Lancaster is a bustling city residing alongside the River Lune and dominated by the castle. Owned by Her Majesty the Queen in right of her Duchy of Lancaster, Lancaster Castle is a fascinating place to visit – with dungeons and the beautiful Shire Hall. A Roman Fort was originally built on or near the site of the castle, and the Normans’ also saw the advantages of the area when they built a wooden construction there soon after the conquest. The stone keep is believed to have been built in the 1100s and 1200s, with more being added over the next few centuries.

Most of the city centre is pedestrianised, which makes it very convenient for shopping. There are many places to visit within the city, including an award-winning maritime museum which tells the history of the port of Lancaster.

A short journey east of Lancaster is the Forest of Bowland. The area is a mixture of valleys, moorland and fells, and became part of Lancashire in 1974.