City of Lancaster

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Region: North West
Country: England

§ This page provides an overview of an officially designated city in the UK, bringing together various information to help you better understand this city.

Lancaster was granted city status in May 1937 (letters patent read at the first meeting of the new city council), reflecting an ancient county town shaped by its castle, priory and River Lune trade. In 1974 the wide-area City of Lancaster district was formed and city status was confirmed to the new borough; Lancaster City Council continues to provide district services within Lancashire’s two-tier system. A new non-mayoral Lancashire Combined County Authority launched in 2025 now coordinates county-wide strategy on transport, skills and economic growth, complementing the city council’s role across Lancaster, Morecambe and surrounding communities.

City Council Status

Lancaster City Council (City of Lancaster) is a non-metropolitan district authority within Lancashire’s two-tier system and participates in the Lancashire Combined County Authority for strategic matters.

In the UK, a city is not defined by size or population but by formal status granted by the monarch, often through historical charters or, more recently, civic honours competitions. There are 76 officially recognised cities, some of which are relatively small compared to other urban areas. In contrast, local authority districts (361 in total) are administrative areas created for local government purposes and may include a mix of urban centres, suburbs, and rural communities. Within districts, there may be one or more towns, which generally refer to sizeable urban settlements but do not hold city status unless it has been formally granted. In practice, a city can exist within a district, and a district can cover multiple towns, showing the clear distinction between legal status, administrative boundaries, and everyday usage.

Cities in North West