Owned by His Majesty the King, the Duke of Lancaster, Lancaster Castle has over 1,000 years of heritage, history, justice, felony, and incarceration just waiting for you to explore! As well as being a fortification, the Castle was also Europe’s longest-serving operational prison until its closure in March 2011. With so much to learn and see, there is something for everyone. Only a 9-minute drive away from the hotel, Lancaster Castle is not one to miss.