Military MuseumsSpeciality MuseumsArt MuseumsHistory Museums

10:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Monday

10:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Tuesday

10:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Friday

10:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Saturday

10:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Sunday

10:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Write a review

About

The impressive City Museum is housed in Lancaster’s former town hall, right on the edge of the busy Market Square. The elegant Georgian building was built between 1781-3 to the designs of Major Thomas Jarrett and Thomas Harrison. The museum itself was founded in 1923 and its wonderfully varied collection and dioramas brilliantly lead visitors through the social and industrial history, archaeology of Lancaster, and the stories of the people who have made the city what it is today. Enjoy our fine art collection and the programme of changing exhibitions. The City Museum building is also home to the King’s Own Royal Regiment Museum, a fascinating insight into the military heritage of the city’s own regiment from 1680 onwards.

Duration: 1-2 hours

Suggest edits to improve what we show.

Improve this listing

Full view

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

The area

Address

Reach out directly

Best nearby

Restaurants

255 within 5 kms

All Hopes No Promises LA1

306

91 m₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • American • Bar • Pub

The Quarterhouse

538

0.3 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • British • Contemporary • Vegetarian friendly

Cafe Dolce

399

62 m₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Cafe • Mediterranean • British

Merchants 1688

1,221

0.2 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Bar • British • Pub

The Old Bell

241

94 m₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Cafe • British • Vegetarian friendly

The Three Mariners, Lancaster

688

0.3 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Bar • British • Pub

Sultan of Lancaster

972

0.2 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Indian • Asian • Grill

The Whale Tail

413

0.3 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Quick Bites • Cafe • British

Pizza Margherita

680

0.2 km₹₹₹₹ • Italian • Pizza • European

Toll House Inn

424

0.4 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Bar • British • Pub

See all

Attractions

101 within 10 kms

Charter Market, Lancaster

1

4.8 mPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Flea & Street Markets

The Hsbc Building

1

16 mArchitectural Buildings

T.k. Maxx

2

25 mDepartment Stores

Lancaster Castle

2,750

0.2 kmHistoric Sites • Castles

Judges' Lodgings

146

0.2 kmSpeciality Museums

Mitre House

1

0.1 kmArchitectural Buildings

Lancaster Banking Building

1

0.1 kmArchitectural Buildings

Ffrances Passage

1

0.1 kmHistoric Walking Areas

Church Street

1

0.1 kmHistoric Walking Areas

Slip Inn Lane

1

77 mHistoric Walking Areas

See all

See what travellers are saying

celticbiker
Thornton Cleveleys, United Kingdom113 contributions
Interesting and free!
After completing our visit to the castle, next on our cultural day tour of Lancaster was the city museum. We were pleasantly surprised to find entrance was free! The nice lady on the reception desk gave us a quick but informative rundown on the current 100 artefacts exhibition plus what else we could see. Well set out and very interesting (as all museums should be!) with the history of the city laid bare (some good, some not so good). The museum presents facts and exhibits in a clear and accessible manner. A great way to spend an hour or so.
Visited February 2024
Travelled as a couple
Written 21 February 2024
Paul Q
447 contributions
Great for a wet afternoon
A quite small museum right in the town centre. It's free admission. We only had an hour to visit & could easily have spent an afternoon there. Great for a wet day. Includes local history & the local regiment.
Visited May 2024
Travelled as a couple
Written 3 May 2024
Nicola E
Hambleton, United Kingdom205 contributions
Worth a visit
Free entry and plenty to see and learn. Whilst only relatively small, the space packs a lot in with a wide variety of exhibits covering a number of subject areas relating back to the local area. Some interactive activities aimed mainly at young children but plenty of information to get your teeth into.
Visited August 2024
Travelled with family
Written 10 August 2024

These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Contribute

Write a review Upload a photo

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5

394 reviews

Excellent

190

Very good

158

Average

38

Poor

7

Terrible

1

Chris I

24 contributions

Well worth a visit and free

Oct 2021 • Couples

Two museums in one - the first being a history of Lancaster and the surrounding area, the second about the local regiments and militias.

We spent nearly two hours in there and didn’t read all the info presented. Both museums have loads of info of about life at the time and full of weird and interesting information.

Staff very friendly and informative too

Written 9 October 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

NorthernBritUk

UK28 contributions

Friendly and very well displayed exhibition space

Aug 2021

When I went, the ground floor had a special exhibition on whilst upstairs were the permanent exhibitions. On the way up, you're struck by some of the incredible paintings - a pity, perhaps, that they are not displayed in a space of their own, although they are well labelled. Upstairs, there were two main sections. First, a really interesting historical view of the area, Lancaster's importance, and how the region has changed over time. There was more than enough, but not too much to overwhelm. Secondly, though, there was a very well stocked and moving military display, including WWII. I loved this museum and will go back when next in Lancaster.

Written 17 August 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jessica

Thornton Cleveleys, UK13 contributions

A nice museum in the town

Jul 2022 • Couples

We visited here for a day trip and it was good and very interesting. It didn’t take too long to look around the museum but some of the displays I feel need re-doing as its been exactly the same for well over 15 years. I didn’t enjoy the two from rooms downstairs as I felt they were a bit boring and the atmosphere felt depressing.. apart from this it was worth a look around.

Written 3 August 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

celticbiker

Thornton Cleveleys, UK113 contributions

Interesting and free!

Feb 2024 • Couples

After completing our visit to the castle, next on our cultural day tour of Lancaster was the city museum. We were pleasantly surprised to find entrance was free! The nice lady on the reception desk gave us a quick but informative rundown on the current 100 artefacts exhibition plus what else we could see. Well set out and very interesting (as all museums should be!) with the history of the city laid bare (some good, some not so good). The museum presents facts and exhibits in a clear and accessible manner. A great way to spend an hour or so.

Written 22 February 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Katherine W

8 contributions

Really interesting afternoon

Feb 2023 • Family

Great little museum with something to interest everyone of all ages, from a regimental museum, prehistoric to modern Lancaster, Children’s games and dressing up, to gruesome murders! The staff were particularly helpful and approachable which made our visit really extra special. Spent a couple of hours here and got round it all in that time. The display about the slave trade in Lancaster was particularly interesting.

Written 27 February 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nicola E

Hambleton, UK205 contributions

Worth a visit

Aug 2024 • Family

Free entry and plenty to see and learn. Whilst only relatively small, the space packs a lot in with a wide variety of exhibits covering a number of subject areas relating back to the local area. Some interactive activities aimed mainly at young children but plenty of information to get your teeth into.

Written 10 August 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

anm53

Stourbridge, UK285 contributions

Plenty to see.

Mar 2024 • Couples

Lots of exhibits relating to the history of the area which we found interesting even though we are not local. There were some paintings on display which were not particularly interesting. There’s also a room dedicated to the Kings Own Royal Regiment. If the museum had a cafe we would have used it.

Written 15 April 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Maureen N

128 contributions

INTERESTING, WELCOMING AND WORTH A VISIT

Aug 2023

I visited this museum for the first time today. We were welcomed very warmly by the lady on the desk, who advised us on what we could see and where everything was. You can choose which way round you go.
We decided to start upstairs, especially as I was very interested in the local history section. I was not disappointed. Some very interesting artifacts and information boards, ranging from Celtic and Roman times up to today.
The Kings Own Royal Regiment is also interested, especially if you have an interest in militaria.
I would love to see this museum have its own cafe and toilet facilities otherwise it was very good. Worth a visit.

Written 8 August 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

pappaQ_Lds

Wakefield, UK448 contributions

Worth a visit for the background to Lancaster history.

Mar 2022 • Couples

Good display of local history showing the development of Lancaster and its strategic place in history. Also great additional military museum attached detailing the history of the Lancaster regiment. Great rainy day event great for families and couples alike.

Written 17 March 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Candj9173

North West England, UK831 contributions

Lovely history of Lancaster

Aug 2022

Great little museum. Quite narrow and crowded but it was a rainy day outside and lots of people were visiting.

Fantastic exhibition on the local workhouse. Really well put together and very informative.

And it's free!

Written 20 August 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

2

…

Showing results 1-10 of 383