Once famous for its ‘lunatics and linoleum,’ Lancaster has brushed off its 20th-century moniker to become known as a ‘heritage city.’ Today’s city has echoes of a medieval and turbulent past, with beautiful Georgian buildings decked out in sandstone and even a castle in which to learn historical tales of yesteryear.
Anyone can enjoy watching the River Lune meander past while enjoying a glass of wine on the balcony of a serviced apartment in Lancaster. Our modern Lancaster apartments in the city centre and on the outskirts have all the luxuries you can expect from a home, such as contemporary furnishings, fast and free Wifi, flat-screen TVs, self-catering facilities such as a fully equipped kitchen, a laundry service and on-site parking spaces. It is these qualities that make serviced accommodation the go-to option compared to hotels or B&Bs.
Many of Situ's serviced apartments in Lancaster are also equipped with added extras such as en-suite bathrooms, lockers or even bike storage for those who fancy cycling around the city’s many paths and bike routes as a break from work. We recommend the Bridge Square Apartments. Ideally placed less than a 15-minute walk from the Lancaster city centre in the Old Bus Depot, Kingsway these properties are ideally placed for those who want to be within walking distance of the thick of the area. Also, they are conveniently just a twenty minute walk away from the Lancaster Railway Station.
The county town of Lancashire, the city of Lancaster sits prettily on the River Lune, nestled between the glorious coastline of Morecambe Bay, the mountains of the Lake District and the beautiful and wild Forest of Bowland. It sits on the West Coast main train line between Glasgow, London and Manchester, while the M6 corridor provides easy access by rail.
A former wealthy stronghold in the 18th century, today Lancaster’s history brings tourists to the area to discover its ship faring past and family feuds, dating back as far as Medieval Times. More witches were killed here than any other location in England outside London, at which point Lancaster became known as ‘The Hanging Town.’
Thankfully, no such activity is evident across the city of 46,000 inhabitants today. Instead, travel just three miles inland from Morecombe and 20 miles south from the Lake District and you’ll find tea rooms, restaurants and a host of independent shops. Two hours on the train from the capitals of England and Scotland – London and Edinburgh respectively - it’s pretty central really and not at all difficult to reach. To arrive by car into south Lancaster, exit Junction 33 of the M6, or for the north of the city, turn off at Junction 34. You can find the city’s Park and Ride facility at Junction 34. Buses to the heart of Lancaster are very regular.
Like other parts of the Northern Powerhouse, Lancaster has spent several years building up its Digital Sector by providing encouragements for start-ups. As a result, its GVA is double the national average within this sector. Transport connections are also good so it’s no surprise Lancaster also has a strong Logistics offering. Expansion at the Port of Heysham, including the new £140m Bay link bypass road, has boosted freight transport as well as servicing for offshore energy. The latter includes the Dong Energy Walney windfarm and offshore gas development at Morecambe.
Lancaster University’s Health Innovation Campus is expected to bring extra funding to the area, in addition to the £41 million it has already attracted. Another large scale development is the £60M Eden North project in Morecambe and which is due to be complete in 2023.
In terms of employment in the area overall, most residents are employed in the Caring sector (12.9% - a jump of 3.3% within a decade). In fact, Lancaster has proportionally more people employed in this sector than in the UK as a whole. The number of people employed in the Professional, Scientific and Technical sector has doubled within 10 years from 3.4% to 7.8%. For whatever reason you are visiting the city, whether it is for a small networking event or to relocate your company, just remember there are many high-standard, corporate Lancaster apartments available that can cater for your business travel needs.
You will no doubt want to spend hours uncovering the fascinating – and long – history of this very English of cities. It’s easy to do so since there are still many fine buildings from the past, restored and resplendent wherever you look in the city. The 1000-year-old Lancaster castle, also standing as a Grade 1 listed building overlooks the city and served as a prison right up until 2013. The Gatehouse on the River Lune dates back to the 15th Century. So too does the beautiful gothic designed Lancaster Priory church (some of its stalls, with their carvings of mythological creatures, even date back to 1340).
The old townhouse, known as the Judges Lodgings, has an 18th-century façade and Tudor interior. There is also a Regency billiard table and art by Van Gogh’s good friend Armand Guillaumin. Those who love the outdoors will enjoy biking or walking along the 43 miles of lock-free canal. It’s also possible to take a trip on a Georgian aqueduct over the River Lune in a diesel powered boat.
Shopping-wise, Lancaster Market meets at the Charter on Wednesdays and Saturdays and where you can pick up potted shrimp and hog roast. In Lancaster as a whole though you’ll find tapas, sushi and Thai as well as specialist coffee houses and traditional pub meals. St Nics Arcade and Marketgate Centre offer high street stores. Ultimately, there's plenty to do here, and it is for that reason that we recommend a long stay serviced apartment in Lancaster, to make sure you don't miss out on anything that the city has to offer.
Both Manchester International Airport and Liverpool John Lennon Airport are less than an hour’s drive away from Lancaster. It’s also possible to get a train direct from Lancaster Railway Station to Manchester Airport.
Sitting on the main West Coast Mainline Lancaster is excellently placed for rail travel throughout the UK and Scotland.
There are also local services between Lancaster, Morecambe, Heysham and Carnforth along with links to other regional stations like Leeds and Manchester.
Lancaster Bus Station is bang in the centre of the city in Damside Street. There you’ll find National Express and Stagecoach buses as well as the Megabus to get to Lancaster University.
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