Museums ✓ Detailed listing

Lion Salt Works

Marston

Salt works in Cheshire, UK, preserved as a museum

Adult: £7.50; Concession: £6.70 (60+, jobseekers, or students; carers go free); Child (16 and under): free; Adult Annual Pass: £20 (valid for 12 months from date of issue). This summer 15% off adult and concession admission tickets, valid until 1 September 2026. Group admission: minimum charge £63.00 (covers up to 10 people), each additional person £6.30, maximum group size 36. Group tours: minimum tour charge £38 (covers up to 30 people), each additional person £3.80, in addition to group admission.

Tuesday to Sunday, 10.30am – 5pm; closed on Mondays but usually open on bank holiday Monday. Last entry to the museum 4pm. Play Area and Butterfly Garden: 9am–5.20pm Monday to Sunday.

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Free to save · no booking needed

Opening Tuesday to Sunday, 10.30am – 5pm; closed on Mondays but usually open on bank holiday Monday. Last entry to the museum 4pm. Play Area and Butterfly Garden: 9am–5.20pm Monday to Sunday.

Price Adult: £7.50; Concession: £6.70 (60+, jobseekers, or students; carers go free); Child (16 and under): free; Adult Annual Pass: £20 (valid for 12 months from date of issue). This summer 15% off adult and concession admission tickets, valid until 1 September 2026. Group admission: minimum charge £63.00 (covers up to 10 people), each additional person £6.30, maximum group size 36. Group tours: minimum tour charge £38 (covers up to 30 people), each additional person £3.80, in addition to group admission.

Typical visit Not provided yet

Age fit Offers a fascinating learning environment for all ages. Children's admission to the Museum is free. Nature-inspired sessions for pre-schoolers (Little Lions Go Wild) and family-friendly craft activities during school holidays.

Setting indoor/outdoor

The experience

About this day out

The Lion Salt Works is a restored historic open-pan salt making site in the village of Marston, close to Northwich, adjacent to the Trent and Mersey Canal. The £10.23 million project opened in June 2015 and offers a journey through the life of the country's last open-pan salt making site, with restored buildings showing how the salt works operated and the impact of salt on mid-Cheshire's people, economy and landscape. The site is a partially restored industrial heritage site with Scheduled Status.

When to go

Opening calendar

Tuesday to Sunday, 10.30am – 5pm; closed on Mondays but usually open on bank holiday Monday. Last entry to the museum 4pm. Play Area and Butterfly Garden: 9am–5.20pm Monday to Sunday.

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What it costs

Prices at a glance

Admission: Adult: £7.50; Concession: £6.70 (60+, jobseekers, or students; carers go free); Child (16 and under): free; Adult Annual Pass: £20 (valid for 12 months from date of issue). This summer 15% off adult and concession admission tickets, valid until 1 September 2026. Group admission: minimum charge £63.00 (covers up to 10 people), each additional person £6.30, maximum group size 36. Group tours: minimum tour charge £38 (covers up to 30 people), each additional person £3.80, in addition to group admission.

Prices can change. Confirm ticket terms with the venue before booking.

Practical details

Facilities & accessibility

At a glance

Gift shopCafé offering hot and cold drinks, cakes and light snacks (cash and card payments accepted)Toilets and baby change facilities on the ground floor off the café and upstairs outside the conference suiteFurther accessible toilet with baby change facilities in the Red Lion InnThompson suite available for room hire for meetings, conferences and social functionsTea, coffee and biscuits can be provided at £2.20 per person per servingPlay Area and Butterfly Garden

Accessibility: The museum is fully accessible with designated disabled parking bays, accessible toilets, lifts to first floor levels and a hearing induction loop. Guide dogs are allowed in the buildings. The whole site is fully accessible for wheelchairs and prams. A full access report is available on the Disabled Go website.
Parking: Large car park which can accommodate coaches. The car park is free for visitors. Use postcode CW9 6ES for satnav. Designated disabled parking bays available.
Dogs: Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in the designated 'dog-friendly area' of the café and in the grounds before the pay barrier. Assistance dogs are welcome in all public areas of the grounds and museum.

Getting there

Where you'll find it

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