am & 11:30am (Please note this date is misprinted as the 6th in some leaflets - apologies, the correct date is Saturday 5th July.)
- Saturday 6 September @ 11am & 11:30am
Tickets
- Adults - £5 - BOOK ONLINE
- Children (under 18) - £2 - BOOK ONLINE
Location & Accessibilty
This tour takes place inside Lancaster Maritime Museum. All areas included in the tour are accessible via the lift, and there's a blue badge parking space in front of the museum. There are two gender-neutral toilets on the ground floor, one of which is fully accessible, with a button activated door and emergency cord as well as baby-changing facilities.
In Sickness and in Health
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Covering over 800 years of treating the sick, this city centre walking tour with local historian Naomi Parsons explores the locations of Lancaster's earliest hospitals, dispensaries and chemists. Along the way you'll hear stories of anaesthesia, amputations and grim discoveries in the name of medical science.
Outdoor tour, 1.5 hours.
Dates
- Tuesday 1 July @ 11am
Tickets
- Adults - £10 - BOOK ONLINE
- Children (under 18) - £2.50 - BOOK ONLINE
Location & Accessibilty
Starting from the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, this outdoor walking tour will take you around the city centre. Please get in touch with any questions about the accessibility of the route: lancastercitymuseum@lancaster.gov.uk.
The meeting point for the start of the tour is the grassy area behind the Infirmary Bus Stop, just in front of the RLI's oldest buildings, Medical Unit 1. (Near Penny Street canal bridge and across the road from the White Cross.)
Historical Women of Lancaster: Lives in Writing
This city centre tour with expert guide Eleanor Levin focuses on women's words and writing about women, including a nurse writing postcards home from WW1 France, an upcycling artist, a loom-breaking luddite, an anti-slavery campaigner, a child - much discussed but little understood, a nun, a duke, and a poet.
Outdoor tour, 1.5 hours.
Dates
- Tuesday 15 July @ 11am
Tickets
- Adults - £10 - BOOK ONLINE
- Children (under 18) - £2.50 - BOOK ONLINE
Location & Accessibilty
Starting from Lancaster City Museum, this outdoor walking tour will take you around the city centre. Please get in touch with any questions about the accessibility of the route: lancastercitymuseum@lancaster.gov.uk.
Family Friendly Georgian Walking Tour
Introducing your tour guide, 'Johnny', a Lancaster Coachman with a questionable history! You'll be captivated by his tales as he shares stories of the eccentric characters and dreadful events from the past.
A family-friendly experience, ideal for ages 6+.
Outdoor tour, 1.5 hours.
Dates
- Saturday 26 July @ 11am & 2pm
- Tuesday 12 August @ 11am & 2pm
Tickets
- Adults - £10 - BOOK ONLINE
- Children (under 18) - £2.50 - BOOK ONLINE
Location & Accessibilty
Starting from Lancaster City Museum, this outdoor walking tour will take you around the city centre. Please get in touch with any questions about the accessibility of the route: lancastercitymuseum@lancaster.gov.uk.
Roman Lancaster: Family Friendly Tour
Join the City Museum team for a fun guided tour of our summer exhibition, Insus Unearthed: a journey through Roman Lancaster. Hear about how the Romans lived, worked and built the fort in our city. We will answer questions like: Why did they use sponges on long sticks? What did they eat? What games would children have played?
Indoor tour, 1 hour.
Dates
- Saturday 26 July @ 11am, 1pm, 2pm
- Saturday 23 August @ 11am, 1pm, 2pm
Tickets
- Adults - £5 - BOOK ONLINE
- Children (under 18) - £2 - BOOK ONLINE
Location & Accessibilty
This tour takes place inside Lancaster City Museum. The Insus Unearthed exhibition is in the ground floor gallery which is accessible via a ramp to the left of the main entrance. The tour will also include the Insus tombstone itself which is part of our permanent exhibits upstairs. We hope to have a new stairlift installed by the date of these tours so the upper floor will also be fully acessible.
Exhibition
The Insus Unearthed exhibition will be on display at the City Museum from 17 May to 10 November 2025. Find out more on our Exhibitions page.
Did you know that thousands of archaeological objects are discovered by ordinary people every year?
Have you found something while metal detecting, beach-combing, mudlarking, or just gardening or walking the dog?
Finds Liaison Officer Theo Muscillo will be visiting Lancaster City Museum several times this year:
- Friday 18 April
- Friday 20 June
- Friday 15 August
- Friday 31 October
Bring your finds and see if you can uncover more information! If you are bringing an object with you, please email theo.muscillo@lancashire.gov.uk to arrange a time. Appointments will be in the Education Room, with access from New Street, behind the Museum.
Theo will also be upstairs in the museum from 12:30 to 2:15pm. You can drop in to handle some finds, learn how to look up objects found in the local area, and pick up activity sheets for kids.
This event is part of the Portable Antiquities Scheme. You can find out more at finds.org.uk.
Marine Conservation Society
Come along to Lancaster Maritime Museum on the second Wednesday of every month for fascinating talks from the Marine Conservation Society. Everyone is welcome and there’s no need to book, just drop in.
- £4 requested cash donation to the society. (No card payments.*)
- All talks begin at 7:30pm.
Upcoming Talks:
- Wednesday 11th June: Blackpool and Fylde College Student Dissertations (Linda Martin). This year's topics include an analysis of penguin behaviour at Blackpool Zoo, and a study of microplastics in the food chain.
Check back here for updates on future talks, or visit the MCS Lancashire Facebook Page or the MCS Lancashire website.
*The Maritime Museum Shop is open during these talks and you are very welcome to make purchases using either cash or cards. However the £4 donation goes directly to the MCS and can only be accepted in cash.
Friends of Lancaster City Museum
Drop in to Lancaster City Museum for regular lunchtime lectures organised by the Friends of Lancaster City Museum. Everyone is welcome and there’s no need to book.
- £2 charge for non-members.
- All talks are held at 1pm in the City Museum’s education room. The entrance is on New Street at the back of the museum. (If you can’t find it, just ask at the front desk.)
Visit the Friends of Lancaster City Museum Facebook page for details of upcoming talks.
