Lancaster University lies approximately 3 miles south of the City of Lancaster. The campus is within 70 miles of Manchester’s International Airport and is well served by road and public transport links.
If using an online route planner or satnav, the main University postcode is LA1 4YW.
For the Health Innovation Campus use Sir John Fisher Drive, Health Innovation Campus LA1 4AT.
For Forrest Hills use LA2 0PL.
Lancaster train station is a five-minute walk from the city centre.
There are direct rail links between Lancaster and many of the UK's major cities and airports. For train times, visit National Rail Enquiries.
The 4 and 4X bus services operate between Lancaster Railway Station (Platform 3 exit) and Lancaster University every 30 minutes Monday to Friday daytimes. On Saturdays and during University vacation periods the 4 / 4X services operate hourly. There is also a limited service on Sunday evenings in term time (4X) to meet popular trains from the south. The journey time is around 25 minutes. Taxis are also available at the station.
Local bus services to the University campus are operated by Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire.
Lancaster Bus Station is situated on Damside Street in the city centre and most bus services also stop at Common Garden Street. Service 1/1A provides a direct connection to the University every 10 minutes, Services 100, 4, 4X, 40, 41 and 42 also serve the University giving a total of 14 buses per hour from Monday to Saturday until 7pm. A less frequent service then runs daily until around midnight.
All buses (except 40 or 41) drop off and collect passengers at Lancaster University Bus Station, situated underneath Alexandra Square in the centre of campus. The hourly 40 or 41 journey calls at the bus stops on the A6 outside the campus.
Additionally, services 100 and 42, along with certain 4, 40 and 41 journeys serve the southern perimeter road and South West Campus. There are also bus stops directly outside the Sports Centre on the main drive. All the buses which serve the Lancaster University Bus Station also stop here.
All the above buses serve the bus stops on the A6 outside the entrance road to the Health Innovation Campus.
There are daily scheduled coach services from Lancaster University Bus Station to destinations across the UK. These are operated by Megabus and Flixbus.
An hourly rail link runs directly between Manchester Airport and Lancaster. Journey time is just over an hour, For train times, visit National Rail Enquiries.
Megabus operate a daily coach service between Manchester Airport and Lancaster University. For coach times, visit Megabus.
Alternatively, take the M56 motorway at Junction 5 and join the M6 motorway at Junction 20 (north), then follow the 'By Car' directions below.
Lancaster University also provides a coach shuttle service from Manchester Airport to the University on certain dates to coincide with Arrivals Weekend and the start of the academic year.
If you arrive at Heathrow or Gatwick airport, you can catch a connecting flight to Manchester.
Alternatively, you can travel from Heathrow or Gatwick to Lancaster by train or coach.
From Heathrow, take the Heathrow Express to Paddington station in central London, and then the London Underground to Euston station.
From Gatwick, take the Gatwick Express to Victoria Station in central London and then the London Underground to Euston Station.
From Euston Station, trains depart every hour for Lancaster city from Monday to Friday (but less frequently on Saturdays and Sundays). The journey takes about three hours and you can find times on the National Rail Enquiries website. On arrival in Lancaster, you can then take a taxi or bus from the station to the University campus.
You can also travel by coach (Flixbus or Megabus) from London. Please note that even a direct coach can take six to seven hours to get from London. However, this is often a cheaper option than a one-way train ticket.
If you wish to travel to Lancaster on the coach you should book a seat in advance. Please note that you may not be allowed on the bus/coach if you have more than two suitcases. See the Flixbus or Megabus website for details of fares and coach times.
It takes around 20 minutes to cycle from the city centre to campus on the signed University cycle route. This is traffic-free from Whinfell Drive in Hala to Bailrigg Lane from where alternative paths lead to North Campus passing Bailrigg House, and to other campus destinations passing Health Innovation One.
An alternative traffic-free signed cycle route runs along the Lancaster Canal from the city centre. This offers an option that is mainly traffic-free, with a short section on quiet roads. Most colleges have secure cycle stores. Undercover cycle stands are provided across campus.
A University cycle map is available showing cycle routes to campus and cycle parking and showering facilities on campus.
Leave the M6 motorway at Junction 33 and take the A6 north towards Lancaster.
After Galgate village, three junctions with traffic lights on the A6 serve the University.
For South West Campus (Alexandra Park) - turn right at the first traffic lights into Hazelrigg Lane and then left at the roundabout into Alexandra Park Drive.
For North and South Campus, turn right at the second traffic lights into the University main drive. You can use the Parking Zone Map to identify the most convenient visitor car park for your destination.
For South East Campus (Forrest Hills) - follow the directions to South West Campus but go straight ahead at the roundabout and follow the signs.
For Health Innovation One – turn right at the third traffic lights into Sir John Fisher Drive. It takes around 20 minutes to walk the length of the campus and there are frequent buses with a 50p single fare within the campus.
You can use either the RAC or AA route planners to view and print directions for your journey.
If using an online route planner or satnav, the main University postcode is LA1 4YW. For the Health Innovation Campus use Sir John Fisher Drive, Health Innovation Campus. For Forrest Hills use LA2 0PL.
If you are travelling to campus in a plug-in electric vehicle, electric charging is available. Information on charging points.
Visitor car parking is available on campus 24/7 and is free between 6.00pm and 8.00am Mon to Fri after 6pm and at weekends. If you’re visiting campus during the day, then parking charges apply.
A ticket can be purchased using RingGo Cashless Parking Solutions and from any pay and display machine across campus at the cost of £2.20 for two hours or £5.50 for up to 10 hours (£3.30 on South West Campus and the Sports Field Car Park). All payments are made using the RingGo app, web-based services or by phone, and machine payments are contactless by either chip and pin or contactless card payment.
The Sports Centre has a separate parking policy from the rest of the campus. Users of the Sports Centre can park for up to two hours free of charge at the Sports Centre Car Park, subject to availability and restrictions. Parking is also available at the Sports Field Car Park located off Green Lane. The tariff for the Sports Field Car Park is £3.30 per day.
Wheelchair-accessible spaces are marked across all car parking areas on campus. Blue Badge holders are welcome to park without charge. Blue Badge holders visiting the Health Innovation Campus by car must register their Blue Badge with University Security by contacting 01524 594541.
Please note Sports Centre is non fee taking machine, only distributing 2hr free tickets for sports users only.
The University work with AccessAble to provide access guides to various part of the University campus, which detail key access information including accessible routes, facilities and parking information.
Accessible parking is available across campus: for one-off visits, Blue Badges will suffice. There are accessible parking spaces all around campus - see the campus map for locations.
AccessAble
The fully accessible Changing Places toilet is located in the LEC building. The facility has been specially designed to accommodate the needs of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, or with physical disabilities including muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis, who cannot use standard accessible toilets. Find the Changing Places facility on MazeMap.
Changing Places