Lancaster Castle has been given one of the UK’s leading tourism accolades for its “flawless” guided tours.
Lancaster Castle tours, operated by Lancashire County Council’s Museum Service, have been awarded the title of ‘Best Told Story’ at the 2025 VisitEngland Accolade Awards.
The special recognition for the tours at follows a glowing assessment by VisitEngland in 2024, with the tour being described as “extremely well structured,” with all areas visited described as authentic, and the “immaculately maintained courtrooms” highlighted as a standout feature.
Dating back to Roman times, Lancaster Castle has stood for nearly a thousand years as a royal fortress, a centre for law and order, and one of Europe’s longest-operating prisons.
Its rich history includes everything from medieval warfare and royal visits to infamous trials, including those of the Lancashire Witches in 1612. Today, its guided tours offer visitors a vivid journey through centuries of British history, exploring courtrooms, cells and stories.
Lancaster Castle’s guided tours were singled out by the assessor for their exceptional quality. The assessor awarded the tour an impressive 92%, with top marks in four out of five categories.
The castle’s tour guide James Houghton also received additional praise for his ability as a “natural storyteller”.
The assessor wrote: “The tour guide’s exceptional knowledge, skill, good humour and enthusiasm brought all areas to life with a careful blend of facts and anecdotes. The guide was a natural storyteller and had a captive, engaged audience from start to finish.
“Barring a couple of small tweaks to the conclusion, this tour was flawless.”
James and Dr Colin Penny, Museum Manager at Lancaster Castle, attended the official awards ceremony hosted at the British Motor Museum on November 12.
Dr Colin Penny and James Houghton receiving the award
Reflecting on the honour, James said: “It’s a real privilege to share the stories of Lancaster Castle with our visitors every day. To know that the experience resonated so strongly means a great deal.
“This award is a reflection of the whole team’s passion and commitment – I’m proud to be part of it.”
County Councillor Matthew Salter, cabinet member for Education and Skills, added: “This award is a testament to the passion and professionalism of our museum team and tour guides, who bring the rich and complex history of Lancaster Castle to life for thousands of visitors each year.
“We are incredibly proud of James and the entire team for delivering such a high-quality experience that has now been recognised on a national stage.”
