Information for families visiting Castleford Museum

Castleford Museum

Information for families visiting Castleford Museum

A young girl wearing replica Roman centurion armour next to our mannequin dressed as a centurion

Castleford Museum has lots of fun for families of all shapes and sizes! Here you can find information about visiting the museum for families. This will help you to plan your visit.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

A black rotary telephone next to a notepad

Contact us

You can contact us in advance of your visit with any questions. You can email us at museums@wakefield.gov.uk and we will get back to you during office hours. These are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

You can also ring Castleford Museum on 01977 722084. We will usually pick up the phone during our normal opening hours.

If we cannot pick up the phone, please leave a message with your name and contact number as we will ring you back.

The exterior of Castleford Library and Museum, a Carnegie Library building made out of pale yellow Yorkshire stone on the front

How to get to Castleford Museum

Find out how to get to Castleford Museum by car or public transport on our Plan your visit page.

The nearest car park is at Aire Street car park. Use WF10 1JL in your sat nav. It costs £1.60 for up to two hours.

The nearest free car park is at Castleford Railway Station. Use WF10 1SA in your sat nav. It is free for up to two hours.

Alternative car parks in Castleford

You can download our visual story for Castleford Museum before you visit.

You can download a floor plan of Castleford Library and Museum.

You can download a sensory map of the main galleries. This will help you know what to expect on your visit.

Copies of the floor plans and sensory maps will be available at the Pick and Mix station in the Welcome Space.

An adult and child walking up the stairs to Castleford Museum past a wall of framed photographs

Arriving at Castleford Museum

Castleford Museum is free entry for all. You do not need to book a ticket.

Castleford Museum is on the top (third) floor of the Castleford Forum Library and Museum building.

The main entrance is on Carlton Street, Castleford, WF10 1BB. Use What3Words code handle.lined.spot. The main entrance has steps up to a double door. You can access the museum using stairs or the lift.

There is a level access entrance along the side of the building, near to the Aire Street car park. This entrance has an accessible entry door with a button at wheelchair height. This door opens outwards.

You can then either use the stairs or lifts to reach Castleford Museum on the third floor. The staircase option is pictured.

All floors at Castleford Forum Library and Museum building are accessible for pushchairs and wheelchairs.

Toilets and baby changing

There is an accessible toilet with baby changing facilities on the ground floor of the building. Please ask a member of the Library staff for the key.

We do not have changing places facilities. The nearest changing places toilet is at Junction 32 Outlet Shopping Village. Use WF10 4FR in your sat nav. It is 1.8 miles away.

Castleford Museum is a breastfeeding-friendly location. You can breastfeed your baby anywhere on site.

Three smiling members of staff next to the Roman centurion mannequin in Castleford Museum

Assistance

Our staff are happy to help you with anything you might need. Our staff wear a black uniform. They are called Visitor Experience Assistants. There will always be a Visitor Experience Assistant inside the museum.

We sometimes have volunteers on site. Our volunteers wear a green uniform. You can also ask them for help or with any questions.

Two adults and a child enjoying crafts together at Castleford Museum

Family activities

We have lots of fun hands-on elements throughout the museum. You can dress-up, play with toy chariots, have a game of marbles and get creative!

We have free trails to guide you around the museum, looking for our star objects.

Every Saturday, from 11am to 3pm, we have free Family Fun craft activities. Try something new each week linked to our wonderful displays.

In term-time, we have weekly Toddler Tuesday sessions for ages 2 to 5 and their families. These are at 10am to 11am on Tuesdays. These sessions are free and you don’t need to book.

Every Friday from 9.30am to 12pm is a relaxed opening session at Castleford Museum. You can explore the Museum in a quieter, more relaxed setting. This means that any loud noises will be turned down or turned off. We have fidget and sensory objects to help you relax and explore. There is a small pop-up tent quiet space if you need it.

We also run SEND-friendly activities on Fridays in the school holidays. Entry is still free. You do not need to book.

Find out what's on at Castleford Museum

A child grinning and wearing ear defenders next to the Pick and Mix station at Castleford Museum

Access information

Browse our full access information for Castleford Museum including Relaxed Openings and on-site resources.

50 things to do

Have you heard of 50 things to do before you're 5? It's a collection of no-cost or low-cost activities for families in the Wakefield district.

The 50 Things app explains each of the recommended activities. It provides a guide to events and opportunities available locally. It is available to download for free on the Play Store and Apple Store.

We've got a handy guide on how to tick off your 50 things at Castleford Museum (on Experience Wakefield)

Food and drink

There is no café within Castleford Museum.

The nearest cafés are in the town centre a short distance from Castleford Museum.

Castleford has several cafés and restaurants. Our friends at Experience Wakefield have lots of suggestions for places to go.

There is no dedicated lunchroom or space on site. A five-minute walk from the museum there is the Queens’s Mill and Millenium Bridge. There are seating blocks along the bridge for people to sit on. You may wish to bring a sun hat and sunglasses when the weather is hot as this place has minimal shade during the middle of the day and afternoon.