Lancaster Maritime Museum
ENTRY
from £5
SETTING
Indoors
BUGGY FRIENDLY
Yes
What it’s like
A nautical museum by the river where kids under 18 get in free and there's a sensory backpack to borrow.
This one's built around Lancaster's seafaring past, with exhibitions and talks that give you something to actually look at rather than just walk past. There are craft sessions for kids to get stuck into, and it works well as a self-guided wander if you'd rather not commit to a full structured visit.
Entry is £5 for an adult day ticket, but anyone under 18 gets in free, and under 11s just need an accompanying adult. If you're a Lancaster District resident (LA1-LA6), you're in free too, which is a nice touch for locals who might otherwise skip it. Worth knowing about the Multipass options if you fancy the other Lancaster museums as well: £8 gets a week of unlimited entry to all three, £10 gets you a year, and either beats paying separately if you're planning more than one visit.
The building's mostly lift-accessible across its three floors, with a wheelchair available to borrow if you need one. There's a small mezzanine gallery reached only by stairs, so that bit's out for wheelchair users, and the fire evacuation setup means only one wheelchair user at a time can be on the upper floors, so it's worth bearing in mind if you're visiting as part of a bigger group. A sensory backpack is free to borrow from the front desk for children on the autism spectrum, with ear protectors and fiddle toys inside.
Opening hours are a bit particular: it's shut Tuesday to Thursday, open Monday and Friday to Sunday, 12 to 4pm. That's a narrow window so plan around it rather than turning up on a whim mid-week. There's free on-street parking out front for up to three hours, a pay-and-display car park behind, and the Galley Gift Shop and Grab & Go Cafe for a snack and a browse on your way out.
What’s on here
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Free on-street parking for up to 3 hours in front of the museum, pay-and-display car park behind the museum
- Food
- The Galley Gift Shop and Grab & Go Cafe with goods focused on quality and sustainability including gifts by local craftspeople and artists
- Pushchairs
- All areas accessible via lift except small mezzanine gallery
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchair available to borrow
- Getting there by bus or train
- Local Bus number 4 stops directly opposite the museum every half hour
- Free entry if you live in the LA1-LA6 postcodes
- Lancaster District residents, students and National Art Pass holders all get in free
- Open Bank Holidays but closed over Christmas and New Year
- The Education Room can be hired for meetings and small events
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£5 for an adult day ticket. Anyone under 18 gets in free, and under 11s just need to be with a responsible adult.
Is there a discount for visiting more than one museum?
The Multipass gives unlimited entry to all three Lancaster City Museums. It's £8 for a week or £10 for the year.
What are the opening hours?
12 to 4pm on Mondays and Friday through Sunday. It's closed Tuesday to Thursday, so check which day you're planning around.
Do we need to book ahead?
There's no booking mentioned, so you can just turn up within opening hours.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Most of the museum is reachable by lift across three floors, and there's a wheelchair to borrow. The small mezzanine gallery is stairs-only, and only one wheelchair user at a time can go to the upper floors because of the fire evacuation setup.
Is there anything for children with sensory needs?
Yes, a free sensory backpack can be borrowed from the front desk, with ear protectors, communication cards and fiddle toys, aimed at children on the autism spectrum.
What's there for kids to do?
Craft sessions, exhibitions and talks, and it works as a self-guided visit if you'd rather explore at your own pace.
Is there parking nearby?
Free on-street parking for up to three hours right in front of the museum, plus a pay-and-display car park behind it and a Blue Badge space at the entrance.
Can we get there by public transport?
Bus number 4 stops directly opposite every half hour, and the railway station is about a 10 to 15 minute walk away.
Is there somewhere to eat?
The Galley Gift Shop and Grab & Go Cafe does food and refreshments, and the shop has gifts from local craftspeople and nautical history books.
Are there toilets and baby changing facilities?
Two gender-neutral toilets on the ground floor, one fully wheelchair-accessible with baby changing inside it.
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