North Lincolnshire Museum
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Indoors
BUGGY FRIENDLY
Yes
What it’s like
Free museum with a dedicated under-5s play den, sea dragon fossils and hands-on local history to poke through.
Getting in costs nothing, which makes this an easy one to slot into a wet Tuesday without the usual guilt about whether it'll hold anyone's attention. Under-fives get their own space, Dudley's Den, kitted out with museum-inspired toys, a soft play corner, an under-the-sea section and a book nook, so you're not dragging a toddler round glass cases hoping for the best. Older kids get the geology and archaeology galleries, a wall of objects they're actually allowed to handle, and the Jurassic North Lincolnshire display with its sea dragon exhibits, which is the bit most of them will still be talking about on the way home.
There's no café on site, and that's the one real gap. You can bring your own food into the Courtyard Garden and eat there, but that's the only spot food and drink are allowed, so factor in either a packed lunch or a stop somewhere else nearby. Buggies aren't a problem: there's a secure buggy park in the Courtyard Garden with a free token system, and both lifts inside take pushchairs.
Parking is free in the visitor car park behind the museum, off Vicarage Gardens, though it only opens 10am to 4pm, which matches the museum's own hours so it's not really a catch, just something to note if you're planning to linger elsewhere afterwards. The building itself has level access to most areas and two accessible toilets with baby change. If you're coming by train, Scunthorpe station is a two-minute walk, which makes this one of the easier museum visits to do without a car at all.
What’s on here
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Good for under-5s with their own play den, plus older kids keen on fossils
- Parking
- Free visitor car park behind the Museum, open 10am–4pm, two accessible bays
- Picnics
- Bring own food to Courtyard Garden
- Pushchairs
- Secure buggy park in Courtyard Garden with free tokens from Reception
- Wheelchairs
- Two platform lifts access all floors
- Dogs
- Guide dogs welcome. Assistance dogs toilet area behind Museum in staff car park
- Getting there by bus or train
- Scunthorpe train station 2 minutes walk away
- No café inside, only the Courtyard Garden for food you've brought yourself
- The car park keeps the same 10am to 4pm hours as the museum, so don't plan on leaving your car after closing
- Sensory backpacks are free from reception if that helps a visit go smoother
- There's a single step into the Ironstone Cottage front room to watch out for with a buggy
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Entry is free.
Do we need to book?
There's no booking mentioned, so you can just turn up during opening hours.
What are the opening hours?
Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm, and Sunday 1pm to 4pm.
Is there anywhere for a toddler to play?
Dudley's Den is a dedicated under-5s space with soft play, museum-themed toys, an under-the-sea area and a book nook. There are also hands-on learning sessions for under-5s during term time.
Is there a café?
No café on site. The museum points people toward the Café at 20-21 or The Pods nearby instead.
Can we bring our own food?
In the Courtyard Garden picnic area. Food and drink aren't allowed anywhere else in the museum.
Is there parking?
Free parking behind the museum off Vicarage Gardens, with two accessible bays. It's only open 10am to 4pm.
Is it buggy and wheelchair friendly?
There's a secure buggy park with free tokens from reception, and two lifts take pushchairs and wheelchairs to all floors. Most areas have level access, though there's a single step into the Ironstone Cottage front room.
Can we bring a dog?
Guide and assistance dogs are welcome, with a dedicated toilet area for them behind the museum.
How do we get there without a car?
Scunthorpe train station is a two-minute walk away, and the bus station is about ten minutes on foot.
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