The King’s Own Royal Regiment Museum is based within Lancaster City Museum. The regimental galleries were opened in 1929 and the original collections were formed from historic items kept by the various battalions of the Regiment. Some objects date back to the very early days of the Regiment in the late 17th Century. In the 1930s a sizeable collection of objects, archives, books and photographs was built up. For more information on the collection visit www.kingsownmuseum.com.
Soldiers of the Regiment with their cycles in North Africa during the Second World War.
During the Second World War the museum was closed and the collections were based in a store, while the building (the former Lancaster Town Hall) was used by the Canadian Treasury. From the 1950s the museum continued to expand its collections, until the 1980s when even more rapid growth took place. The lower floor of the gallery tells the history of the Regiment from the 1660s to the 1960s, including a unique captain’s uniform from the 1760s – the oldest, most complete, British army uniform in the world.
Today, the museum team and Trustees are looking to address aspects of the colonial era legacy of the regiment. An exciting new project, funded through the Heritage Lottery, is currently researching and recording objects taken during the Abyssinian campaign in 1868. You can read more about this work here: Abyssinia Project.
Opening Times
Monday
10:30 – 16:00
Tuesday
10:30 – 16:00
Wednesday
CLOSED
Thursday
CLOSED
Friday
10:30 – 16:00
Saturday
10:30 – 16:00
Sunday
10:30 – 16:00
Please check the web pages for our other museums to see their opening days and times, as each museum is different.
Admission
Admission is FREE, but donations are appreciated. There are donation boxes for cash at the main entrace and in the King's Own galleries – 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.
The King's Own Royal Regiment Museum is located within Lancaster City Museum, Market Square, Lancaster, LA1 1HT.
By Car
If you are driving pleaseDO NOTfollow 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 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.
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.
The King's Own Royal Regiment Museum is located on the upper floor of the City Museum, and unfortunately 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 King’s Own galleries are currently NOT accessible to anyone unable to climb two flights of stairs.
The ground floor of the City Museum building remains accessible and can be reached via the main steps or a ramp by the entrance to Lancaster Library, next door.
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.
We are currently developing a new way for those with visual impairments to enjoy our collections. Find out more here: Touch and See.
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 provide hands-on sessions demonstrating military equipment to enhance your group visit. Find out more about these here: Events & Activities.
If you’d like to bring a school group or other educational group, please find the relevant information on our Learning Pages.
If you are enquiring regarding research, such as asking for information about a specific soldier or campaign, please go to our Regimental Research Enquiries page.
For basic enquiries (access, opening, group visits etc.) you can contact the City Museum team: lancastercitymuseum@lancaster.gov.uk, 01524 64637.
For other enquiries, email us at kingsown@lancaster.gov.uk. Please be aware that the King's Own does not have a full-time team to respond to enquiries on a regular basis. It may take a little while for us to get back to you, but we will do so as soon as possible.
Contact us
Telephone: 01524 64637 kingsown@lancaster.gov.uk Address: King's Own Museum, c/o Lancaster City Museum, Market Square, Lancaster, LA1 1HT
