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Observatories & Planetariums in Preston

Stargazing in Preston comes down to one proper option, and it happens to be a good one. Alston Observatory, out on the edge of the city, pairs a planetarium dome show with a Victorian telescope, so you get the cosy projected sky and then the real thing through old brass and glass. It suits children up to 14, which covers most primary and early secondary ages. The only catch is that you cannot just turn up. Every visit has to be booked ahead, so plan the trip a week or two out rather than deciding on a whim on a clear evening. It works well as an indoor activity for a cloudy or wet day, since the dome show does not depend on the sky cooperating. If your children already like space, dinosaurs or anything with a torch and a dark room, this is the one to build an afternoon around.

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