Crook O' Lune Picnic Site
Turner painted this view, which is worth nothing to a seven year old but does explain the crowds. A picnic site on the horseshoe bend of the Lune with tables, toilets and easy riverside walking.
What’s on for kids in Lancaster
14 dated events coming up in and around Lancaster, Lancashire. Collected from the organisations running them, not from anyone paying to appear.
0 on today0 this weekend2 free
Nothing dated this weekend, but these are open in Lancaster
Places you can turn up to whether or not anything is on.
Ryelands Park
Forty-six acres north of the Lune with an accessible play area for under twelves, outdoor gym kit and five football pitches. Free parking, and a free junior parkrun every Sunday morning.
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.
Giggles Play and Adventure
Adults go in free and you only pay for the children who actually play. Giggles takes birth to ten in Lancaster Leisure Park, with the frames split by size so the crawlers are not flattened.
Judges' Lodgings Museum
A 17th-century townhouse below the castle with a Museum of Childhood on the top floor: 200 years of toys, a Victorian schoolroom and nurseries. Free for children, adults £5, and open Thursday to Sunday until mid November.
Lancaster Castle
Guided tours only, an hour to an hour and a quarter, through a castle whose history is mostly crime and punishment, witch trials included. Brilliant for a gruesome-minded eight-year-old, wrong for a toddler in a buggy.
Coming up in Lancaster
St. Luke's and St. Chad's Youth Group (opens on St Lukes, Skerton, Lancaster)
St Lukes, Skerton, Lancaster
28 Sept. Monday 28 September, 7pm
Crafts, sports, and bible-based activities for school-years 5 to 8.
Listed by St Lukes, Skerton, Lancaster · collected 27 Sept
Youth Group (opens on St Chad, Skerton)
St Chad, Skerton · Lancaster
28 Sept. Monday 28 September, 7pm
Crafts, sports, and bible-based activities for school-years 5 to 8.
Listed by St Chad, Skerton · collected 27 Sept
Jelly Tots (opens on St John's Church, Ellel)
St John's Church, Ellel · Lancaster
30 Sept. Wednesday 30 September, 10am
St John's Play Group for children under 4's, and their adults.
Listed by St John's Church, Ellel · collected 27 Sept
Youth at St Tees (opens on St Thomas' Church, Lancaster)
St Thomas' Church, Lancaster
1 Oct. Thursday 1 October, 6pm
11-18 year olds meet on Thursday evenings.
Listed by St Thomas' Church, Lancaster · collected 27 Sept
Children's Church (opens on Christ Church, Lancaster)
Christ Church, Lancaster
4 Oct. Sunday 4 October, 10.30am
Every Sunday during term-time, Children's Church meets during the 1030 service.
Listed by Christ Church, Lancaster · collected 27 Sept
Sunday school (opens on St Michael and All Angels, Cockerham)
St Michael and All Angels, Cockerham · Lancaster
4 Oct. Sunday 4 October, 9.30am
Especially for children first and third Sunday of the month
Listed by St Michael and All Angels, Cockerham · collected 27 Sept
Junior Church (opens on Christ Church, Glasson)
Christ Church, Glasson · Lancaster
11 Oct. Sunday 11 October, 11am
Our Junior Church meets in Reading Room on the second and fourth Sunday each month, alongside the 11am Holy Communion.
Listed by Christ Church, Glasson · collected 27 Sept
Messy Church (opens on Christ Church, Lancaster)
Christ Church, Lancaster
25 Oct. Sunday 25 October, 4pm
Crafts, a story, and a meal to share together - come and join the fun!
Listed by Christ Church, Lancaster · collected 27 Sept
Light Up Lancaster Explore Week (opens in a new tab)
The Storey, Lancaster
26 Oct to 30 Oct. Monday 26 to Friday 30 October (half term)
The warm-up to the light festival: five days of free half term workshops at The Storey about light, art and science, run with Lancaster University's engagement team. A useful free half term morning in the city if you catch the right session.
Written by us
Light Up Lancaster (opens in a new tab)
Across Lancaster city centre
5 Nov to 7 Nov. Thursday 5 to Saturday 7 November, 5pm to 10pm
Three nights of free light art around the city, with interactive pieces children can ride on and play with, and BSL-guided tours. Fireworks were not in the published programme when we checked, so come for the lights, not the bangs.
Written by us
Cinderella at The Dukes
The Dukes, Moor Lane, Lancaster
21 Nov to 2 Jan. 21 November 2026 to 2 January 2027
The Dukes' Christmas show, played in the round and billed by its writer as 'a show, not a panto'. The cheap standing tickets are marked unsuitable for young children, so pay for seats if you are bringing little ones.
Written by us
Lancaster On Ice (opens in a new tab)
Dalton Square, Lancaster
22 Nov to 5 Jan. Daily, 22 November to 5 January, 10am to 10pm
A real ice rink in Dalton Square with a giant ferris wheel, Christmas market stalls and a tipi bar, right in the middle of the city. It runs past New Year, which makes it one of the few things still going in that dead week between Christmas and school.
Written by us
Robin Hood family panto at Lancaster Grand
Lancaster Grand Theatre, St Leonardgate
28 Nov to 28 Dec. Performances 28 November to 28 December
A proper local panto in Sherwood Forest, with the Sheriff of Nottingham getting what he deserves. A family ticket for two adults and two children is £49, rising to £54 on the premium dates: Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and 28 December. The Sunday 11am shows on 13, 20 and 27 December are the ones for children who flag by teatime.
Written by us
Crib Service with Christingle (opens on St Paul's, Scotforth)
St Paul's, Scotforth · Lancaster
24 Dec. Thursday 24 December, 3pm
Come and join us as we celebrate this joyous season.
Listed by St Paul's, Scotforth · collected 27 Sept