Williamson Park
The Ashton Memorial dome you can see from the M6, with views across Morecambe Bay, a butterfly house, mini beasts and a good playground below it. Lancaster's best free afternoon.
Judges' Lodgings Museum
Lancaster, Lancashire
The Judges' Lodgings is a tall old house on Church Street, tucked below Lancaster Castle, and the reason to bring children is the top floor. The Museum of Childhood covers 200 years of toys, from wax dolls to He-Man figures, with the Barry Elder Toy and Doll Collection, a Victorian schoolroom, and day and night nurseries.
Children 18 and under are free and adults pay £5. The house opens Thursday to Sunday, 11 to 4, from 2 April to 15 November 2026. Downstairs children can have a go at cleaning in the Victorian kitchen, and there is a children's trail to follow round the house.
Access is the catch. It is a 17th-century building with no lift and limited access, so plan on carrying anyone who cannot do stairs. There is buggy parking on the ground floor, baby change, a breastfeeding room on the top floor, and a walled courtyard for a picnic when the rain holds off.
What it costs: Adults £5, children 18 and under free, Family Xplorer pass £25. The 2026 season runs Thursday 2 April to Sunday 15 November, Thursday to Sunday, 11 to 4.
Know before you go
- There is no lift and the building is 17th century, so buggies stay on the ground floor and the Museum of Childhood is at the top of the stairs.
- The season ends on Sunday 15 November, so this is an autumn half term option, not a Christmas one.
Seasonal: Early Apr to mid Nov, Thu to Sun. Check before travelling.
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