Opening Times & Information

Lancaster Castle is still used as both a Crown Court and a Prison. While HMP Lancaster Castle is, of course, not open to the public at all, it is still possible to see a good portion of the building, and learn about its long and fascinating history, by joining one of our guided tours of the remainder.

We are open 7 days a week (except Christmas and New Year) from 10am to 5pm, with tours operating between 10:30 am and 4:00 pm.

The content of the tours varies due to the pattern of use by the Crown Courts, so we do advise you to ring us before planning your visit so that we can advise you of what is available on any given day.

 Weekends are not affected by court use of the Castle and tours operate on Saturdays and Sundays every 30 minutes 10:30am to 4:00 pm.

  • Admission by guided tour only
  • Due to the number of stairs, access with wheelchairs and push chairs is limited

Guided tours

  • Guided tours daily from 10.30am to 4pm
  • Tour duration 60 minutes
  • Admission Prices - Adults £5, Seniors/Students/Children - £4, Family Ticket - (2 Adults/2 Children) £14
  • Evening tours available for group bookings
  • Tours available for pre-booked school groups
     

Visitors are advised to check opening times by telephoning 01524 64998

Children welcome

Lancaster Castle is delighted to welcome children of all ages but we must remind visitors that it is a working building, with up to two Courts sitting each day. All visitors are therefore asked to respect any requests for quiet made by members of staff. There are certain areasof the building where noise travels very easily and this can be disruptive to other people working on the premises.

In exceptional circumstances, the management reserves the right to ask people to leave the building if their behaviour is considered to be disruptive to other members of the tour group or other agencies working in the building. In these circumstances, a full refund will be given.

INFORMATION FOR SCHOOLS

We are happy to receive enquiries from schools throughout the year. Our guided tours offer students the opportunity the see one of the last working castles in the country, learn about the administration of the law through the last 1,000 years, and experience for themselves what it meant to be imprisoned here.

Tours run daily between 10:30am and 4:00pm. Their frequency during the day depends on the use of the castle by the crown court, but all tours last 1 hour, and if you have any special subject that you would like discussed just let us know.

The cost to schools is £2.50 per head, with 1 adult admitted free for every 10 children and any other adults charged at the child rate.

Pre-booking is essential

Payment can be by invoice/card/cheque (made payable to Lancashire County Council) or cash for non-LCC schools, and by card/cheque/cash or Journal Transfer to LCC establishments

Please contact us on (01524) 64998 for more details and we'll be happy to help you book your visit

The Shire Hall, Lancaster Castle is a Quality Assured Visitor Attraction

Judges' Lodgings Museum

Opening Times

Good Friday - June 30th & October    1.00 - 4.00, Monday - Friday
                                                                  12.00 - 4.00, Saturday -Sunday

July, August, September                       10.00 - 4.00, Monday-Friday
                                                                    12.00 - , Saturday-Sunday

Admission - Adults £3.00, Concessions £2.00, Children (accompanied) FREE

Group tours available - ring 01524 32808 for details
School groups welcome - ring 01524 555617 for details

 

 Copyright ©2006 Lancashire County Council

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