Top Things to Do in Lancaster UK for Fun Days Out

Located in the Northwest of England, close to the delightful Morecambe Bay, Lancaster is a beautiful town that makes a fantastic home for students.

If you are considering going there to study next year, we’re happy to help you with a guide of some fun things to do in Lancaster. You might remember we’ve already guided you towards the best cafés in Lancaster, and this is more about fun days out and places you can visit when living in this beautiful Lancashire city.

Let’s take a look at a few of the things to do in Lancaster.

Soak up the beautiful architecture

When you first move to a new city, one of the best things you can do is just take yourself for a walk. Familiarise yourself with your new surroundings, and don’t forget to look up.

There’s a lot of treasure and calm times to be found in wandering around aimlessly, and in Lancaster you have a beautiful setting to do so. There’s some stunning architecture in the city, from the Cathedral and the Castle to the art galleries and the Wery Wall (the Roman fort that was on the original site of Lancaster).

Stroll along the canal

If you plan on getting out into the fresh air for some regular walks, there’s plenty of options in Lancaster. The canal is one of the best ways to see the outdoors, with a defined walking route that offers stunning views of the countryside, the Forest of Bowland, and the Silverdale coast.

In fact, there are 41 miles of canal, so over your entire time living in Lancaster, there’s loads of places you can visit and walk along the canal. A great way to take your mind away from university stresses and clear your head while getting in some pleasant exercise and looking out for the local wildlife.

Head out for a day at the beach!

Although Lancaster itself is on the River Lune and doesn’t have a beach, you’re only a short hop away from Morecambe Beach.

When the sun’s out, this sand and shingle beach gives you the perfect opportunity for a day out beside the seaside with your friends. There’s old-style arcades, fish and chip shops, and plenty of ice cream. Soak up the sun and take in the beach for the day, there’s something invigorating about sea air, and you’ll have plenty of laughs with your mates.

Belly laughs at the comedy club

Now for something completely different. If you’re looking for laughs, one of the fun things to do in Lancaster is to head down to Lancaster Comedy Club at The Borough.

Since 2009, The Borough has transformed into the local comedy club every Sunday night. Expect to see comedians from across the country, up-and-comers, and all the great and the good of the British comedy scene.

You know, all those comics that you see on Live at the Apollo or Taskmaster every year. If you like comedy, and love laughing with your mates, it’s a no brainer to head to Lancaster Comedy Club during your time in Lancaster.

Learn the history of Lancaster

There is history and intrigue at every corner and for fun things to do in Lancaster, you are spoiled for choice with museums, galleries, and history walks that take you to the core of what matters in the city.

Start off at Lancaster Museum (it has free entry), the cultural hub of the city in a beautiful Georgian building. Other museums include the Cottage Museum, the Maritime Museum, and the Judges’ Lodgings Museum.

Lancaster Castle offers over 1000 years of history and interesting walking trails around the area; Williamson Park is a stunning setting of wildlife and includes a butterfly house.

Literary walking tour of Lancaster

This Literary Walking Tour of Lancaster is a beautiful way to wander the streets and to learn something lovely about Lancaster. This two and a half mile leisurely walking tour takes you around eight key locations in the city, dipping into a range of English texts that were inspired by the location.

This includes the Wordsworth sonnet ‘ Suggested by the View of Lancaster Castle’ and the Dickens story that was inspired by The Royal Kings Arms Hotel.

Escape Lancaster

Escape Rooms have been popular for a few years now. If you love puzzles and the thrill of a timed escape with the challenge of teamwork with your closest friends, Lancaster Escape is one of the fun things you can do in Lancaster.

You’ve got 60 minutes to try and escape, working as a team to solve riddles and puzzles, along with drinks and bar games in the venue too. There’s even a 10% student discount for those of you with valid student ID when you book.

Brewery tour and pub crawl

Lancaster Brewery is an award-winning brewer, and every Thursday to Sunday you can book on a tour that gives you an insight into the brewing process, a tour around the premises, and some samples along the way!

There’s some tasty pizza and tacos for lunch bites too. It’s a fun activity to do with your friends or family, and once you’ve been why not head out for a pub crawl in Lancaster itself? There’s The Sun, The Tap House, Merchants 1688, and Pendle Witches, all incredible pubs that make for a great crawl.

There’s loads of fun things to do in Lancaster, whether you’re out for the day at the beach in Morecambe Bay, going on a pub crawl around the beautiful old city, going on a cycle trail, or heading out on a literary walk. There’s something for everyone.

If you’re living in Lancaster as a student, there is so much for you to explore, as well as the daily things that get you into a community, such as the array of local cafés and social events, the best gyms in Lancaster to stay fit and meet new people, and just the friendly atmosphere from the locals that leads to so many students staying here and calling it home for years to come. What are you favourite things to do in Lancaster?