Frequently asked questions
This page has answers to your frequently asked questions (FAQs). You should find the information you need here, but please contact us if you have any queries.
Email usGeneral FAQs
All events carry a minimum age recommendation to ensure the best possible experience for all our visitors. This is based on several factors including content and language used. We ask visitors to bear this in mind when choosing activities.
All persons under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult
The Lancashire Science Festival takes place at the University of Central Lancashire’s Preston Campus.
Follow the signs for the University or the event road signs for the Lancashire Science Festival. The campus is accessible by road, rail, bus and if you live in the Preston area you can reach us easily by foot.
If traveling by car, please view Where to Park? FAQ. Car Parks are also listed on our festival map. Once parked in your selected car park, please head to the University Square, Student Centre to check in.
Please use public transport if possible. A limited amount of free parking is available on the University's car parks. You can ignore any University pay and display machines or permit holder only signs. However, please keep disabled bays free for blue badge holders.
If parking in public car parks you must follow their payment requirements. Find out where University car parks are on the festival map.
Hill Street Car Park, Hill Street, Preston, PR1 2BB
Open 24 Hours
4 minutes’ walk to the festival
Trinity Square Car Park, Market Street West, Preston, PR1 2EU
Open 24 Hours
5 minutes’ walk to the festival
Avenham Car Park, 35 Avenham Street, Preston, PR1 3XA
Open 6:45am – 8pm
12 minutes’ walk to the festival
Walker Street Car Park, North Street, Preston, PR1 2HF
Open 24 Hours
5 minutes’ walk to the festival
Preston Bus Station Car Park, Tithebarn Street, Preston, PR1 1YT
Open 24 Hours
13 minutes’ walk to the festival
Euro Car Park, St. Wilfrid Street, Preston, PR1 2US
Open 24 Hours
7 minutes’ walk to the festival
OCS, St. Mary’s, Marsh Lane, Preston, PR1 2XH
Open 24 Hours
2 minutes’ walk to the festival
Check out the Traveline Journey Planner to find alternative ways to access the festival.
Check-in opens at 9.00am, with a programme of activities starting at 10.00am and ending at 4.00pm.
Last check-in is at 3.00pm where you will only be able to access our Science Show floors. After 3.10pm check-in will close, and no further admittance will be accepted.
Science Show floors and the festival will close at 4.00pm.
We run an on-the-day show ticket system for all our shows.
Please arrive at your chosen show 15-minutes before the start time to receive a show ticket number.
Show tickets get issued no earlier than 15-minutes before the show start time. These get allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Entry to shows closing 5-mintes before the advertised start time. If you’re unable to gain entry to a show due to it being full, we kindly ask that you check the next show time slot.
We will be running our popular programme of workshops during our Public Day.
These sessions have a much smaller capacity and must be booked in-advance of the festival. We charge a small fee of £1 per person per workshop booking. This fee is donated to Cash for Kids Charity (minus service fee).
Please note, workshop tickets cannot be booked on the day.
For groups or individuals with special requirements, we have a designated quiet room away from noise and crowds. This is in the Oasis Faith and Spirituality Centre.
We have allocated prayer rooms in the Oasis Faith and Spirituality Centre.
Visitors are welcome to bring along their own food and drink to the festival. We ask that you kindly put your waste in the bins provided.
You will find local food vendors on the University Square. Our own catering outlets are located at the Student Centre, Foster Building, and Harrington Building.
Please note, we are a cashless event.
Male and female toilets, and accessible toilet facilities, are in every building. Gender-neutral toilets are available on the ground floor of the Students Union Building and inside the Student Centre. We also have baby changing facilities in Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre (lower ground floor – past the reception desk) and a parenting room in the Student Centre (LG17). There are two private breastfeeding rooms available in Darwin Building (second floor, room 256) and the Oasis Faith and Spirituality Centre.
Information bands are available for all children at check-in, if you wish to use one. Please make sure to write your name and phone number on the band and put this on your child’s wrist. If you discover your child is missing, please alert a member of staff (wearing yellow t-shirts) who will be able to assist you. Staff at any of our Help Huts/Check-in will also be able to help you. Missing children points are located at each Help Hut.
Our first aid points are located at Harrington Building, Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre and University Square. You can also speak to any of our festival ambassadors in yellow t-shirts. First aid points are also indicated on our festival map.
Yes, throughout the duration of the festival there will be official photography and filming taking place for:
- Marketing and promotion of the Lancashire Science Festival
- The University
- Partner institutions
- Festival sponsors
Images or footage may be used in both online and offline publications, public relations and advertising. If you or a member of your group does not wish to be filmed or photographed, make yourself known to the person filming or photographing in the area you are in. For more information please email the Festival Team.
This year, we will be running a social media competition. The festival team would love to see all your awesome festival photos. You will be entered into our prize draw, this year we have two prizes of a family ticket for Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Share them on Twitter or Facebook using the hashtag #LancSciFest Find our competition T&C's here.
Yes, we have free Wi-Fi throughout campus. To log on select ‘UCLan-Open’ and sign in using your email address. Share your conversations, photos and videos with #LancSciFest.
All the buildings on the University of Central Lancashire campus are completely accessible. For further information on building access, please refer to AccessAble.
If you require a BSL Interpreter please email the Festival Team.
Do you require help and support getting around the festival? We can provide you with a Wellbeing Ambassador for the duration of your visit. Please email the Festival Team.
If you have booked a BSL Interpreter or Wellbeing Ambassador, please make us aware when checking in.
We have help huts across campus where you can pop along with your queries and our staff will be able to assist you. Please refer to the festival map for their locations.
The festival is full of real-life scientists and engineers who are excited to talk to you about the work they do. Keep an eye out for people wearing ‘I’m a scientist/engineer, talk to me’ badge and ask them a question.
Please collect the trail card from the Yellow Help Hut outside of Sir Tom Finney Show floor. Once completed this can then be returned to the same Help Hut to be entered into the prize draw. If you complete your treasure trail card you'll be entered into our prize draw for a John Adams’ science kit. Find our Treasure Trail T&C's here.
We cannot store prams or pushchairs in lecture theatres where shows take place, as we need to ensure all fire exits are clear. Therefore you will be asked to leave any prams and pushchairs in the foyer outside show rooms.
School Days FAQs
- Visit the School Day page on our website.
- Select the day that you wish to attend.
- Select the correct number size for your group.
- You will be then directed to Eventbrite where you can book your package.
- You'll receive confirmation of your booked sessions via email from the Festival Team, within 14 days of your booking.
- You are welcome to book more than one package on the same day. Please note that we are asking schools not to bring groups of more than 80 people (including staff).
- If you are booking a subsequent package that is not the same as your first booking, you do not need to complete all of the information again. Enter your school's name into each required field.
Once you have completed your booking you will receive an automatic receipt via email. You will then be contacted by the team with further information about your visit within 14 days of booking.
Packages are based on group sizes of either 20, 35 or 70, which includes both staff and students. This is the maximum number that can be in this package. However, it is possible to book these if your numbers are slightly less.
So that as many schools as possible can visit the Lancashire Science Festival we ask that no school bring a group (including staff) of more than 70. Schools that book for more than 70 visitors will have their package(s) cancelled.
We also only allow schools to attend on either a Thursday or Friday. If you book a package for both days, we will cancel both packages.
Depending on the number in your group, you will need to book the packages that fit your total group size as closely as possible. For example:
- If you have a total group size of 40 you could book 2 x packages for 20
- If you have a total group size of 35 you could book 1 x package for 35
- If you have a total group size of 70 you could book 1 x package of 70 or 2 x packages of 35.
The Lancashire Science Festival is open to primary school children at Key Stage 2 only.
Please note that there will be no catering facilities available during your visit. You will need to ensure that each child has a packed lunch.
The University of Central Lancashire is fully accessible.
If you need space for a wheelchair, or other mobility aid, please inform the Festival Ambassador on arrival and they will reserve seating for you and your group. Please email the Festival Team if you need any further information.
If you need a BSL interpreter or have any other access requirements, please email the team before the festival to arrange support.
For groups or individuals with access requirements, we have a designated quiet room away from the noise and crowds. The quiet room is in the Oasis Faith and Spirituality Centre.
Toilet facilities are in every University building on the ground floor, and on all other floors of the buildings if required.
If you have lost a student, please inform your school guide or closest Festival Ambassador straight away. They will then get in touch with the Festival Team.
We will send out our general festival risk assessment to schools via email. This will also be linked within our website, although we do advise schools to complete their own.
Teachers are welcome to do a site visit before the festival to complete risk assessments. If this is something you would be interested in, please email the Festival Team. We will then send over directions and book you a car parking space.
Please note we will not be able to accompany you on this visit.
Coaches and minibuses can drop off and park on the University’s Fylde Road Car park, Preston, PR1 2XN.
You will be met at the car park by your Festival Ambassador who will board your vehicle, so please do not leave disembark until this has occurred.
Instead of visiting on the School Days, where the event is designed for larger-sized school groups, home educators are welcome to join us on the public day.
What's on?
Whether you're child is a future scientist or you have a classroom of budding engineers, we have something for everyone at Lancashire Science Festival. Our full programme is coming soon.