Opening Times

The museum is open Thursday and Friday from 10.30am to 4.00pm. We are closed between 12.30pm – 1.30pm.

We are open on Good Friday – 29 March 2024.

Admission to the museum is free and there is no booking – you just turn up!

We are open year-round.

Getting Here

By Train

Lancaster castle is located a five minute walk from Lancaster Railway Station.

Lancaster Bus Station is just over half a kilometre from the castle. The bus station is a hub for services across the Lancaster, Morecambe and Heysham area, and the bus station is also a stop for National Express services.

By Car

Lancashire Police Museum is in the A wing of Lancaster Castle. The postcode for Lancaster Castle is LA1 1YN.

The castle is signposted from the M6 motorway. If travelling from the north, visitors should exit the M6 at Junction 34. If travelling from the south, visitors should exit at Junction 33.

Parking

Visitors might also consider making use of Lancaster’s “park and ride”, which is a cheap all-day option. It is located just off Junction 34 of the M6. Park and ride buses operate Monday to Saturday and the China Street park and ride bus stop is less than a 5-minute walk from the castle.

There are three public car parks within 300m of the Castle entrance:

Castle Hill and St Mary’s Parade (LA1 1YN) but limited spaces and two-hour maximum stay
Parksafe (LA1 1EQ)
Dallas Road (LA1 1LD)

Accessibility

Visitors are advised that Lancaster Castle is located on top of a hill and that approaches from all directions are steep. The visitor entrance is the main gateway to the castle at the front of the building (the John O’Gaunt gate) and there are cobblestones.

Access to the Lancashire Police Museum is by stairs. We are sorry that there is no lift access at present for those less mobile, in a wheelchair or with a buggy.

Assistance dogs are welcome inside the museum but no other dogs are allowed inside the building.