Discover more about the City of Lancaster, one of England’s Heritage Cities, from the pre-historic era through to today. Our immersive galleries are packed with objects and stories exploring every aspect of the history of this wonderful city and its people. 

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 constructed between 1781-3 to the designs of Major Thomas Jarrett and Thomas Harrison. 

The museum itself was founded in 1923 and its varied collection and dioramas lead visitors through the social and industrial history and archaeology of Lancaster, and the stories of the people who have made the city what it is today. Don't miss our fine art collection or the programme of changing exhibitions in our ground floor gallery.

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. 

Temporary Closure Notices

Tuesday 17 December - Please note the City Museum will be closed for a private event in morning. We will open in the afternoon from 1:30pm to 4pm only on this day.

2024 Holiday Hours - Our last day of opening before christmas will be Monday 23 December. We will re-open on Friday 3 January.

Normal Opening Hours

Please check the web pages for our other museums to see their opening days and times, as each museum is different.

Admission is FREE, but donations are appreciated. There's a donation box for cash by the door – or we’ll be happy to put card donations through the till.

Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult

Only assistance dogs are permitted in the museum. This is because even well-behaved dogs are curious, and they sometimes need the loo. We can’t risk it for the sake of our fragile museum objects, which might get knocked over by a very waggy tail, and other visitors who may be nervous around dogs.

Corporation Street: what's your council ever done for you?

25 November 2024 - 27 April 2025

Our Museums are just one of the many public services provided by Lancaster City Council. From medieval markets to transport, tourism and taxes, this exhibition takes a lighthearted look at the history and work of our local council. 

By its very nature government, whether local or national, tends to attract many more complaints than compliments.

It is a popularly held view that any Council couldn't organise a p*** up in a brewery. Of course, this was a lot easier when Councils owned their own breweries and pubs - in Lancaster it was the Corporation Arms on Penny Street.

This year is the 50th anniversary of the massive changes in Local Government that also saw the creation of Lancaster City Council. We invite you to join us on the journey to better understand how we arrived at the Council we have today and what the Council does (and doesn't) do, and who pays for it!

This display is on the ground floor, which is fully accessible via a ramp to the right of the front entrance.

100 Years, 100 Objects: Stories from the Collection of Lancaster City Museums

September 2023 onwards.

2023 marked the 100th anniversary of our museums. As part of our centenary celebrations we created a series of podcasts about objects in our collection. These objects are now on display at the City Museum. They were selected by members of our museum team, academics, and members of community groups, who chose their favourites from our collection of over 50,000 items. 

Please note that this exhibition is on the first floor of the building. Our stairlift is currently out of order, so this is only accessible to those able to climb two flights of stairs. We're very sorry for any dissappointment this may cause. We hope you will still enjoy listening to the podcast here: Podcast - 100 Years, 100 Objects.

From talks and walking tours to kids' craft sessions, you can find details of what's on at all our museums here: Events & Activities.

Or keep up to date with all the latest news on our Facebook page.

Getting here

By Car

If you are driving please DO NOT follow satnav directions directly to the museum – we are in a pedestrian area. You will need to select a nearby car park as your destination, or use Lancaster’s Park and Ride scheme to reach us from the M6.

The exception to this is if you have a Blue Badge for disabled parking: there are spaces available in New Street, just behind the museum: get directions to New Street on Google Maps.

On Foot or by Public Transport

The City Museum is in the pedestrian area of the city centre, prominently positioned in Market Square. It is within easy walking distance of both the train and bus stations.

Look out for the finger post signs around the city, which will help you to find us.

• Download a free  visitor map of Lancaster city centre (PDF, 929KB).

By Bike

There are cycle parking stands both in front of the museum in Market Square and behind the museum in New Street. Please dismount your bike when you enter the pedestrian area.

• Download a free Cycling Map of Lancaster and Morecambe Bay (PDF, 6MB)

Our Address

Lancaster City Museum, Market Square, Lancaster, LA1 1HT

Find us on Google Maps here.

Facilities & Accessibility

Please be aware that our stairlift does not currently work. We are working on getting a replacement as soon as possible. We are really sorry but this means that the first-floor galleries (most of the museum) are currently not accessible to anyone unable to climb two flights of stairs.

The ground floor remains completely accessible and can be reached via the main steps or a ramp by the entrance to Lancaster Library, next door. Our main exhibition gallery is on the ground floor.

• There are NO public toilets or baby changing facilities available on site. The closest public toilets are located in the Marketgate Shopping Centre.
• We can accommodate prams and pushchairs on the ground floor but not upstairs. Please ask the museum assistant at reception where you can leave your pram.
• There is Blue Badge parking in New Street, behind the museum. Please note we are in a pedestrian area, so other visitors will need to park elsewhere and walk to the museum. There are several pay and display car parks within easy walking distance.
• Wheelchair available: our stairlift is currently out of order, but if you are able to climb the stairs to the first floor we have a wheelchair available for use on this level. Just ask staff at the desk near the top of the stairs.
• Sensory backpacks: available to borrow for free from the front desk. Ideal for children and young people on the autism spectrum, the backpacks include ear protectors, communication cards, fiddle toys and more. 
• We are currently developing a new way for those with visual impairments to enjoy our collections. Find out more here: Touch and See.
• Download our Visual Story, including Sensory Maps: Sensory Floor Plan (PDF, 6.3MB)
• Download our Access Statement for a more in-depth look at our museum: Lancaster City Museum Access Statement (PDF, 167KB)

Group & School Visits

If you plan to visit us for a self-guided tour with a large group (over 12 people) please contact us in advance at lancastercitymuseum@lancaster.gov.uk. We can also arrange various hands-on activities to enhance your group visit. Find out more here: Events & Activities. Please email us if you're interested in booking one of these.

If you’d like to bring a school group or other educational group, please find the relevant information on our Learning Pages. 

Friends of Lancaster City Museum

Visit the Friends of Lancaster City Museum Facebook Page for details on how you can join, and support the City and King’s Own Royal Regiment museums. 

You can access a series of talks and events through the Friends. 

Non-members are also welcome to attend talks for a £2 fee. Find out more here: Public Talks.