Lancaster..what's it like?

[shadypines]

I realise I can't go for a while so in the meantime what do other MNetters think of this city? Is it pleasant to the eye, relatively clean, many galleries, museums? Thanks for any info.

Got it first time Errol! We lived right next to the beach at Rossall. I was down there with my friend from age 7, without adults... I’m amazed I’m still here tbh!

Well, when I was in Morecambe about 3 months ago, it was looking very dreary. It can be spectacular in summer, but the nightlife is er, shall we say, rough ...

I've had a look at the Eden project stuff - I think it'll be an eyesore and totally in the way of the natural vista across the Bay. Maybe you don't remember the Mr Blobby debacle?

Was Blobby where Happy Mount Park is? That’s a great park now!

Has a beautiful and huge park with a butterfly house and pets corner. It also has an outdoor theatre. We've been going since the DC were babies.........I like Lancaster. It's a friendly place. Seems to have skipped a lot of the social issues that we have elsewhere.

Loads of events are on through the year in Lancaster itself too.

And the street market is fabulous. We often visit just for that, I think it's on a Wednesday and Saturday.

I do miss the old market and the greasy spoon caf it had tho.

It definitely hasn't skipped the homelessness issue or the high street desertion @WhatWouldYouDoWhatWouldJesusDo
Unfortunately there are so many homeless in Lancaster at the moment. Williamson's park is nice.

The swimmers were indeed out today. Bloody idiots if you ask me.

Eden North looks great, it's nothing like Blobbyland 😂

As for the nightlife it depends where you go! The little bare, the Morecambe hotel, aspect, the palatine, the crown, the midland, the bookmakers, the royal at Heysham...new wine bar popping up on the prom (time will tell with that one), regular events at the platform....none of those are rough!

It hasn't skipped the homelessness issue. I got a bit of a shock last time I was there, and they've always hung out around where the museum is. But let's face it it isn't on a par with Manchester / Preston / Liverpool. Not by any stretch

I went to University there and really really liked it in that respect. I come from Cambridge and it has a not dissimilar vibe, but less snobby.

Oh no. Definitely not on a par with bigger cities. Last time I went out in Lancaster there was definitely an edge walking through the city at night. I wasn't keen. Loved my time at the uni many many years ago.

Was Blobby where Happy Mount Park is? That’s a great park now!

It was even better before the council ruined it with Blobbyland. They really hadn't a clue and absolutely wrecked it. It's taken a couple of decades to get it back to being a real asset. The council's stupidity also ended up costing the local ratepayers hundreds of thousands of pounds with nothing to show for it.

I do miss the old market and the greasy spoon caf it had tho

Yes! I miss the cheese stall (I know it's moved elsewhere) and the haberdashery/towels/sheet shop = which closed down, when they closed the Covered Market.

But the Lancaster street market is great - very nice halal food from Samara's stall [name] and fab French-style bread.

The annual summer show in Williamson Park is a must-see. I hope it survives eventually.

I think we're getting Morecambe & Lancaster mixed up. Lancaster night life very far from rough, IME. I've always felt quite safe staggering home at 1am ...

It's a very recent thing flock, I always felt safe too but the city centre at night has been pretty tense since last summer. There are obviously parts of Morecambe you wouldn't fancy staggering through at night but with the layout is completely different. Market square and penny street have been awful just recently

Not to mention a spate of thefts and assaults from gangs from out of town. The music festival was good though

Oh sorry to hear that Whitesoxx - my house is only 5 minutes from Penny Street, but in a central residential area.

Dull, depressing, rainy, not much going on. I lived there and yes the suicide rate for students is very high. I’m much happier in London.

Each to their own!

The suicide rate for students was one of the highest in the 80s- I don’t think it is now.

That Indian food stall does a fantastic chick pea and potato curry with a flatbread! I used to take DS to rugby at Ripley on Saturdays and that was our lunchtime treat.

There are lots of great places for veggie food in Lancaster.

great places for veggie food in Lancaster

Whale Tail Café!

The Sultan (no booze tho' )

Shops on Dallas Road.

and the Lancaster institution that is Nice and Spicy.

Oh gosh, as soon as this lockdown finishes, we're going over there for the weekend! Just to have a Nice&Spicy takeway

Oh god, read the reviews on nice and spicy first not envy.

Owner got banged up, went right downhill.

Bombay Balti still fantastic though. And the lady who owns the stall you're all talking about us Sanah. Deffo worth a visit.

I do still like Lancaster, just prefer Morecambe now. The crowds of homeless people and general rowdiness last time I was out there put me off completely. I saw a Chinese girl punched in the face by one of them about 6 weeks ago after a man chased her right down penny street. She was wearing a mask. Wonder if he thinks it's so funny now. Tosser

I confess it rained for about 20 minutes around noon today...

It wasn’t raining down the A6 where we are, although it looked like it could’ve.

Bet it rained at the Uni 😂😂😂😂 we live on the next hill towards town, often a gentle breeze 😉😳