When were you last in Lancaster? Have you been back since you graduated? Perhaps you live here, or close by... but when did you last play tourist? If you are considering a trip back to your old student stomping grounds, we have put together a list of our very fave things to do in this beautiful city.
1. Attend our Open Day. We are thrilled to announce our open day exclusively for our alumni on Saturday 31 August. Whatever year you studied (or worked!) with us, we would love to see you. Find out more about the event and how to book here. If you cannot visit on our specific open day, our campus grounds are always open for an explore. If you wish to see inside buildings you do have to be accompanied by a member of staff and tours can be pre-booked on weekdays, get in touch alumni@cumbria.ac.uk
2. Visit Williamson Park and the Ashton Memorial. How many times did you wander into Williamson Park as a student? Located perfectly just behind campus it’s the best escape to enjoy some nature and green grass. Were you one of those mad students who ran around here early every morning? Have you been back to Williamson Park since you left? It’s well worth a visit and retrace your student steps.
3. Walk along the canal. Bored of the shops, not ready for a pint, see how far you can get down the canal path. Apparently 57 miles long, we don’t recommend the entire length but for a little pootle away from the hustle and bustle it's lovely. See how many ducks you can spot.
4. Pub crawl! Loads of the old student faves are still here... Water Witch, White Cross, Horse and Farrier, the Park. But how about adding some new ones to your route, we love the Accidental Brewery, it's small but such a good vibe, also check out Tipple for fab cocktails.
5. Get some culture and history… Now, how many of these did you tick off as a student… be honest...? Lancaster Castle, Lancaster City Museum, Maritime Museum Cottage Museum, Judge’s Lodge Museum. These places have a fresh appeal as an ‘older’ and ‘wiser’ visitor to the city, highly recommend.
6. See a gig and grab some street food at Kanteena. The best nights out happen at Kanteena. This unique place housed in an old warehouse on the outskirts of town has such a cool atmosphere. See their lineup for a range of gigs, shows and club nights.
7. Wander along St George’s Quay. One of our very fave areas of the city, there’s so much interesting history. Be sure to look up at all the buildings, the architecture is stunning. A fascinating area and lots of re-generation happening. What was this end of town like when you were a student?
8. Catch a show at the Duke’s Theatre. A Lancaster institution, The Duke’s has been around since the early 70s. Hands up all our drama and arts students, how many of you volunteered/worked/acted here as a student? It’s well worth a visit with a packed schedule of exciting shows.
9. Dance the night away at Sugarhouse. Oh yes, it still exists! If you were a student from the early 80s onwards surely you LIVED at Sugarhouse? You may ‘technically’ need to befriend some students to get in, but I’m sure a quick flash of an old faded SU card and it won’t be a bother! Let us know how you get on.
10. Head to the seaside. Who doesn’t love Morecambe! Get the train, get the bus, or walk, frankly it's less than 4 miles away, won’t take you that long. Pack your bucket and spade, enjoy some fish and chips, have a go at the arcades and eat an ice cream in the pouring rain and you’re done! Morecambe hasn’t changed in decades, it's fab!
11. Visit the Lake District. Here for a few days and tired of the city already, half an hour up the M6 and you can be in the lakes. Hop on the train to Oxenholme and then the branch line to Windermere, or grab a bus from Penrith for the northern fells. Did you visit the lakes often as a student? Where were your favourite spots?
What have we missed from our list? What are your favourite things to see and do in Lancaster? Let us know... alumni@cumbria.ac.uk