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Family Fun

We welcome families all year round, and offer children's activities and craft sessions on school holidays and special occasions.

We aim to make the events on this page suitable for a wide range of ages, but for budding historians aged 12+, check out our Walks and Talks and Special Events as well!


Back to:   What's On 
Jump to:   Military Show & Tell   |   Holiday Activities   |   Light Up Lancaster   |   Visiting with Children


Logo from 'Kids in Museums' alongside the museum mascots: Cartoon images of Mabel the Museum Mouse wearing glasses and a T-shirt reading 'I love museums', alongside Maritime Monty, a ginger cat with a piratical eyepatch and spotted blue neckcloth.
Maritime Monty and Mabel the Museum Mouse say Hello!
Military Show & Tell Demonstrations:   Included with admission   |   No booking required   |   Lancaster City Museum
photo of man in WW1 uniform with a table full of military equipment.

Drop into the King's Own Royal Regimental gallery at Lancaster City Museum for hands-on 'show & tell' sessions with equipment from different eras.

These sessions are included with standard museum admission. Suitable for all ages, no need to book.

Upcoming events:

Great War Society special event - WW1 equipment. 

October Half-Term Art Adventures - PAPER LANTERN DECORATING:   £4.50   |   Book in advance   |   City Museum
photo of 2 colourful paper lanterns glowing in the darkness.
Join us at Lancaster City Museum this half term to decorate your own paper lantern!

Perfect for Halloween, Diwali or Light-up Lancaster. Create your own design - the only limit is your imagination!

Tickets £4.50  -  Advance booking recommended to reserve your place.

Sessions last up to 1 hour. Start times on each day are: 10:30, 11:30, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00. Choose your timeslot during online booking:

Suitable for all ages. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult (no extra cost unless you choose to make your own lantern too!)


photo of a loyalty card with the History Detectives logo on the front and 6 coloured paint splat shapes on the back - the first five are blank, waiting for stamps, and the 6th id marked 'free'.
Loyalty Card

If you do any of our chargeable children's activities, don't forget to pick up one of the new History Detectives Loyalty Cards.

Join us for 5 activities and you'll get the 6th one FREE!

Stay Updated

Join our mailing list to keep up to date with all our events and activities. Email historydetectives@lancaster.gov.uk to sign up.

Light Up Lancaster - The Cottage by Candlelight:   FREE   |   No booking required   |   Cottage Museum
photo of an old fashioned pantry filled with candles and greenery.
The Cottage by Candlelight - photo by Robin Zahler.

Drop into the Cottage Museum during this year's Light Up Lancaster festival for a magical evening experience:

The Cottage by Candlelight

FREE admission, suitable for all ages, no need to book.

Visiting with Children
City Museum kids 800
Whenever you visit with children you'll find plenty to do in the museums...

We've signed the Kids in Museums Manifesto and we always include interactive elements for children in all our new exhibitions. 

The Cottage Museum is now a fully hands-on experience for visitors of all ages!

FREE children's trails or challenges are always available to enhance your visit to Lancaster City Museum and the Maritime Museum.

Both the City and Maritime Museums have sensory backpacks for children and young people on the autism spectrum to borrow, free of charge. Just ask at the front desk if you'd like to use one of these during your visit.

Our museums are great destinations for schools and other children's groups as well as families. Please see our Learning page if you'd like to book a group visit.

Please note that for safety reasons, children up to the age of 10 must be accompanied by a responsible adult in all of our museums. Those aged 11-16 may visit unaccompanied with our new Young Person's Pass - just show your school ID at the front desk to get your free pass, valid for 1 year.

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