Visiting: What To Do On Your First Visit To Lancaster
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If you’re visiting Lancaster and you’re not sure where to go and what to visit, here’s a crash course on spending your first day here.
- 8 am – 9 am: Breakfast
At The Sun, we serve breakfast from 7.30 am – 11.00 am, Monday – Friday, 8.00 am – 11.00 am on Saturdays, and 8.30 am – 11.00 am on Sundays. From full English breakfasts to eggs Benedict and our sunshine acai bowl, you can begin the day fuelling up for exploring.
- 9 am – 12 pm: Lancaster Castle/The Judges Lodgings/The Priory
An absolute must-see in Lancaster is Lancaster Castle. Brimming with history, Lancaster Castle (sometimes called John O’Gaunt’s Castle) dates back to Roman times and, until 2011, it was a fully-functioning HM Prison. In late 2019, a restoration of the castle was completed and there’s now a lovely cafe for you to enjoy.
The Judges’ Lodgings is in the National Heritage List and is also a Grade I listed building. It’s the oldest townhouse in Lancaster and was once used by judges when they attended the sessions of the Assize Court. The building is now a museum open to visitors – it’s closed for now but will re-open in spring 2020.
The Priory, which used to be The Priory Church of St. Mary, has had an enormous historical and archaeological impact. Not only is The Priory beautiful, it also hosts an array of concerts and events, so take a look at its website to see what’s on when you visit.
- 12 pm – 1 pm: Lunch
With The Sun being just a few minutes walk away from Lancaster Castle, The Judges’ Lodgings, and The Priory, come in to see us for lunch (or brunch!). We have a hugely varied menu which ranges from main meals and burgers to posh butties and sharing boards.
- 1 pm – 3 pm: Williamson Park
When you visit Williamson Park, one of the first things you’ll be greeted with is the Ashton Memorial, a folly which was built between 1907 and 1907 and commissioned by Lord Ashton.
The Ashton Memorial – which is a popular location for many Lancaster weddings! – is indisputably beautiful, made mostly of Portland stone, and featuring a copper dome at the top. Standing at approximately 150 ft, The Ashton Memorial is a much-recognisable part of the Lancaster skyline.
Williamson Park itself is a 54-acre area of stunning parkland, where you can enjoy woodland walks, gorgeous views of Morecambe Bay, the Fylde coast, and the Lake District, and even an annual festival. When you’re there, you can take your little ones to the play park, visit the Butterfly House, and stop off for a drink and a bite to eat at the Pavillion Cafe.
- 3 pm – 6 pm: The Dukes/The Grand Theatre
Lancaster loves the arts, so entertainment is never hard to come by. Lancastrians are so lucky to have fantastic establishments like The Dukes and The Grand Theatre on our doorstep so we can enjoy top quality entertainment whenever we like.
The Dukes is Lancashire’s only producing theatre venue, producing two theatre productions every year. It also plays host to regular film showings, touring theatre, comedy, live music, and dance.
The Grand Theatre is the third oldest theatre in the United Kingdom. Here, you’ll find high-profile comedy shows, pantomimes (for children and adults!), dance, music, touring theatre, and so much more.
- 6 pm – 8 pm: Dinner
There are plenty of places to enjoy dinner in Lancaster. At The Sun, we serve dinner from 4 pm – 9 pm, Monday – Saturday, and from 12 pm – 8 pm on Sundays. You can find our main menu in full here.
- 8 pm – Late: Live Music
The live music scene in Lancaster is abundant. From the Haffner Orchestra to The Sun’s very own Live Sessions featuring a live DJ and saxophonist, top notch live music isn’t hard to come by. If you’re not sure what’s on when you’re visiting, go to Visit Lancaster.
