Lancashire Police Museum

About the museum

The Lancashire Police Museum is housed in the A wing of Lancaster Castle, in the castle’s former prison. It looks at pivotal moments in the history of Lancashire Constabulary, including famous criminal cases and how they were solved.

The displays are arranged in 16 named and numbered cells. Cell 1 on the first floor covers the early years of policing and is the suggested starting point, and other cells deal with subjects such as police training, wartime policing, forensics and well-known Lancashire cases. The ground floor shows what the prison experience was like in the nineteenth century.

The museum is free to enter and open all year on Thursdays and Fridays, with extra Saturdays in the summer school holidays. It offers talks for school groups, free quizzes for children and introductions or tours for groups by prior booking.

Highlights

• Displays set in 16 former prison cells in Lancaster Castle
• History of Lancashire Constabulary and police training
• Wartime policing and forensic science
• Famous Lancashire criminal cases
• Nineteenth-century prison experience on the ground floor

Permanent exhibition

• Lancashire policing and the castle prison – Sixteen cells covering the history of Lancashire Constabulary, famous cases, forensics, wartime policing and nineteenth-century prison life.

Founded

2011

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry is free and no booking is needed. School and group visits are free; donations are welcome.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is on the first floor and is reached by 17 steps; there is currently no lift. The castle stands on a hill with steep approaches and a cobbled entrance. Free toilets, including a disabled toilet, are in Lancaster Castle. Assistance dogs are welcome; other dogs are not allowed in the building.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Stroller-friendly: not available

Free quizzes with a prize are available from reception. The museum is very busy during school holidays, especially half-term. It is reached by steps with no lift, so pushchairs cannot easily be brought upstairs.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the A wing of Lancaster Castle. Use M6 junction 34 from the north and junction 33 from the south. The castle is reached by a steep, cobbled path through the John o’ Gaunt gate.

Amenities & dining

• Café

There is a café at Lancaster Castle. Free toilets are available in the castle.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit