A vibrant and historic heritage city, Lancaster is home to around 15,000 students from around the world. With its fair share of pubs and clubs, Lancaster has a lively music scene, as well as a selection of high street stores and independent boutiques for you to explore. Not to mention many other interesting cultural sightseeing opportunities including Lancaster Castle and the Pendlebury Witches Trail.
Our Lancaster campus occupies large green and tranquil spaces. A short walk away from campus you will find Lancaster City Centre and the beautiful Williamson Park, home to the iconic Ashton Memorial, 54 acres of park and woodland and the annual Highest Point Festival.
Here on campus, you will find state-of-the-art teaching facilities in the form of a £9 Million investment in our Sentamu building completed in 2017, our halls of residence, library with social working spaces, sports complex with a variety of classes running throughout the week, a chapel, our students' union and three eateries including Starbucks Coffee, Cafe Martineau and The View Restaurant.
But you don't have to take our word for it. Explore our campus in 3D by following our Graduate Outreach Intern, Shahima, as she shows you around the campus on our video tour, virtually visit the facilities by clicking the pins on the map, or browse our picture gallery to see what happens on our campus and on our courses.
Home of the Student Union and Student Support
Library
The View Restaurant Social Space
Break Out Area Near Starbucks
Lancaster is a vibrant university city offering all the benefits of a great student life experience within a small and welcoming community. The campus is set in beautiful parkland just a short walk from the city centre, so you can enjoy the best of both worlds.
We have over 447 rooms in our Lancaster residences- take a look at what we have to offer!
“I visited the university on an open day before I made my choice. The tutors were nothing but welcoming. The small class sizes also attracted my attention, as you really get the opportunity to achieve your maximum potential and make some close friends.”
EMMA KIRBY, BA (HONS) PRIMARY EDUCATION WITH QTS
Lancaster Campus Bowerham Road, Lancaster, Lancashire, LA1 3JD Phone: 01524 590 800
Our Lancaster campus is on the edge of Lancaster city centre. The postcode for satnavs is LA1 3JD.
From the North:
Leaving the M6 at junction 34, take the A683 towards Lancaster/Morecambe. Turn left onto the Lune Valley interchange/A683. Continue slightly left at the next traffic lights onto Caton Road. At the second set of traffic lights turn left and follow the one-way system through the city centre up to Pointer roundabout (just past the Royal Lancaster infirmary). Here, take the first exit onto Bowerham Road. The campus entrance is located on your left.
From the South:
Leaving the M6 at junction 33, take the A6 to Lancaster (South). At the roundabout, take the second exit onto Lancaster Road/A6. Continue towards the city centre. Turn right onto Barton Road just after the BP garage. Follow this road and continue onto Bowerham Road. Go straight across the mini roundabout and follow Bowerham Road down to the campus entrance, which is on your right hand side.
Pay and display parking is available for students, staff and visitors without a parking permit. Please see the table below for prices.
| Length of time | Price |
|---|---|
| 0-2 hours | £1.00 |
| 2-4 hours | £1.60 |
| 4-8 hours | £2.40 |
| 8-10 hours | £3.20 |
Designated parking bays for disabled persons are located in the car parks at:
Vehicle entrances to the Bowerham Road campus are from Bowerham Road, Coulston Road, Wyresdale Road and Anderson Close only. The Golgotha Road exit is one-way and must not be used for entry to the campus.
Access to the area of College Main, College North and South, Gressingham and Sarah Witham Thompson is restricted to service vehicles, disabled parking and loading / unloading only. No general parking is permitted in these areas.
Download the Traffic Regulations and Car Parking Policy 2020-21
Open day attendees, course interview candidates, conference delegates and other visitors should be provided with parking information and permits by their hosts.
This will involve either a dedicated visitors parking area, supply of a visitors' parking permit, or use of pay-and-display. Visitors' parking permits might be provided in advance or arrangements made for their collection on arrival.
Unless a dedicated visitors' parking area has been provided, visitors' parking permits are valid in any non-allocated parking space.
Where an area is designated for visitors parking, staff and students with a parking permit or pay and display ticket must not park there.
For the avoidance of doubt, the following definitions are used in deciding eligibility:
‘Bona fide’ visitors are people who have been invited to the university and are not being paid. This includes people who are paying to attend an event but who are not students. This would include open days, conference delegates and registration events.
| Permit type | Prices |
|---|---|
| On-campus (non-residential and placement* car users only) | £64.00 |
| Williamson Park (off-campus) | £32.00 |
| Car Share | £33.00 |
| 12-week permits | £25.50 |
| Zero VED permit | 50% discount on any of the above prices |
On-campus parking
There is limited car parking space on site. With the exception of students who use their own car to get to their placements, residential students are not permitted to park on campus during the hours of 8.00 am and 6.00 pm Monday to Friday except by purchasing a Pay and Display ticket. On campus parking is available for residential students outside of these hours and at weekends provided that their vehicles are removed from campus by 8.00 am each weekday morning.
Pay and Display parking is available on this campus, the university operates a cashless parking system. It is possible to pay for you parking, by Pay by Phone, App or Connect Cashless Parking website.
Resident students who have to use their own cars to get to placements will be advised of their eligibility. They must apply and pay for a parking permit.
Apply for a student parking permit
Williamson Park
Parking for staff and students is also available in the Williamson Park Car Park accessed off Wyresdale Road. Permits for this car park need to be purchased and displayed. They are available at a lower fee than general University permits and therefore cannot be used in any other University car park. Williamson Park is not operated by the University nor the University’s parking operator and local rules should be observed.
Apply for a Williamson Park parking permit
On-street parking
Students are asked not to park on neighbouring residential streets.
| Location | Permit type | Prices |
|---|---|---|
| All campuses | Salary Band 1 – Up to £10,500 | £50.50 |
| All campuses | Salary Band 2 – £10,500 - £15,000 | £107.40 |
| All campuses | Salary Band 3 - £15,000 - £25,000 | £132.40 |
| All campuses | Salary Band 4 - £25,000 - £35,000 | £154.20 |
| All campuses | Salary Band 5 - £35,000 - £42,000 | £197.90 |
| All campuses | Salary Band 6 – Over £42,000 | £232.10 |
| All campuses | Car Share | £41.00 |
| All campuses | 12-week permits | £43.70 |
| All campuses | Zero VED permit | 50% discount on any of the above permit prices |
| Williamson Park | £54.60 |
Apply for a staff parking permit
Williamson Park
Parking for staff and students is also available in the Williamson Park Car Park accessed off Wyresdale Road. Permits for this car park need to be purchased and displayed. They are available at a lower fee than general University permits and therefore cannot be used in any other University car park. Williamson Park is not operated by the University nor the University’s parking operator and local rules should be observed.
On-street parking
Staff and students are asked not to park on neighbouring residential streets.
The issue of permits, management of University car parks and issue of Parking Charge Notices is currently managed by Excel Parking Services Ltd. Excel have a dedicated email address for University of Cumbria enquiries: uoc@excelparking.co.uk. Alternatively, you can use their general enquiry phone number: 0114 261 7111.
Any correspondence relating to the issue of a PCN must be directed to Excel Parking Services Ltd. This is not dealt with by the University. If you are dissatisfied with the issuing of a PCN you can appeal to Excel Parking Services Ltd. If you are not satisfied with the response from Excel Parking Services Ltd, you can appeal to the national Independent Appeals Service. Details of this will be provided with the PCN.
If you believe that there is a problem with a University Car Park (eg, the Pay and Display machine isn’t working), please report this to the site reception.
If you have any other queries about this policy please contact FM Administration in the first instance. They can be contacted at: 01524 590831 / email: centraladminfm@cumbria.ac.uk
Bicycle parking is available on campus - please see the Lancaster campus map for details.
Anyone using the bicycle parking must ensure that they lock their bicycle securely to the racks. The university does not accept liability for any property that is lost, stolen or damaged on campus.
We’ve got bikes available for rent to our staff and students.
They go for only £50 (inc VAT) for any period as long as you hand them back by the end of June.
All the bikes come with a lock (minimum ‘Sold Secure Bronze’) and a set of front and back lights. We don’t supply helmets but recommend that you do use one.
Please make sure that you insure and look after the bike while you’ve got it: we expect to get it back in a good condition (when you receive your bike it will be either new or will have been serviced).
To request a bike, talk to the your Accommodation Officer - we have a range of frame sizes so hopefully we’ll have a bike to fit you.
Our bikes are all Trek FX7.0, fitted with mudguards.
Do you bike, run or walk to work or study at the University of Cumbria?
Then join the University of Cumbria Strava Club!
Strava is a social media site that allows cyclists and other outdoorsy people to use GPS data to share routes and compare their performance.
If you’ve got a GPS device or a smartphone you can log your activities and upload them to the site. You’ll then be able to find out what other students and staff have been up to – helping you to pick up new route ideas and meet new people with similar interests. The site will also help you meet other people who ride the same commutes as you on a regular basis.
Visit the club page at www.strava.com/clubs/cumbriauni
Security advice
Please note: We strongly advise that Strava members use the site’s ‘Privacy Zone’ function to keep their home address hidden.
For more information visit the Strava security information page.
Our Lancaster campus is well-served by public transport, with buses stopping frequently at the stops near the campus entrance.
As a University of Cumbria student, you can get discounted season tickets for Stagecoach bus travel in Lancaster (the ‘Unirider’ ticket).
The Lancaster train station is a 20-30 minute walk from campus and a five-minute walk away from the bus station.
If you have any queries about travelling while at the University of Cumbria, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Phone: 01524 590 831
Email: centraladminfm@cumbria.ac.uk
Lancaster is a student city and thrives on welcoming young people into the community.
With its fair share of pubs and clubs, Lancaster has a lively music scene, as well as a selection of high street stores and independent boutiques for you to explore. Not to mention many other interesting cultural sightseeing opportunities!
It is in close proximity to the World-famous Lake District National Park with more than 200 mountains, 16 lakes, an abundance of rivers and rich habitats and wildlife. This idyll environment is a perfect place to spend time with family and enjoy the natural beauty of the North West
Also with good transport links to Manchester and Blackpool you’ll never be short of a fun day out!
Situated on the top floor of the Gateway building, The View restaurant really lives up to its name, offering spectacular panoramic views across Morecambe Bay to the Lake District hills. A delicious selection of hot and cold food is served daily at breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Whether you're looking for a hearty meal or just a quick bite, The View is an excellent choice.
Café Martineau is the perfect place to take time out between classes and enjoy fresh ground coffee, speciality teas, chilled beverages, hot savouries, soup, sandwiches, cakes and confectionery items.
Starbucks serves a wide range of coffees, teas, cold drinks and hot and cold snacks. There's something for everyone.
Here out our Lancaster campus, we have our very own sports complex with a wide range of classes being conducted throughout the day from Boot Camp to Yoga. Our sports centre membership is extremely affordable for our students and includes the use of Salt Ayre Leisure Centre, where you will find world-class sports and exercise facilities including an 18-panel indoor climbing wall and 33m swimming pool.
The University of Cumbria Students' Union (UCSU) represents the views and interests of our students.
The Students' Union organises a range of events - from Freshers' week right through to Graduation - to help you meet new friends, develop skills, celebrate success and provide opportunities to enhance your student life.
They also run a wide variety of student groups, societies and sports teams.
Take a stroll through Williamson Park - just across the road from campus
Ashton Memorial - spectacular views across Lancaster
Take a tour of Lancaster Castle
Swing by Lancaster Cathedral
Cruise the River Lune or grab a drink at a riverside pub
Check out one of Lancaster's festivals, like Light Up Lancaster
There's no better way to find out about a university than coming to an event or open day.
Filming Cumbria with Terry Abraham Ambleside
YouTube PremiereMasterclass: How can we encourage good mental health and wellbeing at university? Online
BookMasterclass: In Cold Blood? An Exploration of the Psychology of Violent Behaviour Online
BookMasterclass: Do You Want to Change The World? You Can! Online
BookMasterclass: Combatting Terrorism Online
BookWays of Seeing: Contemporary Visions of the Lake District in Text and Film Ambleside
YouTube PremiereMasterclass: Home-based Injury Prevention for Runners Online
BookMasterclass: Technology and Child Development: Friend or Foe? Online
BookMasterclass: The Psychology of Gender and Sexuality Online
BookMasterclass: Spinning the Wheel - Police Decision Making Online
BookMasterclass: Observational Sketching Online
BookMasterclass: Covid, Community and Criminology Online
BookMasterclass: Investigating Serious Crime Online
BookWriting Cumbria Now: A reading and conversation with two contemporary Cumbrian poets Ambleside
YouTube PremiereMasterclass: Digital Investigations Online
BookMasterclass: An Expert Witness - Police Officer witness statements Online
BookTEAN Conference Off-Campus
BOOK NOWAHE One Day Conference Off-Campus
BOOK NOWMonday September 21 2020
Professor Andy Schofield, Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University, and Professor Brian Webster-Henderson, Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Cumbria have issued a joint statement at the start of the 2020/21 academic year and as new measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus are set to come into effect.
Wednesday September 2 2020
University of Cumbria has, like other higher education institutions across the sector, introduced a range of measures to maintain a safe campus environment in the new term but wants to reassure students that they will still have a great university experience, nonetheless.
Wednesday July 22 2020
When student teachers in Lancashire were forced to cancel a key conference about inclusion that they had spent months planning they made sure their efforts to help others were not thwarted by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, items and funds raised by University of Cumbria students on a four-year BA Hons Primary Education with QTS in Inclusion/SEND (special educational needs) course have been given to a local foodbank and disability swimming club.
