Home > What to See and Do in Morecambe, Lancaster & Lune Valley > Arts, Culture and Heritage

Arts, Culture and Heritage

Be it theatre or football, nautical heritage or architecture, our district can provide the perfect setting to experience and enjoy our cultural attractions...

Featured on this page:

• Festivals
• Live Performance
• Public Art
• Museums & Galleries
• Film & Movie Locations
• Architecture
• Spectator Sports
• Local Legends...

Festivals

Make sure you don't miss the festivals spread across our district with year round entertainment sure to catch the imagination of every member of the family. Jazz, scarecrows, literature, punk, fireworks and many more provide their own dedicated celebration of our district.

Visit our Festivals and Events page year round listings...

Live performance

The Dukes is a regional theatre of national repute, producing their own professional in-house shows and hosting touring productions. Their annual summer outdoor production that promenades amongst the beautiful surroundings of Williamson Park is a must-see.

Also why not check out the rest of the vibrant scene of live music venues in Lancaster by logging onto www.bandsinlancaster.co.uk
 

Lancaster's Grand Theatre is one of the oldest theatres in England, and this beautiful auditorium hosts a varied programme of concerts, comedy and theatre.

The Nuffield Theatre at Lancaster University offers a cutting-edge programme featuring the leading touring companies in contemporary dance and performance.

Staying on campus, the Lancaster International Concert Series welcomes a variety of major international orchestras and artists.

In Morecambe, The Platform (beautifully restored old Railway Station) is a wonderful performance space, and attracts a huge variety of top names from across the entertainment spectrum.

In the north of the district is the Heron Theatre which runs a regular fortnightly programme of plays, revues, lectures and musical events which are open to the public.

Click on the logo below to purchase Theatre Tokens which can be redeemed at a number of venues nationwide. We also sell Theatre Tokens in both Visitor Information Centres (Lancaster and Morecambe); just call in and pick some up for that perfect gift!

Public Art

Award-winning public art includes the specially commissioned artworks that line the superb River Lune Millennium Park, a 15km riverside foot and cycle path that links Lancaster with Caton. Carvings and space-age signs, sculptures, glasswork rocks and 'upside down' trees await discovery, and the stunning Millennium Bridge at the Lancaster end of the park is a work of art in itself.

In Morecambe, the acclaimed TERN Project has fantastic public artworks, adding to the huge range of sculptures and designs reflecting the bird life of Morecambe Bay already in place, from Puffins on bollards to the hugely popular Stone Jetty with its pavement games such as Magpie hopscotch.

Museums & Galleries

In addition to the public art in the area, there are numerous galleries in the area. On Lancaster University campus is the Peter Scott Gallery, which presents a varied programme of major touring exhibitions and student work. The Edge Gallery in Lancaster City Centre offers a regularly changing programme of contemporary artists, jewellers and sculptors.

The City Museum has a regular changing exhibition programme, alongside the permanent displays. The award winning Maritime Museum is also well worth a visit along with the Judges' Lodgings which is the historic home of the famous witch hunter, Thomas Covell.

The beauty of the Lune Valley is a magnet for artists, and many open their studios to visitors during the annual Lunesdale Studio Trail in summer.

Film & Movie Locations

Blockbuster fans can choose from the latest movie releases at the Apollo 4 cinema in Morecambe or the brand new 'Vue' Cinema in Lancaster. In addition, The Dukes is the area's independent cinema and features a fabulous programme of art-house, popular and cult films.

The market town of Carnforth, is famous for being the film location for the classic David Lean's 'Brief Encounter'. Carnforth Station Visitor Centre and Tearooms (an exact replica of the refreshment rooms in the film) are open at Carnforth Railway Station.

The Midland Hotel in Morecambe, which is currently undergoing restoration was used many moons ago for a murder mystery episode of Agatha Christie's Poirot on ITV.

Local Legends - The Witches of Pendle

The year was 1612. James I was King and England's magistrates were conducting ruthless witch-hunts. In Pendle, Lancashire, eleven women were arrested and imprisoned at Lancaster Castle where they were tried and three days later, publicly hanged.

The fascinating history of the Pendle Witches can be followed by car, cycling or walking trails, the largest of which is the Pendle Witches Trail. It begins at Pendle Heritage Centre in Barrowford and passes through scenic Ribble Valley villages, and ends at Lancaster Castle, where the women met their doom.

Along the way visit the historic villages of Newchurch and Roughlee in the shadow of Pendle Hill, still haunted by the stories of witchcraft. This is one of the most unspoilt journeys in England with panoramic views stretching out to sea and over to the Lake District.

So no matter where you visit, the past will whisper its fascinating secrets to you, revealing centuries old tales, myths and legends!

Further Information

The above is just a taster - See Events and Attractions for more!