View source for Lancaster, Lancashire

{{Short description|City in Lancashire, England}}
{{About|the historic city|the local government district|City of Lancaster|other uses|Lancaster (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = England
| coordinates = {{coord|54|02|56|N|02|48|05|W|display=inline,title}}
| official_name = Lancaster
| type          = City
| population = 52,234
| population_ref = <ref>Lancaster City has nine wards: Bulk, Duke, Castle, Skerton East and West, Scotforth East and West, University and John O'Gaunt. [http://www.ukcensusdata.com/lancaster-e07000121#sthash.sGUu3f28.LVIHxslk.dpbs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314090716/http://www.ukcensusdata.com/lancaster-e07000121#sthash.sGUu3f28.LVIHxslk.dpbs |date=14 March 2016 }}</ref>
| population_demonym = Lancastrian
| shire_district = [[City of Lancaster]]
| shire_county = [[Lancashire]]
| region = North West England
| constituency_westminster = [[Lancaster and Wyre (UK Parliament constituency)|Lancaster and Wyre]]
| post_town = LANCASTER
| postcode_district = LA1, LA2
| postcode_area = LA
| dial_code = 01524
| os_grid_reference = SD475615
| static_image_name = {{multiple images
|border=infobox|perrow=1/2 |total_width=250px
 | image1 = Market Square, Lancaster - geograph.org.uk - 2547238.jpg
| caption1 = [[Market Square, Lancaster|Market Square]]
| image2 = The Ashton Memorial in Lancaster (12311695365).jpg
| caption2 = [[Ashton Memorial]]
 | image3 = Lancaster Castle (216584793).jpeg
 | caption3 = [[Lancaster Castle]] 
| image4 = St George's Quay - geograph.org.uk - 4878049.jpg
| caption4 = St George’s Quay
}}
| static_image_caption = 
| pushpin_map = United Kingdom City of Lancaster
| pushpin_map_caption = Shown within the City of Lancaster district
}}

'''Lancaster''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|æ|ŋ|k|ə|s|t|ər}} {{respell|LANG|kə|stər}} or {{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|æ|n|k|æ|s|t|ər}} {{respell|LANG|kast|ər}})<ref>{{Cite book |title=Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary |editor1-last=Roach |editor1-first=Peter |editor2-last=Hartman |editor2-first=James |editor3-last=Setter |editor3-first=Jane |editor4-last=Jones |editor4-first=Daniel |editor4-link=Daniel Jones (phonetician) |year=2006 |publisher=CUP |location=Cambridge |edition=17th |isbn=978-0-521-68086-8 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/englishpronounci00dani}}</ref> is a city<ref>{{cite web |title=List of cities (HTML) |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-cities/list-of-cities-html|website=GOV.UK |publisher=Cabinet Office|date= 29 August 2022 |access-date=20 March 2024}}</ref> in [[Lancashire]], England, and the main cultural hub, economic and commercial centre of [[City of Lancaster]] district. The city is on the [[River Lune]], directly inland from [[Morecambe Bay]]. Lancaster is the [[county town]],<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Beckett |first1=John |date=2008 |title=Lancaster becomes a city, 1937 |url= https://www.hslc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/157-9-Beckett.pdf|journal=Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire |volume= 157 |pages= 149–156|doi=10.3828/transactions.157.9 |access-date=20 March 2024}}</ref> although [[Lancashire County Council]] has been based at [[County Hall, Preston|County Hall]] in [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]] since its formation in 1889.

The city's long history is marked by [[Lancaster Roman Fort]], [[Lancaster Castle]], [[Lancaster Priory|Lancaster Priory Church]], [[Lancaster Cathedral]] and the [[Ashton Memorial]]. It is the seat of [[Lancaster University]] and has a campus of the [[University of Cumbria]]. It had a population of 52,234<ref name="Census2011">{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Jacqueline |title=Lancashire's Population, 2011 |url=http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/web/?siteid=6120&pageid=39945 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140430202123/http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/web/?siteid=6120&pageid=39945 |archive-date=30 April 2014 |access-date=30 April 2014 |work=Lancashire County Council}}</ref> in the 2011 census, compared to the district, which had a population of 138,375.<ref name=nomis2011district>{{NOMIS2011|id=E07000121 |title=Lancaster Local Authority }}</ref> 

The [[House of Lancaster]] was a branch of the [[List of English monarchs|English royal family]]. The [[Duchy of Lancaster]] still holds large estates on behalf of [[Charles III]], who is the [[Duke of Lancaster]]. The [[Port of Lancaster]] and the 18th-century [[Lancaster slave trade]] played a major role in the city's growth, but for many years the [[outport]] of [[Glasson Dock]], downstream, has been the main shipping facility.

==History==
{{see also|History of Lancashire}}
===Toponymy===
Lancaster was recorded in the ''[[Domesday Book]]'' of 1086, as ''Loncastre'', where "Lon" refers to the [[River Lune]] and "castre" from the [[Old English]] ''cæster'' and [[Latin]] ''castrum'' for "fort" to the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] fort that stood on the site.<ref>Eilert Ekwall, 'The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Placenames' (1960), 4th edition, p. 285.</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Lancaster |url=https://opendomesday.org/place/SD4861/lancaster/ |website=opendomesday.org |publisher=Domesday Book |access-date=28 July 2023}}</ref>

===Roman and Saxon eras===
[[File:Roman bath house, Lancaster 2.JPG|thumb|Roman bath house on Castle Hill]]
[[Lancaster Roman Fort|A Roman fort]] was built by the end of the 1st century CE on the hill where [[Lancaster Castle]] now stands, possibly as early as the 60s, based on Roman coin evidence.<ref>Shotter, p. 5.</ref><ref>I. A. Richmond: Excavations on the Site of the Roman Fort at Lancaster (1950) [https://www.hslc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/105-2-Richmond.pdf.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606073436/https://www.hslc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/105-2-Richmond.pdf|date=6 June 2021}}</ref> Coin evidence also suggests that the fort was not continuously inhabited in its early years.<ref>Shotter, p. 9.</ref> It was rebuilt in stone about 102.<ref>Shotter, p. 10.</ref> The fort name is known only in a shortened form; the only evidence is a Roman milestone found {{Convert|4|mi|km}} outside Lancaster, with an inscription ending L MP IIII, meaning "from L – 4 miles,<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Rivet |first1=A. L. F. |last2=Smith |first2=Colin |year=1979 |title=The Place-Names of Roman Britain |location=London |publisher=B. T. Batsford |page=382 |isbn=0713420774}}</ref> and that its name began with an L. The fort was perhaps named Calunium.{{CN|date=September 2025}}

Roman baths were found in 1812 and can be seen near the junction of Bridge Lane and Church Street. There was presumably a bath-house with the 4th-century fort. The Roman baths incorporated a reused inscription of the Gallic Emperor [[Postumus]], dating from 262 to 266. The 3rd-century fort was garrisoned by the ''ala Sebosiana'' and ''numerus Barcariorum Tigrisiensium''.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Birley |first1=Eric B |title=The Beaumont Inscription, the Notitia Dignitatum, and the Garrison of Hadrian's Wall |journal=Transactions of the Cumberland & Westmorland Antiquarian & Archaeological Society |date=1939 <!--not 2017--> |volume=39 |page=222 |doi=10.5284/1063000}}</ref>

The ancient ''Wery Wall'' was identified in 1950 as the north wall of the 4th-century fort, which was a drastic remodelling of the 3rd-century one, while retaining the same orientation. The later fort is the only example in north-west Britain of a 4th-century type, with massive curtain-wall and projecting bastions typical of the ''Saxon Shore'' or Wales. Extension of the technique as far north as Lancaster shows that the coast between Cumberland and North Wales was not left defenceless after the west-coast attacks and the disaster in the [[Carausian Revolt]] of 296, which followed from those under [[Clodius Albinus|Albinus]] in 197.

The fort at its largest extent covered {{cvt|9|-|10|acres|0}}.<ref>Shotter, p. 14.</ref> Evidence suggests that it stayed in use until the end of [[Roman occupation of Britain]].<ref>Shotter, p. 27.</ref> Church Street and some of St Leonard's Gate probably mark the initial course of the Roman road up the valley to [[Over Burrow Roman Fort|the fort at Over Burrow]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ratledge |first=David |title=The Roman Road from Lancaster to Burrow (in Lonsdale) |url=http://www.romanroads.org/gazetteer/M705.htm |website=Roman Roads Research Association |access-date=26 March 2021 |archive-date=13 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113120849/http://www.romanroads.org/gazetteer/M705.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>

Little is known of Lancaster from the end of Roman rule to the early 5th century and the Norman Conquest of the late 11th century. Despite a lack of documentation for the period, it is thought that Lancaster remained inhabited. It lay on the fringes of the kingdoms of [[Mercia]] and [[Northumbria]] and over time may have passed from one to the other.<ref>{{harvnb |White |2001 |p=33}}</ref> Archaeological evidence suggests there was a monastery on or near the site of today's [[Lancaster Priory]] by the 700s or 800s. The Anglo-Saxon [[Runes|runic]] "Cynibald's cross" found at the Priory in 1807 is thought to date from the late 9th century. Lancaster was probably one of several abbeys founded under [[Wilfrid]].<ref>White, p. 34.</ref>

===Medieval===
[[File:Lancaster in 1728.jpg|thumb|Lancaster in 1728]]
After the [[Norman conquest of England]] in 1066, Lancaster fell under the control of [[William the Conqueror|William I]], as stated in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086, which has the earliest known mention of Lancaster as such in any document. The founding Priory charter dated 1094 is the first known document specific to Lancaster.<ref name="White 57">White, p. 57.</ref> By this time William had passed Lancaster and its surroundings to [[Roger the Poitevin|Roger de Poitou]]. The document also suggests the monastery was refounded as a parish church some time before 1066.<ref name="White 57"/>

Lancaster became a [[Ancient borough|borough]] in 1193 under [[Richard I of England|King Richard I]]. Its first [[Municipal charter|charter]], dated 12 June 1193, was from [[John, King of England|John]], [[List of counts of Mortain|Count of Mortain]], who later became King of England.<ref>White, p. 35.</ref>
[[File:DV342 Lancaster from the south.png|thumb|Lancaster from the south in 1825]]
[[Lancaster Castle]], partly built in the 13th century and enlarged by [[Elizabeth I]], stands on the site of a [[Roman Empire|Roman]] [[garrison]]. During [[The Great Raid of 1322]], damage was done to the castle by [[Robert the Bruce]], though it resisted the attack and was restored and strengthened by [[John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster]], who added much of the Gateway Tower and a turret on the keep or Lungess Tower, which has been named "John o' Gaunt's Chair".<ref name=EB1911>{{EB1911 |wstitle=Lancaster |volume=16 |pages=148–149 |inline=1}}</ref> In 1322 the Scots burnt the town. It was rebuilt but removed from its position on the hill to the slope and foot. Again in 1389, after the [[Battle of Otterburn]], it was destroyed by the Scots.<ref name=EB1911/> Lancaster Castle is known as the site of the [[Pendle witch trials]] in 1612. It was said that the court based in the castle (the Lancaster [[Assizes]]) sentenced more people to be [[hanging|hanged]] than any other in the country outside [[London]], earning Lancaster the nickname, ''"the Hanging Town"''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/lancast.html |title=Lancaster Castle |website=www.capitalpunishmentuk.org |access-date=24 July 2010 |archive-date=8 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408134330/http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/lancast.html |url-status=live}}</ref> It also figured prominently in the suppression of Catholicism during the Reformation – at least eleven Catholic priests were executed and a memorial to them as the [[Lancaster Martyrs]] stands by the city centre.

[[File:Lancaster from Lune Bank, Skerton.jpg|thumb|Lancaster in the 19th century]]
The traditional emblem of the [[House of Lancaster]] is the [[Red Rose of Lancaster]], similar to that of the [[House of York]] with a white rose. The names derive from emblems of the Royal Duchies of [[Duchy of Lancaster|Lancaster]] and [[Duke of York|York]] in the 15th century. This erupted into a [[civil war]] over rival claims to the throne during the [[Wars of the Roses]].

More recently the term ''"Wars of the Roses"'' has been applied to rivalry in sports between teams from [[Lancashire]] and [[Yorkshire]]. It is also applied to the annual [[Roses Tournament]] between Lancaster and York universities.<ref>Students celebrate...{{Cite web |url=http://www.thenationalstudent.co.uk/2010/05/04/students-celebrate-as-lancaster-triumphs-in-war-of-the-roses/ |title=STUDENTS CELEBRATE AS LANCASTER TRIUMPHS IN WAR OF THE ROSES &#124; the National Student |access-date=24 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100810202750/http://www.thenationalstudent.co.uk/2010/05/04/students-celebrate-as-lancaster-triumphs-in-war-of-the-roses/ |archive-date=10 August 2010}}</ref>

[[File:St. George's Quay.JPG|thumb|St George's Quay]]
Lancaster gained a first [[charter]] in 1193<ref name=timeline>{{Cite web |url=https://www.timetravel-britain.com/articles/towns/lanctime.shtml |title=Lancaster Timeline |website=www.timetravel-britain.com |access-date=25 October 2020 |archive-date=12 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200712170222/https://www.timetravel-britain.com/articles/towns/lanctime.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref> as a [[market town]] and [[borough]], but had to await city status until 1937.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/civic-ceremonial/former-mayors-city-lancaster/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019171426/http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/civic-ceremonial/former-mayors-city-lancaster/ |url-status=dead |title=Former Mayors of the City of Lancaster |archive-date=19 October 2014}}</ref> 

===18th-century port===
Many of the city's central buildings, including those lining St George's Quay date from the 18th century, as the [[Port of Lancaster]] became one of the UK's busiest and the [[Lancaster slave trade]] was the fourth most important in the UK [[History of slavery|slave trade]].<ref name=EB1911/> Among prominent Lancaster slavers were [[Dodshon Foster]],<ref>{{Cite book |author=Andrew White |title=Lancaster: A History |publisher=Phillimore & Co. |year=2003}} p. 63.</ref> [[Thomas Hinde (senior)|Thomas Hinde]] and his namesake son.<ref name="Schofield">{{Cite journal |last1=Schofield |first1=M. M. |title=The Slave Trade from Lancashire and Cheshire ports outside Liverpool c 1750-1790 |journal=Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire |date=1976 |volume=126 |pages=30–72 |url=https://www.hslc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/126-3-Schofield.pdf |access-date=12 May 2021 |archive-date=11 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511211213/https://www.hslc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/126-3-Schofield.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> The last slave ship to be constructed in Lancaster was the 267-tonne ''Trafalgar'', built in 1806 at Brockbank’s shipyard for Samuel Hinderland and William Hinde.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Last Slave Ship Built in Lancaster |url=https://lbsatucl.wordpress.com/2022/08/15/the-last-slave-ship-built-in-lancaster/ |website=Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slavery |access-date=19 July 2023 |language=en |date=15 August 2022}}</ref> Lancaster's role as a major port diminished as the river began to silt up<ref name=timeline/> and [[Morecambe]], [[Glasson Dock]] and [[Sunderland Point]] became preeminent for brief periods. [[Heysham Port]] has now eclipsed all others on the Lune.

===Recent history===
A permanent military presence was built up with the completion of [[Bowerham Barracks]] in 1880.<ref name=bbc>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/81/a8759181.shtml |title=Army: King's Own Royal Regiment, Lancaster – Regimental Depot |publisher=BBC |access-date=9 November 2014 |archive-date=25 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925063105/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/81/a8759181.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Phoenix Street drill hall, Lancaster|Phoenix Street drill hall]] was completed in 1894.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kingsownmuseum.com/kolib0104.htm |title=Records of the 1st/5th Battalion, King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment |publisher=King's Own Royal Regiment Museum, Lancaster |access-date=5 July 2017 |archive-date=2 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102154125/http://www.kingsownmuseum.com/kolib0104.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>

Since the [[Industrial Revolution]], the city was home to many industries from the 18th century to the 20th century. The main industries in the city at the time were candle making, sailcloth making, rope making and shipbuilding.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lambert |first1=Tim |title=A History of Lancaster |url=https://localhistories.org/a-history-of-lancaster/#:~:text=Mahogany%20from%20Lancaster%20was%20transported,part%20of%20the%20century)%20shipbuilding. |website=Local Histories |access-date=19 July 2023 |date=2 May 2021}}</ref> Since the decline of the industrial revolution, Lancaster suffered from economic decline and high unemployment rates like many parts of the north of England.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lancashire and the Industrial Revolution |url=https://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/britain-1700-to-1900/industrial-revolution/lancashire-and-the-industrial-revolution/ |website=History Learning Site |access-date=19 July 2023}}</ref> The city underwent regeneration and is now a tourist destination.

Lancaster is mainly a service-oriented city. Products include [[compound feed|animal feed]], [[textiles]], [[Chemical industry|chemicals]], [[livestock]], [[paper]], [[synthetic fibre]], [[farm machinery]], [[heavy goods vehicle|HGV]] [[Trailer (vehicle)|trailers]] and [[mineral fibres]]. In recent years, a high-tech sector has emerged from [[information technology]] and [[telecommunications companies]] investing in the city.{{CN|date=July 2023}}

In March 2004, Lancaster was granted [[Fairtrade City]] status.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/merseyside/3533855.stm |work=BBC News |title=Cities win Fairtrade recognition |date=5 March 2004 |access-date=7 May 2010 |archive-date=21 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070221205506/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/3533855.stm |url-status=live}}</ref>

Lancaster was home to the European headquarters of [[Reebok]]. After merging with [[Adidas]], Reebok moved to [[Bolton]] and [[Metropolitan Borough of Stockport|Stockport]] in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/4066012.reebok-in-plan-to-quit-town/ |title=Reebok in plan to quit town |website=The Bolton News |date=22 January 2009 |access-date=25 October 2020 |archive-date=28 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028220129/https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/4066012.reebok-in-plan-to-quit-town/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2015, [[Elizabeth II]] visited the castle for commemorations for the 750th anniversary of the creation of the [[Duchy of Lancaster]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lancastercastle.com/2015/05/29/her-majesty-the-queen-duke-of-lancaster-visits-lancaster-castle/ |title=Her Majesty the Queen Duke of Lancaster visits Lancaster Castle |date=29 May 2015 |website=Lancaster Castle |access-date=22 May 2020 |archive-date=11 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711084642/http://www.lancastercastle.com/2015/05/29/her-majesty-the-queen-duke-of-lancaster-visits-lancaster-castle/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Governance==
{{refimprove section|date=July 2023}}
[[File:Lancaster Old Town Hall.jpg|thumb|right|[[Lancaster Town Hall]], [[Dalton Square]]]]

The former [[City]] and [[Municipal borough|Municipal Borough]] of Lancaster and the [[Municipal Borough of Morecambe and Heysham]], along with other authorities, merged in 1974<ref>{{cite web |title=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1972/2039/made |website=UK Statutory Instruments1972 No. 2039 |access-date=20 July 2023}}</ref> to form the [[City of Lancaster]] [[Districts of England|district]] within the [[shire county]] of Lancashire. This was given [[city status in the United Kingdom|city status]] and Lancaster City Council became the governing body for the district.<ref name="aboutlcc">{{cite web |title=About the council |url=https://www.lancaster.gov.uk/the-council-and-democracy/about-the-council |website=www.lancaster.gov.uk |publisher=Lancaster City Council |access-date=20 July 2023}}</ref> Lancaster is an [[unparished area]] and has no separate council. It is divided into wards (for elections to Lancaster City Council), such as Bulk, Castle, Ellel, John O'Gaunt (named after [[John of Gaunt]], the 1st [[Duke of Lancaster]]), [[Scotforth]] East, Scotforth West, [[Skerton]] East, Skerton West and University and Scotforth Rural.<ref name=elections2023 />

For elections to [[Lancashire County Council]], Lancaster is split into the electoral divisions of Lancaster Central (the city centre and an area extending south including [[Cockerham]] and [[Glasson Dock]]), Lancaster East (south of the River Lune and east of the [[Lancaster Canal]]), Lancaster South East (bordered by the [[River Conder]] with the University at its southern point) and [[Skerton]] (north of the River Lune).<ref name=2021lancashire>{{cite web |title=Lancashire County Council: Elections [2021] |url=https://elections.lancashire.gov.uk/results/2021/map.asp |website=elections.lancashire.gov.uk |publisher=Lancashire County Council |access-date=23 July 2023}} (Map)</ref>

===Political representation===
<!-- Missing image removed: [[File:Lancaster, Lancs coa.png|thumb|right|Coat of arms of Lancaster City Council.]] -->

The city lies in the [[Lancaster and Wyre (UK Parliament constituency)|Lancaster and Wyre]] constituency for elections of Members of Parliament to the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]], represented since [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015]] by [[Cat Smith]] of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] (as [[Lancaster and Fleetwood (UK Parliament constituency)|Lancaster and Fleetwood]] constituency before 2024).<ref name="ukparlt-smith">{{cite web |title=Cat Smith: Parliamentary career |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4436/career |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=20 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Lancaster and Wyre [map of constituency] |url=https://mapit.mysociety.org/area/169622.html |website=mapit.mysociety.org |publisher=Mapit |access-date=25 October 2024}}</ref>  

While the United Kingdom was in the [[European Union]], Lancaster was in the [[North West England (European Parliament constituency)|North West England]] European Parliamentary Constituency.<ref>{{cite web |title=Results and Explanations: United Kingdom |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/election/newep/en/pptsuk.shtm |website=European Parliament Election 1999 |access-date=20 July 2023}}</ref>
[[File:Lancaster Castle Evening.jpg|thumb|Lancaster castle in the evening]]
In the late 1990s and early first decade of the 21st century, the city council was under the control of the [[Morecambe Bay Independents]] (MBIs), who campaigned for an independent Morecambe council. In 2003, their influence waned and [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] became the largest party on the council. They formed a coalition with the Liberal Democrats and Greens. At the May 2007 local elections, Labour lost ground to the [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green]]s in Lancaster and the MBIs in Morecambe, resulting in [[no overall control]], with all parties represented in a PR administration. The 2011 elections saw Labour emerge as the largest party. They reached a joint administrative arrangement with the Greens.{{cn|date=July 2023}}

The [[2019 Lancaster City Council election]] results put no party in overall control. The council was run by a coalition of Labour, Green, Eco-Socialist Independent and Liberal Democrat councillors, supported by the Independent Group, with Conservatives and MBIs in opposition. The cabinet consisted of 4 Labour, 4 Green, 1 Eco-Socialist, 1 Independent Group. At 10 seats, Lancaster had one of the country's largest Green Party representations.{{cn|date=July 2023}} The [[2023 Lancaster City Council election]] resulted in a council with Labour as the largest party but not in overall control, with 24 of the 61 seats.<ref name=elections2023>{{cite web |title=2023 local election results |url=https://www.lancaster.gov.uk/the-council-and-democracy/voting-and-elections/2023-local-election-results |website= |publisher=Lancaster City Council |access-date=20 July 2023}}</ref>

After the [[2021 Lancashire County Council election]], Lancaster East, Lancaster South East and Skerton were represented on the county council by [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]], while Lancaster Central was represented by the [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]].<ref name=2021lancashire />

==Geography==
Lancaster is Lancashire's northernmost city, three miles ({{cvt|3|mi|disp=output only}}) inland from [[Morecambe Bay]]. It is on the River Lune (from which comes its name), and the [[Lancaster Canal]]. It becomes hillier from the Lune Valley eastwards, with Williamson Hill in the north-west a notable height at {{cvt|109|m|ft}} and recognised as a [[TuMP]]: a hill with "thirty and upwards metres [[topographic prominence|prominence]]".<ref name="tump">{{cite web |title=Williamson Park |url=https://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=S&rf=18871 |website=www.hill-bagging.co.uk |publisher=Hill Bagging |access-date=20 July 2023}}</ref> The central area of the city can be roughly defined by the railway to the west, the canal to the south and east, and the river to the north.<ref name=citymap>{{cite web |title=Lancaster (map) |url=https://visitlancaster.org.uk/wp-content/files_mf/1651838870LancasterMapAttractionsandAccommodationLeaflet060522.pdf |publisher=Lancaster Visitor Information Centre |access-date=28 July 2023}}</ref>

===Built-up area===
Lancaster, [[Morecambe]] and [[Heysham]] have been identified by the [[Office for National Statistics]] as forming the Lancaster/Morecambe Built-up area, with a population of 97,150 in the [[2011 United Kingdom census|2011 census]].<ref name="UrbanAreaData">{{NOMIS2011|id=E34004686|title=Lancaster/Morecambe Built-up area |access-date=17 July 2021}}</ref> Within this, ONS identifies a Lancaster [[built-up area sub division]] with a 2011 population of 48,085.<ref name=nomis2011buasd>{{NOMIS2011 |id=E35001347 |title=Lancaster Built-up area sub division | access-date=28 July 2023}}</ref>

===Green belt===
{{main|North West Green Belt}}
There is a small portion of green belt on the northern fringe of Lancaster, covering the area into Carnforth and helping to prevent further urban expansion towards nearby Morecambe, Hest Bank, Slyne and Bolton-le-Sands.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Environmental studies |url=http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/planning/planning-policy/environmental-studies |website=Lancaster City Council |access-date=28 February 2018 |archive-date=28 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228223622/http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/planning/planning-policy/environmental-studies |url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Geographic location
|title = '''Destinations from Lancaster'''
|North-west = [[Morecambe Bay]], [[Barrow-in-Furness]]
|North = [[Slyne]], [[Hest Bank]], [[Bolton-le-Sands]], [[Carnforth]], [[Milnthorpe]], [[Kendal]]
|North-east = [[Caton, Lancashire|Caton]], [[Halton, Lancashire|Halton]], [[Kirkby Lonsdale]], [[Wennington (Lancashire)|Wennington]]
|West = [[Morecambe]], [[Heysham]]
|Centre = Lancaster
|East = [[Quernmore]]
|South-west = [[Glasson Dock]], [[Pilling]], [[Knott End-on-Sea]], [[Fleetwood]], [[Poulton-le-Fylde]], [[Blackpool]]
|South = [[Lancaster University]], [[Galgate]], [[Bay Horse]], [[Garstang]], [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]]
|South-east = [[Abbeystead]], [[Forest of Bowland]], [[Dolphinholme]]
}}

==Transport==
===Road===
[[File:King Street, Lancaster, with the castle in the background - geograph.org.uk - 945333.jpg|thumb|King Street, with the castle in the background]]
The [[A6 road (England)|A6 road]], one of the main historic north–south roads in England, passes through the city centre, with northbound and southbound traffic on separate streets, and crosses the Lune at [[Greyhound Bridge]] northbound and [[Skerton Bridge]] southbound (these are the two furthest-downstream road crossing points of the Lune).<ref name=citymap /> The road leads south to [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]], [[Chorley]] and [[Manchester]] and north to [[Carnforth]], [[Kendal]], [[Penrith, Cumbria|Penrith]] and [[Carlisle]]. 

The [[M6 motorway]] passes to the east of Lancaster with junctions 33 and 34 to the south and north. The [[Heysham to M6 Link Road|Bay Gateway]], a dual carriageway opened in 2016, links Heysham to the M6.<ref name=itvnews>{{Cite web |url=https://www.itv.com/news/granada/update/2016-10-31/heysham-link-road-opens/ |title=Heysham link road opens |website=ITV News |access-date=25 November 2019 |archive-date=21 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721214427/https://www.itv.com/news/granada/update/2016-10-31/heysham-link-road-opens/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Lancaster's main bus operator, [[Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire]], operates network of services from [[Lancaster bus station]] throughout the Lancaster District and services to more distant places such as [[Kendal]], [[Keswick, Cumbria|Keswick]], [[Kirkby Lonsdale]], [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]] and [[Blackpool]]. There are buses to [[Lancaster University]], the No. 1 and No. 1A services run every 10–15 minutes using double-deckers, with less frequent services 4, 41 and 42.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/cumbria-and-north-lancashire/lancaster-network-change-jan-2019 |title=Lancaster Network Change Jan 2019 |access-date=18 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119121338/https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/cumbria-and-north-lancashire/lancaster-network-change-jan-2019 |archive-date=19 January 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Other routes are covered by Kirkby Lonsdale Coach Hire, including the 582 to [[Kirkby Lonsdale]], Settle and [[Skipton]] and the 89 to [[Knott End-on-Sea]].

===Rail===
[[File:South front of Lancaster Station, Lancaster - geograph.org.uk - 646296.jpg|thumb|Lancaster railway station]]
{{Location map+|United Kingdom Lancaster
 |caption=[[File:Red pog.svg|10px]] '''Railway station'''<br />[[File:Pink pog.svg|8px]] ''Site of former railway station''
 |float=right
 |width=220
 |places=
 {{Location map~|United Kingdom Lancaster|lat=54.0489|long=-2.8072|label_size=85|position=left |label='''{{stnlnk|Lancaster }}''' (Castle)|marksize=10}}
 {{Location map~|United Kingdom Lancaster|lat=54.0526|long=-2.7973|label_size=85|position=right|label=''{{stnlnk|Lancaster Green Ayre}}''|mark=Pink pog.svg}}
 {{Location map~|United Kingdom Lancaster|lat=54.0433|long=-2.7982|label_size=85|position=right|label=''{{stnlnk|Lancaster (Greaves)}}''|mark=Pink pog.svg}}
 {{Location map~|United Kingdom Lancaster|lat=54.0548|long=-2.8157|label_size=85|position=right|label=''Scale Hall''|mark=Pink pog.svg}}
}}
Lancaster is served by the [[West Coast Main Line]] from [[Lancaster railway station]]. The station was formerly named Lancaster Castle, to differentiate it from [[Lancaster Green Ayre railway station|Lancaster Green Ayre]] on the [["Little" North Western Railway|Leeds–Morecambe line]], which closed in 1966. There are train services to and from [[Euston railway station|London]], [[Glasgow Central railway station|Glasgow]], [[Edinburgh Waverley railway station|Edinburgh]], [[Birmingham New Street railway station|Birmingham]], [[Manchester Piccadilly railway station|Manchester]], [[Leeds railway station|Leeds]] and [[Barrow-in-Furness railway station|Barrow-in-Furness]], and a local service to [[Morecambe railway station|Morecambe]].

The city council aims to open a railway station serving the university and south Lancaster, although this is not feasible in the short or medium term with current levels of demand.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/assets/attach/3723/Issues%20and%20Options%20%20Paper-%20website%20full%20version.pdf |title=Bailrigg Garden Village and South Lancaster Growth |access-date=24 May 2018 |archive-date=25 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525062804/http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/assets/attach/3723/Issues%20and%20Options%20%20Paper-%20website%20full%20version.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> The Caton–Morecambe section of the former North Western railway is now used as a cycle path.

===Water and air===
{{refimprove |section|date=July 2023}}
{{main|Port of Lancaster}}
The [[Port of Lancaster]] gained importance in the 18th century. In 1750 the [[Lancaster Port Commission]] was established to develop the port. However, in more recent years, shipping visits [[Glasson Dock]], where the Port commission is now based.<ref name="LPC home">{{Cite web |title=Lancaster Port Commission |url=https://www.lancasterport.org/ |website=www.lancasterport.org |publisher=Lancaster Port Commission |access-date=15 May 2021 |archive-date=2 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302132557/https://www.lancasterport.org/ |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Heysham Port]], about {{convert|5|miles}} west of Lancaster, is used by ferry services to the [[Isle of Man]], [[Northern Ireland]] and [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]].

The [[Lancaster Canal]] and River Lune pass through the city.

The nearest airports are [[Manchester Airport|Manchester]] and [[Liverpool John Lennon Airport|Liverpool]].

===Cycling===
In 2005, Lancaster was one of six English towns chosen to be [[Cycling town|cycling demonstration towns]] to promote cycling as a means of transport.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://celebratingcycling.org/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028190337/http://www.celebratingcycling.org/ |url-status=dead |title=My Word Press Website – Just another WordPress site |archive-date=28 October 2007}}</ref> Lancaster has cycle routes to many nearby places, many are off-road using disused railways or canal towpaths.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lancaster and Morecambe Bay Cycling Map|url=https://visitlancaster.org.uk/wp-content/files_mf/1588680389LancasterandMorecambeBayCyclingMapWeb.pdf|website=Visit Lancaster|publisher=Lancaster City Council|access-date=28 July 2023}}</ref>

==Landmarks== 
[[File:Ashton Memorial front.jpg|thumb|upright|Ashton Memorial, Williamson Park]]
*[[Ashton Memorial]] 
*[[The Dukes, Lancaster|The Dukes]] 
*[[Custom House, Lancaster|Custom House]] (Maritime Museum)
*[[Grand Theatre, Lancaster|Grand Theatre]]
*[[The Gregson Centre]]
*[[Greaves Park]]
*[[Judges' Lodgings, Lancaster|Judges' Lodgings]]
*[[Lancaster Castle]]
*[[Lancaster Cathedral]]
*[[Lancaster City Museum]]
*[[Lancaster Priory]]
*[[Lancaster Royal Grammar School]]
*[[Lancaster Town Hall]]
*[[Lune Millennium Bridge]]
*[[Queen Victoria Memorial, Lancaster|Queen Victoria Memorial]] 
*[[The Ruskin - Library, Museum and Research Centre]]
*[[The Storey ]]
*[[Westfield War Memorial Village]]
*[[Williamson Park, Lancaster|Williamson Park]]

The city's main [[war memorial]] is in a garden adjacent to the Town Hall, near [[Dalton Square]], and commemorates those who died in the first and second world wars, Korea and the Falklands; it is grade II listed.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1211793 | desc=War Memorial}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Lancaster |url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/3307 |website=War Memorials Register |publisher=Imperial War Museums |access-date=28 July 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
===Listed buildings===
{{Main|Listed buildings in Lancaster, Lancashire (central area)|Listed buildings in Lancaster, Lancashire (outer areas)}}
There are more than 330 [[listed building]]s in Lancaster (excluding those in nearby [[civil parish]]es such as the [[Lune Aqueduct]] in [[Halton-with-Aughton]] parish). They include four at grade I and 22 at grade II*, the others being at grade II. Those at grade I, the highest level, are the [[Ashton Memorial]],<ref name=nhle-ashton>{{NHLE |num=1288429  |desc=Ashton Memorial |access-date=23 July 2023}}</ref> the [[Judges' Lodgings, Lancaster|Judges' Lodgings]],<ref name=nhle-judges>{{NHLE |num=1298414  |desc=The Judges' Lodgings, attached forecourt, steps, gate piers, gates and railings |access-date=23 July 2023}}</ref> [[Lancaster Castle]]<ref name=nhle-castle>{{NHLE |num=1194905  |desc=Lancaster Castle |access-date=23 July 2023}}</ref> and [[Lancaster Priory]].<ref name=nhle-priory>{{NHLE |num=1195068  |desc=Priory and Parish Church of St Mary |access-date=23 July 2023}}</ref>

==Culture==
[[File:Lancaster St. Peter Cathedral.JPG|thumb|right|[[Lancaster Cathedral]]]]
[[File:Lancaster museum - geograph.org.uk - 945324.jpg|thumb|right|[[Lancaster City Museum]], [[Market Square, Lancaster|Market Square]]]]
[[File:Lune Millennium Bridge from northern bank.jpg|thumb|Lune Millennium Bridge]]
[[File:Penny's Hospital, Lancaster.jpg|thumb|Penny's Hospital [[almshouse]]s]]
{{see also|Roses rivalry}}
Lancaster has a range of historic buildings and venues, having retained many fine examples of [[Georgian architecture]]. [[Lancaster Castle]], the [[Lancaster Priory|Priory Church of St Mary]] and the Edwardian [[Ashton Memorial]] are among the sites of historical importance. Its many museums include [[Lancaster City Museum]], [[Custom House, Lancaster|Maritime Museum]], the Cottage Museum<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/museums/the-cottage-museum.aspx |title=The Cottage Museum |first=Lancashire County |last=Council |access-date=15 June 2016 |archive-date=15 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160615043831/http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/museums/the-cottage-museum.aspx |url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[Judges' Lodgings, Lancaster|Judges' Lodgings Museum]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Judges' Lodgings Museum |url=https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/museums/judges-lodgings/ |website=Lancashire.gov.uk |publisher=Lancashire County Council |access-date=20 July 2023}}</ref>

[[Friends Meeting House, Lancaster|Lancaster Friends Meeting House]], dating from 1708, is the longest continual [[Quaker]] meeting site in the world, with an original building built in 1677. [[George Fox]], founder of [[Quakers|Quakerism]], was near the site several times in the 1660s and spent two years imprisoned in Lancaster Castle.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.visitlancashire.com/things-to-do/friends-meeting-house-lancaster-p11602 |title=Friends Meeting House, Lancaster – Church/Chapel in Lancaster, Lancaster – Visit Lancashire |access-date=15 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815034433/http://www.visitlancashire.com/things-to-do/friends-meeting-house-lancaster-p11602 |archive-date=15 August 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The meeting house holds regular Quaker meetings and a wide range of cultural activities including adult learning, meditation, art classes, music and political meetings. [[Lancaster Grand Theatre]] is another historic cultural venue, under its many names. It has played a major part in social and cultural life since it was built in 1782.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://lancastergrand.co.uk/about/history/ |title=History |work=Lancaster Grand |access-date=25 October 2020 |archive-date=28 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028205917/https://lancastergrand.co.uk/about/history/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Lancaster Castle - 2023-03-25.jpg|left|thumb|Lancaster Castle]]
Lancaster is known nationally for its Arts scene.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/local/arts-boss-praises-city-s-culture-1-7864214 |title=Arts boss praises city's culture |access-date=15 June 2016 |archive-date=17 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617215918/http://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/local/arts-boss-praises-city-s-culture-1-7864214 |url-status=live}}</ref> There are around 600 business and organisations in the region involved directly or indirectly in arts and culture.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://issuu.com/liveatlica/docs/lap_economic_impact_study_exec_summary_07.01.11 |title=Economic Impact Study: Executive Summary |work=issuu |access-date=15 June 2016 |archive-date=7 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807205940/https://issuu.com/liveatlica/docs/lap_economic_impact_study_exec_summary_07.01.11 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2009, several major arts bodies based in the district formed a consortium called Lancaster Arts Partners (LAP) to champion strategic development of arts activities in Lancaster District.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.artscity.co.uk/about-us/ |title=About Us |date=18 March 2016 |access-date=15 June 2016 |archive-date=29 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529204933/http://www.artscity.co.uk/about-us/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Notable partners include Ludus Dance,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ludusdance.org/ |title=Ludus Dance – Dance Classes in Lancaster – Dance School Lancaster |access-date=15 June 2016 |archive-date=30 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630041432/http://www.ludusdance.org/ |url-status=live}}</ref> More Music<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.moremusic.org.uk/ |title=More Music – Education & Music Charity – More Music Morecambe |access-date=15 June 2016 |archive-date=14 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614012318/http://www.moremusic.org.uk/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and the Dukes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://dukeslancaster.org/ |title=Lancaster Theatre and Cinema |website=Laleham |access-date=25 October 2020 |archive-date=24 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024194600/https://dukeslancaster.org/ |url-status=live}}</ref> LAP curates and promotes "Lancaster First Fridays", a monthly multi-disciplinary mini-festival under its brand "Lancaster Arts City".

Lancaster University has a public arts organisation, part of LAP, known as [[Lancaster Arts at Lancaster University]]. Its programmes include Lancaster's [[Lancaster Arts at Lancaster University#Nuffield Theatre|Nuffield Theatre]], one of the largest professional studio theatres in Europe, the [[Lancaster Arts at Lancaster University#Peter Scott Gallery|Peter Scott Gallery]], with the most significant collection of Royal Lancastrian ceramics in Britain, and the [[Lancaster Arts at Lancaster University#Lancaster Concert Series|Lancaster International Concerts Series]], drawing nationally and internationally renowned classical and world-music artists.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.lancasterarts.org/about-us |title=About Us ‹ Welcome to Lancaster Arts |access-date=15 June 2016 |archive-date=10 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810003334/https://www.lancasterarts.org/about-us |url-status=live}}</ref>

The gallery in the Storey Creative Industries Centre is now programmed and run by Lancaster City Council. In 2013 the previous incumbent organisation "The Storey Gallery" moved out of the building and reformed as "Storey G2".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.storeyg2.org.uk/about-storeyg2/ |title=Storey G2 : About StoreyG2 - previously known as Storey Gallery |website=www.storeyg2.org.uk |access-date=15 June 2016 |archive-date=17 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617012357/http://www.storeyg2.org.uk/about-storeyg2/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The Storey Creative Industries Centre is also home to Lancaster's Litfest, which runs an annual literature festival. In the summer months [[Williamson Park]] hosts outdoor performances, including a Dukes "Play in the Park", which over the past 26 years has attracted 460,000 people, as the UK's biggest outdoor walkabout theatre event.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/jul/04/lancaster-theatre-williamson-park-the-dukes |title=Lancaster's Dukes theatre: the great outdoors |first=Helen |last=Pidd |website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date=4 July 2013 |access-date=12 December 2016 |archive-date=17 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817053820/https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/jul/04/lancaster-theatre-williamson-park-the-dukes |url-status=live}}</ref>

Lancaster is known as the Northern City of Ale, with almost 30 pubs serving cask ale.<ref name="Price">{{Cite web |url=http://www.northerncityofale.co.uk/ |title=Lancaster Northern City of Ale |last=Price |first=Chris |website=www.northerncityofale.co.uk |access-date=20 August 2016 |archive-date=8 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308070116/http://northerncityofale.co.uk/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/business/city-centre-cask-ale-trail-is-16m-holy-grail-1-6937475 |title=City centre cask ale trail is £16m Holy Grail |website=www.lancasterguardian.co.uk |access-date=20 August 2016 |archive-date=21 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821134638/http://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/business/city-centre-cask-ale-trail-is-16m-holy-grail-1-6937475 |url-status=live}}</ref> The pubs include the ''White Cross'', ''Three Mariners'', ''Borough'' and ''Water Witch''.<ref name="Price"/> There are two cask ale breweries: Lancaster Brewery and a microbrewery run by the Borough. There is a local CAMRA ([[Campaign for Real Ale]]) branch at Lunesdale.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lunesdalecamra.org.uk/home/index.php |title=Lunesdale CAMRA: Home Page |website=www.lunesdalecamra.org.uk |access-date=20 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825220639/http://www.lunesdalecamra.org.uk/home/index.php |archive-date=25 August 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Grand Theatre (Lancaster)|Lancaster Grand Theatre]] and [[Duke's Playhouse|the Dukes]] are notable venues for live performance, as are the Yorkshire House (currently closed), Jailors Barrel, The John O' Gaunt and The Bobbin. Throughout the year events are held in and around the city, such as the Lancaster Music Festival, Lancaster Jazz Festival, and [[Chinese New Year]] celebrations in the city centre.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chineseartsfestival.org.uk/|title=Home|website=Lancaster Chinese Arts Festival}}</ref>

Every November the city hosts a daylight and art festival entitled "Light Up Lancaster",<ref>[http://lightuplancaster.co.uk/ Light Up Lancaster, May 2016] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614123237/http://lightuplancaster.co.uk/ |date=14 June 2016 }}.</ref> which includes a prominent fireworks display.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/events/details/1190 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831235157/http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/events/details/1190/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 August 2012 |title=Lancaster Fireworks Spectacular 2012 |last=ianjackson |date=12 March 2012 |website=webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk}}</ref>

Lancaster still has two city-centre cinemas; Vue and the Dukes playhouse. The 1930s [[art deco]] ''Regal Cinema'' closed in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lancastertoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=31&ArticleID=1702784|title=Lancaster Guardian}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> [[The Gregson Centre]] is also known for small film screenings and cultural events.

===Art and literature===
John Henderson (c.1770–1853) painted many views of the town. One of these, together with a poetical illustration (which relates to the treacherous sands of Morecambe Bay) by [[Letitia Elizabeth Landon]], was published in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1833.<ref>{{cite book|last =Landon|first=Letitia Elizabeth|title=Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1833|url=https://digital.tcl.sc.edu/digital/collection/annuals/id/9625|section=poetical illustration|pages=28–30|year=1832|publisher=Fisher, Son & Co.}}{{cite book|last =Landon|first=Letitia Elizabeth|title=Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1833|url=https://digital.tcl.sc.edu/digital/collection/annuals/id/9626|section=picture|year=1832|publisher=Fisher, Son & Co.}}</ref>

===Music===
{{more citations needed section|date=October 2016}}

The city's semi-professional [[Haffner Orchestra]] has a reputation for classical music. It performs in the Ashton Hall in the city centre and at Lancaster University.

During parades and festivals it is common to see two other long standing musical groups perform. Lancaster City Brass is the oldest remaining brass band in the city, founded in 1946.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lancaster City Brass |url=https://www.lancastercitybrass.com/ |website=www.lancastercitybrass.com |access-date=12 May 2025}}</ref>  Batala Lancaster is a 60-strong [[samba reggae]] drumming band, established in 2004 and one of 45 bands in 17 countries in the [[Batala (music)|Batala]] project; they have twice won Best Brazilian Band at [[Notting Hill Carnival]].<ref>{{cite web |title=About us |url=https://batalalancaster.com/about-us/ |publisher=Batala Lancaster |access-date=12 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Inman |first1=Louise |title=Lancaster Band to Storm the Castle |url=https://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/arts-and-culture/lancaster-band-to-storm-the-castle-4816680 |access-date=12 May 2025 |work=Lancaster Guardian |date=9 October 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

Lancaster has been producing successful bands and musicians since the 1990s, notably the drummer [[Keith Baxter (drummer)|Keith Baxter]] of [[3 Colours Red]].The all-girl punk-rock band [[Angelica (band)|Angelica]] used the Lancaster Musicians' Co-operative, the main rehearsal and recording studio in the area. 

The city has also produced many other musicians, including singer and songwriter [[John Waite]], who first became known as lead singer of [[The Babys]] and had a solo #1 hit in the US, "[[Missing You (John Waite song)|Missing You]]". As part of the band [[Bad English]], John Waite also had a #1 hit in the Billboard top hundred in the 1970s called "[[When I See You Smile]]". Additionally, Paul James, better known as The Rev, former guitarist of English punk band [[Towers of London (band)|Towers of London]] who is now in the band [[Day 21]] and plays guitar live on tour for [[The Prodigy]]; [[Chris Acland]], drummer of the early 1990s shoegaze band [[Lush (band)|Lush]]; Tom English, drummer of North East indie band [[Maxïmo Park]] and [[Steve Kemp (musician)|Steve Kemp]], drummer of the indie band [[Hard-Fi]].

Lancaster continues to produce bands and musicians such as singer-songwriter [[Jay Diggins]], and acts like [[The Lovely Eggs]], receiving considerable national radio play and press coverage in recent years. More recently, Lancaster locals [[Massive Wagons]] signed to Nottingham-based independent label [[Earache Records]].

Since 2006, Lancaster Library has hosted regular music events under the ''Get it Loud in Libraries'' initiative. Musicians such as Clean Bandit, The Long Blondes, Ellie Goulding, Marina And The Diamonds, Jessie J, Wolf Alice, [[The Wombats]], [[The Thrills]], [[Kate Nash]], [[Adele]] and [[Bat for Lashes]] have taken part.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries/services/getitloud/index.asp |title=Lancashire County Library and Information Service – Get it Loud in Lancaster Music Library |access-date=26 February 2008 |publisher=Lancashire County Council |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906165621/http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries/services/getitloud/index.asp |archive-date=6 September 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Get It Loud in Libraries has gained national exposure, featuring on The One Show on BBC1 and having gigs reviewed in ''Observer Music Monthly'', ''[[NME]]'' and ''Art Rocker''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries/services/getitloud/accolades.asp |title=Lancaster Music Library - Get It Loud |access-date=23 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926103728/http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries/services/getitloud/accolades.asp |archive-date=26 September 2008}}</ref>

Notable popular music venues include [[Duke's Playhouse|The Dukes]], [[Grand Theatre (Lancaster)|The Grand Theatre]], and [[The Gregson Centre]]. 

====Festivals====
The Lancaster Jazz and Lancaster Music Festivals are respectively held every September and October, at venues throughout the city. In 2013 the headline jazz act was The [[Neil Cowley]] Trio, performing at The Dukes, whilst one of the Lancaster Music Festival headline acts was [[Jay Diggins]] at the Dalton Rooms.<ref name="English Lakes">{{Cite web |url=https://blog.englishlakes.co.uk/2013/10/09/lancaster-music-festival-something-for-everyone/ |title=Lancaster Music Festival – Something for Everyone |last=Tina |work=English Lakes Blog |date=9 October 2013 |access-date=4 July 2016 |archive-date=13 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813042306/https://blog.englishlakes.co.uk/2013/10/09/lancaster-music-festival-something-for-everyone/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Highest Point Festival]] takes place in Williamson Park each summer, and is a successor to the A-Wing festival which was held in Lancaster Castle from 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=The history of Highest Point Festival |url=https://www.skiddle.com/news/all/The-history-of-Highest-Point-Festival/55092/ |website=Skiddle.com |publisher=[[Skiddle]] |access-date=10 May 2024 |language=en |date=18 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Highest Point returns to Williamson Park |url=https://www.lancaster.gov.uk/news/2024/apr/highest-point-returns-to-williamson-park |website= |publisher=Lancaster City Council |access-date=10 May 2024 |date=30 April 2024}}</ref>

===Media===
{{more citations needed section|date=October 2016}}
Local radio stations include [[Heart North West]] (formerly "The Bay"), [[BBC Radio Lancashire]], and [[Beyond Radio]] is a voluntary, non-profit community radio station for Lancaster and Morecambe.<ref>Online broadcasting [http://www.beyondradio.co.uk Beyond Radio] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506080737/https://www.beyondradio.co.uk/ |date=6 May 2021 }}.</ref>

Lancaster University has its own student radio station, [[Bailrigg FM]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bailrigg FM – Your Student Sound |url=https://bailriggradio.lancastersu.co.uk/ |access-date=2 May 2023 |language=en-GB}}</ref> an online student-run television station called [[LA1TV]] (formerly LUTube.tv)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.la1tv.co.uk/ |title=LA1TV |website=LA1TV |access-date=25 October 2020 |archive-date=28 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028210430/https://www.la1tv.co.uk/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and a student-run newspaper named [[SCAN (newspaper)|SCAN]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://scan.lusu.co.uk/ |title=SCAN – SCAN: Student Comment and News at Lancaster University |access-date=28 February 2016 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304072038/http://scan.lusu.co.uk/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Local TV coverage is provided by ''[[BBC North West Tonight]]'' and ''[[ITV Granada Reports]]''.

The city was home to the film production company A1 Pictures,<ref>{{Cite web |title=A1 PICTURES LTD filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/07000954/filing-history |access-date=19 June 2023 |website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref> which founded the independent film brand Capture.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

Commercially available newspapers include ''The Lancaster Guardian'' and ''The Visitor'' (mainly targeted at residents of Morecambe). ''Virtual Lancaster'', founded in 1999, is a non-commercial volunteer-led resource website also featuring local news, events and visitor information.

===Twinned cities===
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in the United Kingdom}}
Lancaster is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:<ref>[http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/the-council-and-democracy/civic-and-ceremonial/twin-towns Lancaster City Council, Twin Towns] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121232610/http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/the-council-and-democracy/civic-and-ceremonial/twin-towns |date=21 January 2019 }} retrieved 21 January 2019.</ref>
*[[Aalborg]], Denmark<ref name="Aalborg twinnings">{{Cite web |url=http://www.europeprize.net/en/?page_id=5 |title=Aalborg Twin Towns |publisher=Europeprize.net |access-date=19 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907145357/http://www.europeprize.net/en/?page_id=5 |archive-date=7 September 2013}}</ref>
*[[Lublin]], Poland<ref name="Lublin twinnings">{{Cite web |url=http://www.lublin.eu/Miasta_partnerskie_Lublina-1-443-3-413_436.html |title=Miasta Partnerskie Lublina |access-date=7 August 2013 |website=www.lublin.eu |publisher=Urząd Miasta Lublin (City of Lublin) |language=pl |trans-title=Lublin – Partnership Cities |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116171020/http://lublin.eu/Miasta_partnerskie_Lublina-1-443-3-413_436.html |archive-date=16 January 2013}}</ref>
*[[Perpignan]], France<ref name="Archant twinning">{{Cite web |url=http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns |title=British towns twinned with French towns |access-date=11 July 2013 |work=Archant Community Media Ltd |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705094933/http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns |archive-date=5 July 2013}}</ref>
*[[Rendsburg]], Germany
*[[Växjö]], Sweden

==Education==
===Higher education===
[[File:Lancaster University Courtyard.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Lancaster University]]]]
[[File:Lancaster Grammar School.jpg|thumb|upright|Lancaster Royal Grammar School]]
At [[Bailrigg]] south of the city is Lancaster University, a research university founded in 1964 as one of the seven "[[Plate glass university|plate glass universities]]".<ref>{{cite web |title=Seven decades: seven acts of service |url=https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/security-lancaster/about/news/seven-decades-seven-acts-of-service-1 |website=www.lancaster.ac.uk |access-date=19 July 2023 |language=en}}</ref> It has an annual income of about £325 million (2020/21),<ref name=finance>{{cite web |title=Financial statements 2021 |url=https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/depts/finance/2021%20Lancaster%20University%20Annual%20Accounts.pdf |publisher=Lancaster University |access-date=28 July 2023}}</ref>  3,000 staff{{cn|date=July 2023}} and 16,403 Lancaster-based students in 2021/22.<ref>{{cite web |title=Student Statistics |url=https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/planning-and-analytics/student-statistics/ |website=www.lancaster.ac.uk |access-date=28 July 2023 |language=en}}</ref> Its business school is one of two in the country to gain a six-star [[Research Assessment Exercise|research rating]].<ref name="LUMS ranking">{{Cite web |url=http://www.lums.lancs.ac.uk/research/rae/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430223139/http://www.lums.lancs.ac.uk/research/RAE/ |url-status=dead |title=RAE 2008: Business & Management Studies |archive-date=30 April 2009}}</ref> Its physics department [[Research Assessment Exercise|rated #1]] in the United Kingdom in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lancs.ac.uk/depts/physics/phyiscs.htm |title=Physics – Lancaster University |first=Lancaster |last=University |access-date=25 April 2009 |archive-date=6 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606073424/https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/physics/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="RAE 2008">{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/table/2008/dec/18/rae-2008-physics |title=RAE 2008: physics results |website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date=18 December 2008 |access-date=12 December 2016 |archive-date=21 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921211310/https://www.theguardian.com/education/table/2008/dec/18/rae-2008-physics |url-status=live}}</ref> InfoLab21 at the university is a Centre of Excellence for Information and Communication Technologies.<ref name="InfoLab21">{{Cite web |url=https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/scc/business/ |title=Business |website=www.lancaster.ac.uk |access-date=25 October 2020 |archive-date=24 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024054224/https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/scc/business/ |url-status=live}}</ref> LEC (Lancaster Environment Centre) has over 200 staff and shares premises with the government-funded [[Centre for Ecology and Hydrology|CEH]]. In 2023 it was 10th, 12th and 14th out of 120 UK universities in "the three main UK league tables".<ref>{{cite web |title=Rankings and reputation |url=https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/study/why-lancaster/rankings-and-reputation/ |website=www.lancaster.ac.uk |access-date=19 July 2023 |language=en}}</ref>    In 2017 it was rated 21st nationally for research in The Times Higher league table. For teaching, it gained the highest Gold ranking for quality in the 2017 government [[Teaching Excellence Framework|TEF]], and in 2018 was ranked 9th for its teaching by ''[[The Independent]]''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/student/news/uk-best-universities-2018-revealed-cambridge-oxford-st-andrews-lse-imperial-durham-ucl-warwick-a7702956.html |title=These are the best universities in 2018 |date=26 April 2017 |website=The Independent |access-date=25 November 2019 |archive-date=29 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929004938/https://www.independent.co.uk/student/news/uk-best-universities-2018-revealed-cambridge-oxford-st-andrews-lse-imperial-durham-ucl-warwick-a7702956.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and 9th by ''[[The Guardian]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2017/may/16/university-league-tables-2018 |title=University league tables 2018 |website=The Guardian |date=16 May 2017 |access-date=25 November 2019 |archive-date=17 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217013647/https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2017/may/16/university-league-tables-2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[The Times]]'' Higher placed it 137th worldwide for research and 58th worldwide for arts and humanities.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/lancaster-university |title=Lancaster University |date=9 September 2019 |website=Times Higher Education (THE) |access-date=3 July 2017 |archive-date=6 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706054209/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/lancaster-university |url-status=live}}</ref> Lancaster University was named International University of the Year by ''The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide'' in 2020.<ref name="International2020">{{Cite web |url=https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/news/lancaster-named-international-university-of-the-year |title=Lancaster named International University of the Year |website=www.lancaster.ac.uk |language=en |access-date=9 February 2020 |archive-date=7 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307070247/https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/news/lancaster-named-international-university-of-the-year |url-status=live}}</ref> It has campuses in Malaysia, China and Ghana and plans one in [[Leipzig]], Germany.<ref name="International2020"/>

Lancaster is also home to a campus of the [[University of Cumbria]] – more centrally located on the site of the former [[St Martin's College]] – which was inaugurated in 2007. It provides undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the arts, social sciences, business, teacher training, health care and nursing.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lancaster Campus |url=https://www.cumbria.ac.uk/student-life/locations/lancaster/ |website=www.cumbria.ac.uk |publisher=University of Cumbria |access-date=28 July 2023}}</ref> St Martin's college was founded in 1962 as Lancaster College of Education, and took its name from [[Martin of Tours]], a Roman soldier who converted to Christianity, because its premises were a former barracks of the [[King's Own Royal Regiment]]. The college merged with [[Cumbria Institute of the Arts]], in Carlisle, and parts of the [[University of Central Lancashire]], having previously absorbed [[Charlotte Mason College]] in Ambleside, to become the University of Cumbria.<ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=https://www.cumbria.ac.uk/about/history/ |website=www.cumbria.ac.uk |publisher=University of Cumbria |access-date=28 July 2023}}</ref>

===Further education===
*[[Lancaster and Morecambe College]]

===Secondary schools===
*[[Lancaster Royal Grammar School]] and [[Lancaster Girls' Grammar School]] are selective-entry grammar schools. In 2016 both were rated by the ''[[Sunday Times]]''in the top 50 UK schools based on student achievement.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.lrgs.org.uk/news/2016/top-state-school-boys-north-west |title=200 invalid-request |website=www.lrgs.org.uk }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
*[[Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy]]
*[[Our Lady's Catholic College]]
*[[Central Lancaster High School]]
*[[Skerton Community High School]] (now closed)
* [[Jamea Al Kauthar]] Islamic College, in the former [[Royal Albert Hospital]] building on Ashton Road, is an independent girls' school, providing education in a Muslim tradition.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.jamea.co.uk/ |title=Jamea Al Kauthar Girls' Islamic College &#124; Lancaster &#124; UK |website=Jamea |access-date=25 October 2020 |archive-date=8 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108234600/https://www.jamea.co.uk/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Primary schools===
*Lancaster Steiner School 
*Scotforth St Pauls CofE Primary School
*Moorside Primary School
*St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School
*Bowerham Primary School 
*The Cathedral Catholic Primary School 
*Dallas Road Community Primary School 
*Willow Lane (formerly Marsh) Community Primary School
*Castle View (formerly Ridge) Community Primary School 
*Lancaster Christ Church CofE Primary School
*St Joseph's Catholic Primary School 
*Skerton St Lukes CofE Primary School 
*Lancaster Ryelands Primary School

'''Special Educational Needs (SEN) Schools'''
*The Loyne
*Morecambe Road School

==Religious sites==
 
[[File:Lancaster Cathedral 03.jpg|thumb|left|Lancaster Cathedral]]
[[File:Lancaster Castle and Priory - geograph.org.uk - 129526.jpg|thumb|left|Castle and Priory of Lancaster]]
Lancaster is home to many churches and other places of worship. Notable churches in the city include the grade II*-[[listed building|listed]] [[Lancaster Cathedral]] ([[Catholic Church|Catholic]]), which is located on the brow of the hill beside the canal to the east of the city centre.  Its spire can be seen on the cityscape. It was built in 1798 originally as a mission church for the city before it was rebuilt between 1857 and 1859 on a different site with the spire and tower. It is an active place of worship. 

[[Lancaster Priory]] ([[Anglicanism|Anglican]]) is a grade I [[listed building]] on the high ground adjacent to [[Lancaster Castle]]. It dates largely from about 1430, with a 1754-55 tower and later work.<ref name=nhle-priory />

The [[Friends Meeting House, Lancaster|Friends Meeting House]], near the station, dates from 1708 and is grade II* listed.

Other notable churches in the city include:

*'''Active''':
*[[Christ Church, Lancaster|Christ Church]] (Grade II listed parish church)
*[[Ripley School Chapel]] (Part of the [[Church of England]] school)
*[[St Thomas' Church, Lancaster|St Thomas' Church]] (Grade II listed and active parish church)
*[[St Paul's Church, Scotforth]] (Grade II listed and parish church)
*[[St Luke's Church, Skerton]] (Grade II listed and parish church)
*'''Redundant''':
*[[Lancaster Cemetery Chapels]]
*[[St John the Evangelist's Church, Lancaster|St John the Evangelist's Church]] (Closed in 1981; now in the [[Churches Conservation Trust]])
*'''Converted''':
*[[St Michael's Chapel, Lancaster Moor Hospital]] (now flats)

The city has places of worship for [[Catholic]], [[Baptist]], [[Jehovah's Witness]], [[Latter Day Saints]] and [[Methodist]]s, as well as the [[Salvation Army]] and community churches.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lancaster businesses and heritage charity join forces to regenerate historic church |url=https://www.beyondradio.co.uk/news/local-news/lancaster-businesses-and-heritage-charity-join-forces-to-regenerate-historic-church/ |website=Beyond Radio |access-date=19 July 2023 |language=en}}</ref>  Lancaster is also home to several [[mosques]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Lancaster Islamic Society – All Welcome.. |url=https://lancasterisoc.org/ |access-date=19 July 2023}}</ref> Notable mosques are: Moorlands Islamic Centre, Lancaster Islamic Society, Raza Mosque Lancaster and prayer rooms in the University of Cumbria in Lancaster and University of Lancaster.{{cn|date=July 2023}}

==Sport==
{{refimprove|section|date=July 2023}}
[[File:Giant axe.jpg|thumb|Giant Axe Ground, Home of [[Lancaster City F.C.]]]]
[[Lancaster City F.C.]] plays in the [[Northern Premier League Premier Division]], having won promotion as champions of Division One North in 2016–2017. The club plays home matches at the Giant Axe, which has a capacity of 3,500 (513 seated) and was formed in 1911 as Lancaster Town F.C. The club has been seven-times Lancashire FA Challenge cup winners and in 2010–11 won the Northern Premier League President's Cup for a second time. 

[[Lancaster John O' Gaunt Rowing Club]] is the fifth-oldest surviving rowing club in the UK, outside the universities.<ref>{{Cite book |title=British Rowing Almanack and ARA Year Book 2003 |publisher=The Amateur Rowing Association |year=2003 |location=Hammersmith, London |isbn=978-0-7146-5251-1 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/britishsportbibl0000coxr/page/351 351, 352, 355, 356] |url=https://archive.org/details/britishsportbibl0000coxr/page/351}}</ref> It competes nationally at regattas and heads races run by [[British Rowing]]. The clubhouse stands next to the weir at [[Skerton]].

It is one of the cities that rotates hosting the ''International Youth Games'', a multi-sport Olympics-style event featuring competitors from Lancaster's [[twin towns]]: [[Rendsburg]] (Germany), [[Perpignan]] (France), [[Viana do Castelo Municipality|Viana do Castelo]] (Portugal), [[Aalborg]] (Denmark), [[Almere]] (Netherlands), [[Lublin]] (Poland) and [[Växjö]] (Sweden).<ref name="Newsroom 2017 h477">{{cite web | title=Success for Lancaster at International Youth Games | website=Lancaster Guardian | date=11 September 2017 | url=https://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/success-for-lancaster-at-international-youth-games-844674 | access-date=15 January 2024}}</ref> The games were cancelled at the start of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], but Lancaster resumed participation in 2022 when the games re-started.<ref name="Lambert 2022 l796">{{cite web | last=Lambert | first=Greg | title=Lancaster getting ready for return of International Youth Games | website=Beyond Radio | date=25 March 2022 | url=https://www.beyondradio.co.uk/news/local-news/lancaster-getting-ready-for-return-of-international-youth-games/ | access-date=15 January 2024}}</ref>

[[Lancaster Cricket Club]] is sited near the [[River Lune]]. It has two senior teams that participate in the [[Palace Shield]]. [[Rugby union]] is a popular sport in the area, with the local clubs being [[Vale of Lune RUFC]] and Lancaster CATS.

Lancaster is home to the Golf Centre, Lansil Golf Club, Forest Hills and [[Lancaster Golf Club]]. Lancaster Amateur Swimming and Waterpolo Club competes in the north-west. It trains at Salt Ayre and at Lancaster University Sports Centre. Lancaster is home to a senior UK team. [[Water polo]] is also popular in the area.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}

The local athletics track near the Salt Ayre Sports Centre is home to Lancaster AC and Morecambe AC. It fields athletes across disciplines including track and field, cross country, road and fell running. It competes in several local and national leagues including the Young Athletics League, the Northern Athletics League and the local Mid Lancs League (Cross-Country in Winter, and Track and Field in Summer).{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}

==Notable people==
<!--Please list alphabetically by category and provide a reliable source for new entries.|OK but please consider re-listing in date order-->
[[File:James Lonsdale01.jpg|thumb|140px|[[James Lonsdale (painter)|James Lonsdale]], 1810]]
[[File:Frankie Vaughan (1962).jpg|thumb|140px|[[Frankie Vaughan]], 1962]]
===Arts and entertainment===
*[[Joe Abercrombie]] (born 1974) – fantasy writer and film editor, was born in Lancaster and attended [[Lancaster Royal Grammar School|LRGS]].
*[[Cherith Baldry]] (born 1947) – children's and fantasy writer, was born in Lancaster.
*[[John Chippendall Montesquieu Bellew]] (1823–1874) - an English author, preacher and public reader.<ref>{{cite DNB|wstitle= Bellew, John Chippendall Montesquieu |volume= 04 |last= Kent |first= Charles |author-link= Charles Kent (English writer) |pages= 192-193 |year= 1885 |short=1}}</ref>
*[[Laurence Binyon]] (1869–1943) – poet and dramatist, was born in Lancaster.
*[[Jim Bowen]] (1937–2018) – comedian, was formerly deputy headteacher of [[Caton-with-Littledale|Caton Primary School]], died at [[Royal Lancaster Infirmary]]
*[[Dustin Demri-Burns]] (born 1978) – actor, writer and comedian
*[[James Lonsdale (painter)|James Lonsdale]] (1777–1839) - a fashionable portrait painter.<ref>{{cite DNB|wstitle= Lonsdale, James |volume= 34 |last= Cust |first= Lionel |author-link= Lionel Cust |pages= 128-129 |year= 1893  |short=1}}</ref> 
*[[Hubert Henry Norsworthy]] (1885–1961) – organist and composer, died in Lancaster.
*[[Mabel Pakenham-Walsh]] (1937–2013) – artist, was born in Lancaster.
*[[Jon Richardson]] – comedian, grew up in Lancaster and attended [[Lancaster Royal Grammar School|LRGS]].
*[[Thomas Thompson (writer)|Thomas Thompson]] (1880–1951) – writer and broadcaster.
*[[Frankie Vaughan]] (1928–1999) – singer and actor, attended Lancaster College of Art
*[[John Waite]] (born 1952) – rock musician, was born in Lancaster.
*[[Keith Wilkinson (reporter)|Keith Wilkinson]] (born ca.1955) – TV news reporter, was born in Lancaster

===Business===
*[[Henry Cort]] (c. 1740–1800) – English ironmaster and inventor, was probably born in Lancaster.<ref>{{cite DNB|wstitle= Cort, Henry |volume= 12 |last= Hunt |first= Robert |author-link= Robert Hunt (scientist) |pages= 257-258 |year= 1887  |short=1}}</ref>
*[[James Crosby (British businessman)|James Crosby]] (born 1956) – chief executive of [[HBOS]] until 2006, attended [[Lancaster Royal Grammar School|LRGS]]
*[[Thomas Edmondson]] (1792–1851) – businessman and inventor of the [[Edmondson railway ticket]], was born in Lancaster.<ref>{{cite DNB|wstitle= Edmondson, Thomas |volume= 16 |last= Holyoake |first= George |author-link= George Holyoake |page= 396 |year= 1888  |short=1}}</ref>
*[[Robert Gillow]] (1704–1772) - founded [[Gillows of Lancaster and London]], an English furniture manufacturer.<ref>https://www.regentantiques.com/blog/robert-gillow/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006175507/https://www.regentantiques.com/blog/robert-gillow/ |date=6 October 2021 }} Robert Gillow</ref>
*[[Ronald Halstead|Sir Ronald Halstead]] (1927–2021) – chair and Chief Executive of the [[Beecham Group]] in 1984–1985 and Deputy Chair of [[British Steel (1967–1999)|British Steel]] in 1986–1994 was born in Lancaster and attended [[Lancaster Royal Grammar School|LRGS]]
*[[James Williamson, 1st Baron Ashton|James Williamson]] (1842–1930) – businessman and politician who created [[Williamson Park, Lancaster|Williamson Park]] and [[Ashton Memorial]], was born in Lancaster and attended [[Lancaster Royal Grammar School|LRGS]]

===Science and humanities===
[[File:Richard Owen original.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Richard Owen]], 1878]]
[[File:Gavin Wood in 2017.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Gavin Wood]], 2017]]
*[[J. L. Austin]] (1911–1960) – philosopher and developer of the theory of [[speech acts]], was born in Lancaster.
*[[George Edmondson (educationalist)|George Edmondson]] (1798–1863) - an English educationalist.<ref>{{cite DNB|wstitle= Edmondson, George |volume= 16 |last= Holyoake |first= George |author-link= George Holyoake |page= 394 |year= 1887  |short=1}}</ref>
*[[John Ambrose Fleming]] (1849–1945) – electrical engineer and physicist, was born in Lancaster.
*[[Edward Frankland|Sir Edward Frankland]] (1825–1899) – chemist who originated the concept of valence, was born near Lancaster and educated at [[Lancaster Royal Grammar School|LRGS]].<ref>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle= Frankland, Sir Edward |volume= 11 |pages= 23-24 | date-1911 |short=1}}</ref>
*[[John Heysham]] (1753–1834) - an English physician, now remembered as a statistician.<ref>{{cite DNB|wstitle= Heysham, John |volume= 26 |last= Creighton |first= Charles |author-link= Charles Creighton (physician) |page= 327 |year= 1891 |short=1}}</ref>
*[[Jaroslav Krejčí (sociologist)|Jaroslav Krejčí]] (1916–2014) – Czech-British sociologist, was a professor at the [[University of Lancaster]] and died in Lancaster.
*[[Geoffrey Leech]] (1936–2014) – linguistics researcher, was a professor at the [[Lancaster University]] and died in Lancaster.
*[[Richard Owen|Sir Richard Owen]] (1804–1892) – biologist who coined the term "[[dinosaur]]", lived in Brock Street.<ref>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle= Owen, Sir Richard |volume= 20 |last= Woodward |first= Arthur Smith |author-link= Arthur Smith Woodward |pages= 393-394 |short=1}}</ref>
*[[William Turner (anatomist)|Sir William Turner]] (1832–1916) – anatomist and academic, was born in Lancaster.<ref>{{cite EB1922 |wstitle= Turner, Sir William |volume = 32 |last= |first= |author-link= |page = 825 |short= 1}}</ref>
*[[Paul Wellings]] (born 1953) – ecologist, served as a professor and Vice-Chancellor of [[Lancaster University]]
*[[Emily Williamson]] (1855–1936) - English philanthropist and co-founder of the [[Royal Society for the Protection of Birds|RSPB]], was born in Lancaster.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-57651905 |title=RSPB's Emily Williamson: The woman who saved a million birds |last=Hirst |first=Lauren |date=1 July 2021 |work=BBC News |access-date=22 January 2022 |archive-date=22 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122110835/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-57651905 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Gavin Wood]] (born 1980) – computer scientist, co-founded and headed [[Ethereum]].

===Politics, journalism and crime===
*[[Henry D. Gilpin]] (1801–1860) – [[Attorney General of the United States]], was born in Lancaster.
*[[Lauren Jeska]] (born 1974) – an athlete who was convicted of the attempted murder of an official, [[Ralph Knibbs]].<ref>[https://www.lep.co.uk/news/crime/fell-runner-admits-attempted-knife-murder-british-athletics-official-1198115 Fell-runner admits attempted knife murder of British athletics official |Lancashire Evening Post<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200710121116/https://www.lep.co.uk/news/crime/fell-runner-admits-attempted-knife-murder-british-athletics-official-1198115 |date=10 July 2020 }}.</ref>
*[[Erik de Mauny]] (1920–1997) – foreign correspondent, died in Lancaster.
*[[Buck Ruxton]] (1899–1936) – marital murderer, resided and practised medicine at 2 Dalton Square.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Craddock |first=Jeremy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5KUkEAAAQBAJ |title=The Jigsaw Murders: The True Story of the Ruxton Killings and the Birth of Modern Forensics |date=28 May 2021 |publisher=History Press |isbn=978-0-7509-9767-6 |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Lancelot Sanderson|Sir Lancelot Sanderson]] (1863–1944) – Conservative MP for [[Appleby (UK Parliament constituency)|Appleby]] and judge, died in Lancaster.
*[[William Swainson (lawyer)|William Swainson]] (1809–1884) - the second, and last, [[Attorney-General (New Zealand)]]
[[File:Scott Durant Aiguebelette 2015 - 09-05 Médaillés britanniques (cropped).JPG|thumb|140px|[[Scott Durant]], 2015]]
===Sport===
*[[Michael Allen (cricketer)|Michael Allen]] (1933–1995) – international cricketer, played 193 [[First-class cricket]] games, died in Lancaster.
*[[James Beattie (footballer)|James Beattie]] (born 1978) – professional footballer, played 443 games, born in Lancaster.
*[[Scott Durant]] (born 1988) – rower, gold medallist at the [[2016 Summer Olympics]], was a pupil at [[Lancaster Royal Grammar School|LRGS]]
*[[Trevor Glover]] (born 1951) – first-class cricketer and rugby union player, was born in Lancaster.
*[[Sarah Illingworth]] (born 1963) – international cricketer ([[New Zealand]]), was born in Lancaster.
*[[Edward Jackson (cricketer, born 1849)|Edward Jackson]] (1849–1926) – first-class cricketer, was born in Lancaster.
*[[John Jackson (cricketer, born 1841)|John Jackson]] (1841–1906) – first-class cricketer, played 15 [[First-class cricket]] matches, was born in Lancaster.
*[[Scott McTominay]] (born 1996) – footballer, was born in Lancaster; played 178 games for [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] and 61 for [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]]
*[[Jason Queally]] (born 1970) – [[Track cycling|Track cyclist]], gold medallist at the [[2000 Summer Olympics]], was a pupil at [[Lancaster Royal Grammar School|LRGS]]
*[[Matt Rogerson]] (born 1993) – professional Rugby Union player currently with [[London Irish]], was born in Lancaster.
*[[Fred Shinton]] (1883–1923) – professional footballer, played 163 games, died in Lancaster.
*[[Alan Warriner-Little]] (born 1962) – champion darts player, was born in Lancaster.

==See also==
{{portal|Lancashire}}
*[[Lancaster power stations]]

==References==
{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
*{{Citation |last=Shotter |first=David |title=A History of Lancaster |chapter=Roman Lancaster: Site and Settlement |location=Edinburgh |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |year=2001 |pages=3–31 |isbn=0-7486-1466-4}}
*{{Citation |last=White |first=Andrew |title=A History of Lancaster |chapter=Continuity, Charter, Castle and County Town, 400–1500 |location=Edinburgh |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |year=2001 |pages=33–72 |isbn=0-7486-1466-4}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Lancaster, Lancashire}}
{{wikivoyage|Lancaster (England)|Lancaster, Lancashire}}
{{wikisource|Letitia Elizabeth Landon (L. E. L.) in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1833/Lancaster|Lancaster, a poetical illustration by L. E. L.}}
*[http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/ Lancaster City Council] – Homepage of Lancaster City Council
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20031003015340/http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/environment/oldmap/towns/lancastr/lancastr.htm Ordnance survey map of Lancaster circa 1890]
*[https://curlie.org/Regional/Europe/United_Kingdom/England/Lancashire/Lancaster/ Regional Europe - Lancaster]
*[http://www.visitlancaster.co.uk/ Visit Lancaster Website] – Tourism Website for Lancaster
*[https://lahs.archaeologyuk.org/Tour/default.htm A Virtual Tour of Lancaster] - from Lancaster Archaeological and Historical Society
*{{cite web | url=https://lahs.archaeologyuk.org/mackreth.htm |title= Mackreth's 1778 Plan of Lancaster | via=Lancaster Archaeological and Historical Society}}

{{City of Lancaster settlements}}
{{Lancashire}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Lancaster, Lancashire| ]]
[[Category:County towns in England]]
[[Category:Towns in Lancashire]]
[[Category:Roman fortifications in England]]
[[Category:Unparished areas in Lancashire]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in Lancashire]]
[[Category:Geography of the City of Lancaster]]