In Lancaster, we’re very lucky for our university to be in such an amazing city, there’s so much to do in and around campus that we decided to give you a trusty alphabetical list.
To all the incoming freshers, you can even use it as a checklist for things to do while you’re at uni here.
A is for Alexandra Square
Alexandra Square is the very centre of our campus. If you haven’t bumped into someone you know sitting on the steps in the sunny weather, then you just haven’t lived the Lancaster life.
B is for Bowland Tower
You can see Bowland Tower from a mile away (or thereabouts). Major Lancs bucket list moment to make it to the top floor, but we don’t know more than a handful of people who have ever achieved it. It always feels like a “welcome home” to see the tower coming into view on the way back to uni after a holiday.
C is for Colleges
We are super lucky to have nine colleges at Lancaster. Each student is assigned a college at the start of their first year and it functions as a family during your time here. Every college has its own on-campus accommodation, they run college events, and have student JCRs for advice.
D is for Ducks
While you’re in Lancaster, you’ll definitely come across a large number of ducks. Whether that’s in the pond outside of Fylde bar, or just swimming along the canal in town, there’s definitely a quacking visit on the cards for you. Be careful, they might just fancy a peck at your sandwich.
E is for Eateries
There are plenty of outlets on campus to eat and drink at. You can find major chains around Alexandra Square such as Greggs, Costa, and Subway, as well as independent shops like Coastal and The Deli to keep you fuelled between lectures. You’ll also probably find yourself frequenting some of our campus bars and the weekly Farmers’ Market. Which leads us perfectly on to…
F is for Farmers’ Market
Each week, Alexandra Square is host to a multitude of stalls selling food, collectables, jewellery, vinyls, and so much more! It’s almost impossible to walk past without taking a quick look at what’s there each week. Let me tell you, those hot doughnuts are absolutely to die for.
G is for Great Hall
The Great Hall is the most crucial building you’ll step in during your time in Lancaster. You’ll head in there for the welcome talk on your first day, some of your exams, and your graduation day! You might even be lucky enough to catch a showcase from one of our performing arts societies there!
H is for Hala
We really were struggling for H so ended up going for Hala… one of the destinations on the (dreaded) 100 route between uni and Bowerham. Sorry to anyone who lives in Hala. Or Bowerham. Getting the 100 is a hard life.
I is for International
We are so lucky at Lancaster to have students from all around the country and all around the world. One of the best things about university is to mix with people of different cultures and experiences and to find out about lives all across the globe. We also have a great study abroad exchange programme.
J is for Jacob Hudson
Our 2025 Biggest Name on Campus winner made Lancaster the place it is today. Jacob treats us all to his reviews of the country’s Wetherspoons and really makes a celebrity experience around campus. He definitely deserved a spot on our A-Z.
K is for Kebab (Sultans)
Featured image via @suprith_4 on Instagram
S was already taken but we couldn’t skip out on our favourite place on campus: Sultans! Whether it’s a cheeky midweek lunch or a post-night out necessity, Sultans Bossman is always on hand to provide a glowing welcome to us all in our trying times.
L is for LUSU
Lancaster University Students’ Union is your go-to for all things uni. They run campus events, give advice, support all of our affiliated societies, and keep us updated on everything happening.
M is for Morecambe
We’re very lucky at Lancaster to be situated so close to the seafront, with frequent buses going between campus and Morecambe every day. Morecambe is the perfect place to watch the sunset on a summer night, or even take a walk along the shore in any weather.
N is for Nightlife
Lancaster has tons of pubs, bars, and clubs. We’re very lucky that our students’ union owned nightclub – Sugarhouse – is students only. It opens on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and pretty much every student ends up there at least once, it’s a right of passage!
O is for Otter
One of the best parts about living in Lancaster is that we get so much wildlife roaming around campus. Ducks, bunny rabbits, and (recently) otters have shown up in our lake on campus. If you take a gorgeous walk along the canal in town, you can also catch some swans and alpacas on the route!
P is for Performances
Our performing arts societies organise many performances and events throughout the academic year. There are tons of free performances to watch at open days and general campus events, and there are some paid performances that help fund our societies as well.
Q is for Queue
Someone once told us that the Greggs on campus is the second most profitable in the country. We’re not sure how true that is, but we really wouldn’t be surprised judging by the lunch queue. Definitely get there early or you’ll end up queuing all the way from the underpass.
Roses
We hold an annual competition with the University of York called Roses, in which we go back to our historical roots with the Wars of the Roses and have all of our sports societies compete against each other. Lancaster has won a record-breaking four times in a row… let’s make it five next year!
S is for Societies
There are over 200 LUSU-affiliated societies to choose from at Lancaster. They range from sports, to performing arts, to special interest societies. Whatever you’re into, there’s a society for you. Our Freshers’ Fair is the best place to explore our options and meet your new people so make sure to keep an eye out for that in October.
T is for The Tab
Now, we couldn’t exactly give T to anything other than The Tab now, could we? Obviously, from a place of bias, we have to say we’re the best group on campus. Make sure to follow us on Instagram and keep an eye on our website to see every new article of all things Lancaster.
U is for Underpass
The underpass on campus is your one-step (get it?) location for buses into town and the surrounding area. All of the buses from the underpass – if you go in the right direction – head to the city centre, and some of them also go to Heyshame, Morecambe, and the Lake District.
V is for Vibe
Vibe is another nightclub that we’re happy to have in Lancaster. It’s open to the public, hosts lots of student events, and even has discounts for some of our societies.
W is for Williamson Park
We’re super lucky that Williamson Park is just a short walk from town. It’s a gorgeous park with the Aston Memorial – which is a necessity for any student to see – and a zoo (see Z…)
E is for eXtracurriculars
Umm… you can probably guess that we ended up struggling for X. Alongside our hundreds of societies, there are also opportunities for students to be academic reps for their subject departments, and work for Lancaster’s Employment and Recruitment Service in the many jobs available on campus.
Y is for You Time
The good thing about Lancaster being in the middle of gorgeous parks and nature is that there are plenty of ways to decompress after a long day at uni. Lancaster train station can also take you to all major cities! With a student railcard, you can get a return ticket to Manchester and Liverpool for around £15 and London for around £50!
Z is for Zoo
We said we’d get back to the zoo! Williamson Park has a small zoo just beside the Ashton Memorial which has butterflies, meerkats, and more!
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