Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

Lancaster travel guide

Lancaster Tourism | Lancaster Guide

You're Going to Love Lancaster

With a population of 47,162, Lancaster is a must-see destination in England, United Kingdom. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Consider staying at least one whole day in Lancaster to see all of its attractions.

Article

Where to Eat in Lancaster

If you’re looking for affordable options, The Cornerhouse (15 New St) and Hest Bank (2 Hest Bank Lane) are great picks.

When to visit Lancaster

Lancaster in January
Estimated hotel price
£73
1 night at 3-star hotel
Lancaster in January
Estimated hotel price
£73
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Lancaster

Plane

Although Lancaster doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Leeds/Bradford Airport (LBA), which is located 48 miles from Lancaster. The shortest domestic flight to Lancaster departs from Belfast and takes around 55m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Lancaster, followed by Avanti West Coast. The train journey from Lancaster to London takes 3h 10m and costs around £36 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Edinburgh, expect to pay about £74 for a 3h 41m trip. Located 0.3 miles from the city centre, Lancaster is the busiest station in Lancaster. Another popular train station is Lancaster Bentham, located 13 miles from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Lancaster is to pick up a car hire from Manchester, which is about 45 miles from Lancaster. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and SURPRICE CAR RENTAL , among others, in Manchester.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Lancaster using National Express or FlixBus. From London, the bus ride to Lancaster takes 145 miles and will cost you around £12. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about £10 for a journey of 150 miles. Lancaster’s bus station is located 3 miles from the city centre.

Plane

Although Lancaster doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Leeds/Bradford Airport (LBA), which is located 48 miles from Lancaster. The shortest domestic flight to Lancaster departs from Belfast and takes around 55m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Lancaster, followed by Avanti West Coast. The train journey from Lancaster to London takes 3h 10m and costs around £36 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Edinburgh, expect to pay about £74 for a 3h 41m trip. Located 0.3 miles from the city centre, Lancaster is the busiest station in Lancaster. Another popular train station is Lancaster Bentham, located 13 miles from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Lancaster is to pick up a car hire from Manchester, which is about 45 miles from Lancaster. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and SURPRICE CAR RENTAL , among others, in Manchester.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Lancaster using National Express or FlixBus. From London, the bus ride to Lancaster takes 145 miles and will cost you around £12. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about £10 for a journey of 150 miles. Lancaster’s bus station is located 3 miles from the city centre.

Airports near Lancaster

LPLLiverpool J. Lennon
LBALeeds/Bradford
MANManchester

Airlines serving Lancaster

KLM
Good (1,430 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,632 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,008 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,583 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,104 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,814 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,092 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,683 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,051 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,440 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,506 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,531 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,332 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (879 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,095 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,606 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,337 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,413 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,149 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (911 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Lancaster

Where to stay in Lancaster

Average rates range from around £92 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £120 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Lancaster, with prices from £28 to £266 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Lancaster are about 56% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Lancaster

Most booked hotels in Lancaster

See all
Thurnham Hall
4 stars
Excellent (9.2, Excellent reviews)
£61+
View
Pine Lake Resort
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£54+
View
Lancaster House Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£90+
View
Travelodge Morecambe
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£32+
View
The Midland
4 stars
Good (7.9, Good reviews)
£98+
View
Best Western Lancaster Morecambe Lothersdale Hotel
3 stars
Good (7.9, Good reviews)
£56+
View

Hiring a car in Lancaster

Hiring a car in Lancaster costs £37 per day, on average.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 31% more expensive than at Manchester.

Expect to pay £1.36 per litre in Lancaster (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £16.30 and £21.73. Intermediate (Kia XCeed or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Lancaster, while also 34% cheaper than other types, on average.

Hiring a car in Lancaster costs £37 per day, on average.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 31% more expensive than at Manchester.

Expect to pay £1.36 per litre in Lancaster (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £16.30 and £21.73. Intermediate (Kia XCeed or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Lancaster, while also 34% cheaper than other types, on average.

Find car hire in Lancaster