Lancaster Castle
Dominating the local skyline, Lancaster Castle is one of England's best-preserved castles.
The castle is owned by His Majesty the King, who is the Duke of Lancaster. The castle offers a glimpse into England’s often dark past through tours and special events enjoyed by modern day visitors of all ages. Until 2011 it was a fully functioning HM Prison and was also Europe’s longest-serving prison.
Its courtrooms have witnessed many famous and infamous trials over the centuries, including those of the Lancashire Witches who were convicted and sentenced to death in 1612. Between 1800 and 1865 only the judges at the Old Bailey in London sentenced more people to death than those who sat at Lancaster Castle.
Plan your visit
Access to most of the castle interiors is by guided tour only. Tours run daily throughout the year (except over Christmas).
Tour start times are subject to change or cancellation and visitors are advised to call ahead if you need information about specific tour times on the day of your visit.
The Police Museum (Thursday to Friday only), Witches' Exhibition and castle courtyards can be accessed without a guided tour. These parts of the castle are not administered by Lancashire County Council.
Admission charges
Adults £9
Children aged 17 and under - £7
Family Ticket £25 – two full price and 2 children; 1 full price and 3 children; 4 children (one of whom must be over 16 years).
For large-group bookings or private tours please contact us to discuss your needs
Opening times
The Castle courtyards are open from 9.30am to 5.00pm every day.
The ticket office is open from 10.00am on weekdays and from 9.30am at weekends, and closes every day at 4.00pm.
Tour times
Tours last 60-70 minutes and run all year with times changing seasonally.
Summer tour times until end of October 2026:
Monday to Friday - Tours run from 10.00am to 3.45pm at intervals of 45-60 minutes (up to 8 tours each day.)
Saturday and Sunday - Tours run every half hour between 10.00am and 12.00pm and between 1.15 pm and 3.45 pm.
Weekdays and weekends during Lancashire school holidays - Lancashire school holidays Tours run from 10.00am to 3.45pm at frequent intervals throughout the day (up to 11 tours each day.)
*Tour times may be subject to change or cancellation. Private group bookings and other events/circumstances mean that tours may not always operate at the times listed and the tour coverage may be altered. Visitors are welcome to call the Castle on 01524 64998 should they need to check tour times for a specific time and date.
How to find us
The Shire Hall, Lancaster Castle, Castle Parade, Lancaster, LA1 1YJ
The castle is located near to Lancaster city centre and is sign-posted from junctions 33 and 34 of the M6 motorway. The site is a five-minute walk from the railway station; the bus station is a ten to fifteen-minute walk. Plan your journey and view bus timetables for your area and train times (external site). Why not take advantage of our bargain bus fare offers to visit?
Map
What's on: events and exhibitions
Search for the latest events at Lancaster Castle. If there are no current events listed check back for new events soon. We look forward to seeing you.
Previous events include theatrical and musical events and our annual 'Christmas at the castle' markets.
Facilities, access and contact details
Facilities
Free public access to the courtyard area
Car parking available for blue badge holders by prior arrangement, please contact the castle before your visit
Assistance dogs welcome
Part disabled access
Baby changing facilities
Access
Lancaster Castle is located on top of a hill and that approaches from all directions are steep. The visitor entrance is the main gateway to the castle at the front of the building (the John O’Gaunt gate).
The tour route is not suitable for pushchairs or buggies. If your infant is able to walk, or you are able to carry your infant for the duration of the tour, there is a place part-way round the route where buggies can be left, on request, at your own risk. The tour route is also not suitable for wheelchairs. Visitors with limited mobility are asked to please call ahead to speak directly to our tour guides.
See the access statement (PDF 5.24 MB) for more detail or please ring us if you have any questions.
Contact us
Tel: 01524 64998
If you've visited us recently, don't forget to leave us a TripAdvisor review.
Discover more of Lancashire's diverse history and visit one of our other Lancashire Museums. Which of our museums will you visit next?
Things to see and do
Hear the castle stories of those who have passed through its gates, from royal visitors, to witches and martyrs imprisoned here. Experience the chilling old cells and the Drop Room where the condemned were led to the gallows.
The Shire Hall houses a magnificent display of more than 650 heraldic shields. The Crown Court dock still has the branding iron which was used on 'malefactors' until 1811. Our usual guided tours also include some areas of the former prison.
Entry to the castle interiors which are open to the public is by guided tour only.
Extensive conservation and restoration works have opened up the historic kitchen courtyard and access to the King’s Evidence and Male Felons Towers beyond the world-famous Well Tower in which the Lancashire Witches were incarcerated while awaiting trial. Part of the curtain wall has been lowered to restore the original sightlines to the Priory and a new covered cloister walk uncovered. A new teaching suite and gallery space have also been created together with a sweeping new piazza in the lower courtyard.
Here's what some of our visitors had to say:
This highly decorative ten-sided room is Joseph Gandy’s masterpiece. Completed in 1802, its semi-circle of Gothic pillars carry not only the arches which support the timber ceiling over the main part of the court room but also the arches of the plaster vault over the surrounding aisle. Still used as a working courtroom on rare occasions, today the Shire Hall is also the centrepiece for one the UK’s finest displays of heraldic shields.
Please note that most of Lancaster Castle's history has been associated with law and order and crime and punishment. These topics form a significant part of the guided tour and include information about the death penalty and hangings which took place at the castle.
Facilities
Free public access to the courtyard area
Car parking available for blue badge holders by prior arrangement, please contact the castle before your visit
Assistance dogs welcome
Part disabled access
Baby changing facilities
Access
Lancaster Castle is located on top of a hill and that approaches from all directions are steep. The visitor entrance is the main gateway to the castle at the front of the building (the John O’Gaunt gate).
The tour route is not suitable for pushchairs or buggies. If your infant is able to walk, or you are able to carry your infant for the duration of the tour, there is a place part-way round the route where buggies can be left, on request, at your own risk. The tour route is also not suitable for wheelchairs. Visitors with limited mobility are asked to please call ahead to speak directly to our tour guides.
See the access statement (PDF 5.24 MB) for more detail or please ring us if you have any questions.
Contact us
Tel: 01524 64998
If you've visited us recently, don't forget to leave us a TripAdvisor review.
Discover more of Lancashire's diverse history and visit one of our other Lancashire Museums. Which of our museums will you visit next?
If you've visited us, what was your favourite thing you learnt about Judges' Lodgings? Let us know by sharing your experiences on Twitter using #LancasterCastle and don't forget to tag in @LancsMuseums on X and @LancsMuseums on Facebook.
Why not join the Friends of Lancaster Judges’ Lodgings and help to promote and support the oldest town house in Lancaster.
Museum loan boxes
Our museum loan boxes contain a wide range of historical artefacts, replica objects and useful resources. Loan boxes are a great way of bringing a little bit of the museum into your classroom.
Schools
We are happy to receive enquiries from schools throughout the year. Our guided tours offer students the opportunity the see one of the last working castles in the country, learn about the administration of the law through the last 1000 years, and experience for themselves what it meant to be imprisoned here.
Learning
Come to Lancaster Castle for a truly unique experience. Owned by the monarchy for over 600 years, this impressive and inspiring castle was used as a prison from the Middle Ages until very recently and is still used as a court. What better place to learn about history, from the Lancashire Witch Trials of 1612 to the riots of the 19th-century? This is a wonderful opportunity to see a courtroom and learn how the law has operated over the centuries.
Learning sessions (Mondays and Tuesdays only for KS2)
Delivered by Heritage Learning Lancashire.
With exclusive access to the historic A Wing of the former Lancaster Prison, this immersive and dynamic session invites pupils to explore 2,000 years of crime prevention. Through hands-on roleplay and object exploration, pupils will compare legal systems and punishments across the ages.
Continue your journey into the past by visiting the Felon's Tower, where pupils will sharpen their historical enquiry skills through the examination of real-life records from the Georgian and Victorian eras.
Only available on Monday or Tuesday mornings (10am – 12noon) and runs in conjunction with an afternoon Shire Hall tour.
Led by Lancaster Castle tour guides.
Dominating the local skyline, Lancaster Castle is one of England's best-preserved castles. The castle offers a glimpse into England’s often dark past through tours and special events enjoyed by modern day visitors of all ages. Until 2011 it was a fully functioning prison.
Its courtrooms have witnessed many famous and infamous trials over the centuries, including those of the Lancashire Witches who were convicted and sentenced to death in 1612. Between 1800 and 1865 only the judges at the Old Bailey in London sentenced more people to death than those who sat at Lancaster Castle.
Guided tours visit areas of the modern prison, Georgian courtrooms and some medieval parts of the castle. Tours last 60-75 minutes.
Cost (invoiced separately)
Crime through Time session
£3 per Lancashire County Council (LCC) pupil
£4 Academy / Non-LCC pupil
All accompanying adults free
Shire Hall Tour
£4 per pupil.
One adult free per ten pupils. Additional adults £4
Carers/1-1 support staff free
Accompanying adults free
Facilities
Coach drop off
Limited accessibility
Toilets
Gift shop
Bookable lunch space