Frequently asked questions

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 our 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. 

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 9am, with a programme of activities starting at 10am and ending at 4pm.

Last check-in is at 3pm where you will only be able to access our Science Showfloors. After 3.10pm check-in will close, and no further admittance will be accepted.

Science Showfloors and the festival will close at 4pm.

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 closes 5-minutes 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. 

The Oasis Faith and Spirituality Centre is located on Kirkham Street (next to the big green building).

Address: Oasis Faith and Spirituality Centre, Kirkham Street, Preston, PR1 2XQ.

In addition to the Oasis Faith and Spirituality Centre, we also have the following locations:

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 also 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, female 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.

UCLan is proud to hold the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) Gold Award, which ensures infant feeding and relationship building is everyone's business, across the university.

For further information, please contact the BFI Leadership Team via email babyfriendlyteam@uclan.ac.uk

Parenting Rooms

Darwin building - Room DB256

Student Centre - Room STULg 017

Harrington Building - HA004

We also have baby changing facilities in Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre (lower ground floor – past the reception desk) and in 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 who will be able to assist you. Staff at any of our Information Desks/Check-In will also be able to help you.

Missing children points are located at each Information Point.

Our first aid points are located at Harrington Building, Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre and Student Centre. You can also speak to any of our festival ambassadors.

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.

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 Information Points 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 Information Point outside of Sir Tom Finney Show floor. Once completed this can then be returned to the same Information Point to redeem your 'I'm a Scientist Sticker'.

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.