Lancaster Castle — Attraction in Lancaster

Lancaster Castle is an evocative landmark situated on Castle Hill in the heart of Lancaster, overlooking the winding River Lune and standing guard over the city’s skyline.

Its foundations are rooted in antiquity, with the earliest traces on this site dating back to Roman times, when a succession of forts defended the location against the raids of ancient tribal groups. Rising from these martial beginnings, the castle’s identity evolved through centuries of English history, becoming a medieval fortress and later an infamous prison.

The Norman keep, one of the oldest surviving structures, commands immediate attention with its formidable stone walls, some reaching over three meters in thickness, and its austere elevation, a classic symbol of feudal power and legacy.

The castle complex emanates an unmistakable air of authority and resilience. Once the seat of the Honour of Lancaster under medieval monarchs, it weathered periods of military conflict including Scottish invasions and the tumults of the English Civil War.

The main entrance, a dramatic gatehouse with semi-octagonal towers and battlements, dates to the early 15th century and was commissioned during the reign of Henry IV. Passing beneath this gateway, a visitor is immediately struck by the castle’s seamless blend of medieval stonework and later additions, evidence of continual adaptation across time.

Inside, the castle’s Shire Hall presents itself as a cavernous ten-sided room completed in the eighteenth century, a testament to grandeur and judicial tradition, while the cylindrical Adrian’s Tower adds a touch of legend, being locally associated with Roman Emperor Hadrian.

Within these walls, England’s darker chapters are etched into the very stones. Lancaster Castle played host to infamous trials, including those of the Lancashire Witches, and bore witness to more than 200 executions, ranging from heinous crimes to minor offenses, giving the building a reputation steeped in intrigue and sorrow.

As centuries slipped by, its role as a penal institution grew, and until as recently as 2011 the castle operated as a working prison, making it one of the few places in Europe to continue the tradition of incarceration in a medieval setting.

Afterwards, the castle found new life as a cultural and heritage site, with its historic chambers now open to the public for tours, events, and educational programs.

The atmosphere inside Lancaster Castle is further animated by its vibrant surroundings. Positioned at the summit of Castle Hill, the site offers visitors sweeping views of Lancaster and its ancient quarters.

The street itself is renowned for its well-preserved Georgian and Victorian architecture, with nearby landmarks such as the Judges’ Lodgings Museum and welcoming local pubs providing a lively backdrop and opportunities for exploration.

Walking these pavements conjures the rhythms of bygone eras and invites comparisons between architectural grandeur and everyday city life. Recent refurbishments, including a contemporary café integrated with the castle’s curtain wall and new public piazza spaces, have sensitively enhanced the visitor experience while celebrating the resilience and charm of the existing stonework.

Today, Lancaster Castle stands as a living testament to centuries of change, by turns as a fortress, courthouse, prison, museum, and community gathering point. Its historical legacy is amplified by its enduring links to the Duchy of Lancaster, with the British monarch as Duke of Lancaster and the property maintained as a cherished symbol of royal heritage.

The castle is a place where legendary events and personal stories become tangible, inviting those who wander through its courtyards and chambers to reflect upon the panorama of English history distilled into a single,...

So genuinely, this was one of the best experiences of my life. I primarily came here as I'm writing a book which is set in the past. This gave me a perfect opportunity to capture details which I've used to add authenticity to my writing and this place provides the perfect atmosphere. This was like having a window to the past and allowed me to capture all the details I was looking for.

However, primary reasons aside, as a history buff, this was incredible. The castle, whilst boasting a dark and grim history, is actually a beautiful building. Being able to see the chisel marks from 18th century stonemasons and walls from the 1400s, was just totally awesome and I enjoyed every moment of my visit. I paid for a tour and the guide was very knowledgeable and seemed to really enjoy educating people on the castles history, despite probably giving the same information multiple times a day/week.

The only reason why I can't give this 5 stars, is because the tour felt rushed. I did take the last tour of the day, at 3:45pm and given this is close to closing time, that's probably why it was so rushed, but I feel I didn't truly get the full experience I would have gotten, if I took an earlier tour. I do understand it, but it was just so blatant that we were being rushed. At most sections, the guide would ask, "have you seen this already?" Or, "are you interested in this section?" And would actively take opportunities to rush through or skip sections when they presented themselves. A personal example, I asked a couple questions and the guide would ask to wait till we got to the next section, before answering questions, to ensure the tour was moving at a fast pace. I do feel I wasn't given the chance to fully absorb every part of the castle we were taken to which was a shame. So based on this, it loses a star.

This isn't anything against the guide, I would imagine it's just policy that he has to rush the tour at the end of the day, but perhaps something could be done to pace things a little better so customers get the experience other groups get earlier in the day.

I may take an earlier tour in the new year which may change my rating. But overall, I still had a tremendous time, I still learned a lot with the time I was given and I...

Loved it , there is no entry fee that i had to pay . It's just the parking . You can also get it just on the side of the castle . When you go in you can see it's way old and looks quiet ancient . You can get a tour guide i mean a guided tour which will be awesome to understand the detailed, creepy history of the castle plus prision . Staff was quiet helpfull with the information . It was converted into prision later on but it was a castle too. It gives you so much creepy feeling with overloaded history from the past . The smell seems to prove it's ancientness i suppose 😃 i mean it smells like old and feels like from back then in the middle ages or more older. I mean it was so creepy when i peeped in one of the tunnels . They use to keep prisioners there and some terrible ones , some from the war and some after the orders of the kings !!! They died there as well . 😳 Then there is a small chapel inside the castle and a wedding was taking place when i went there 😃🤭 They got a cafe just a little furthure from witches' history 😁 , how they were captured and hung !!! If you come out and walk beside the castle you can walk around the trail and go behind the castle !! There you can take a look at the whole city . The view was stunnin 😍🥰 loved it . You can see and enjoy the serenity . Then there were graves behind the castle as well . You can see many people were burried in one single grave may be on top of eachother i mean like it use to happen in older days may be because they were from the same family i believe or due to less space . But over all it was quiet and some what creepy too 😂 If you walk down the street you will reach the city center . So many shops , pubs, resturants , cafes and gift shops as well. I liked trolling there with my friends 😄 Loved it and enjoyed my...