Heart of England's North West
Lancaster is ideally placed for access to the major cities of the North of England. See a map of the UK showing the location of Lancaster
We asked ISC students: "What do you like most about Lancaster city?"
- The shops - the prices are lower than most UK cities
- It's near the Lake District
- Not too big. Not too small
- Topshop
- The people
- Small but convenient
- The city's unique ambience
- It's close to the sea
- Fresh air and warm-hearted people
- Small and quiet - it is a good place for studying
- The Chinese market
A great place to be a student
With over 15,000 students living in the area, Lancaster is a vibrant university city. Bars, cafés, cinemas, night-clubs, restaurants and pubs can be found in abundance as well as everything from small, independent boutiques and jewellers to indoor markets and the well known high street shops.
Lancaster offers a wide range of cultural activities. The Duke’s Playhouse is both a cinema and theatre, and presents outdoor productions in summer in nearby Williamson Park. There is an annual literature festival with plays and poetry readings from renowned writers.
A canal runs through the city, lined with waterside inns and restaurants from where you can watch the procession of boats. There are even boats for hire.
Major cities on your doorstep
Lancaster is at the heart of North West England. A superb rail link means that London is less than 3 hours away while the dynamic entertainment facilities in Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds are within an hour by car or train. Each has their own international airport providing easy access to and from many destinations.
Lancaster’s location offers the advantage of being within easy reach of big city attractions without having the distractions or insecurity of living in a large urban area. See more about travel and transport to and from Lancaster University.
Lancaster's long history
In the city you will find a medieval castle, which houses the oldest sitting Crown Court in England, a Benedictine Priory Church and the domed Ashton Memorial. All these contribute to the city's spectacular skyline. Lancaster's history is celebrated at the City Museum and at annual events such as the Georgian festival which features costumed re-enactments. For more information about Lancaster's attractions see the Visit Lancaster website.
Some of the most beautiful countryside in the UK
Although close to major cities, Lancaster University has the advantage of also being within easy reach of some of the most impressive natural wonders in the UK. The wide lakes and spectacular mountains of the Lake District are famous the world over and easily reached by road or rail. It is a wonderful place to refresh your mind and body. The Lake District provides breathtaking views, tranquil walks and opportunities for paragliding, mountain biking, hiking, sailing or sedate picnics. If you want the smell the sea air, the famous seaside resort of Blackpool is close enough for a day trip.
Key journey times
- 15 minutes from the University campus to Lancaster
- 60 minutes from Lancaster to Manchester city centre
- 90 minutes from Lancaster to Manchester airport
- 3 hours from Lancaster to London by train
Maps and Transport
Lancaster University lies 5.5km south of the city of Lancaster. The campus is easily accessible by road and rail and is within 70 miles of Manchester's International Airport.
- UK map
- Local area map
- Regional map
- Campus map
- Getting to Lancaster by air
- Getting to the city from campus
- Getting around the UK
Maps
UK map: The map below shows the United Kingom the major cities - Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and London.
Local area map: the map below shows the location of Lancaster University campus from Lancaster city centre.
Regional map: See a map of the region (on the Official Website of Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board) showing the location of Lancaster.
Campus map: See a map of Lancaster University campus (
, 145K). You will study in Bailrigg House (marked 1 on the map), a 5-10 minute walk from the centre of campus, Alexandra Square (marked 29 on map).
Transport
It is strongly recommended that you arrange to fly to Manchester International Airport (MAN), as this is the most convenient for onward travel to Lancaster. From Manchester airport you can reach Lancaster:
By taxi: A transfer can be arranged during the application process. See fees page for the cost of airport collection.
By rail: there is a frequent train service from Manchester Airport to Lancaster. This service usually departs hourly, although less frequently on Sundays. You may need to change trains in central Manchester or at Preston. The journey time is 60-90 minutes.
By coach: a coach service operates from Terminal 1 at Manchester Airport to Lancaster, stopping at the university. The journey takes 2 hours.
Travelling to Lancaster from other UK Airports: if you fly into either London Heathrow or London Gatwick airports, you will need to get to Euston Station in central London, from where a direct 3 hour train service to Lancaster departs.
Getting between Lancaster city centre and campus
By bus: The city centre is a 20 minute bus journey from campus. Buses leave every few minutes on weekdays.By cycle: There is also a cycleway and footpath direct to town. It take about 30 minutes to cycle from the city centre to campus. Cycle hire is available at the Students’ Union
By taxi: Taxi services are available from the rail and bus stations – it is a 15 minute journey to campus.
Getting around the UK
Lancaster is on England’s main West Coast train line with direct connections to Euston station in London (approximately 3 hours).
By train you can easily reach the dynamic Northwest cities of Manchester (65 minutes), Liverpool (90 minutes) and Leeds (2 hours). There are also direct rail links between Lancaster and Birmingham, Oxford and major cities in Scotland.