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American Air Museum

IWM Duxford, Duxford, Cambridgeshire, CB22 4QR

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Access Guide

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Generic (Introduction)

  • The American Air Museum in Britain is a story of two nations united through war, loss, love and duty.
  • Explore dramatic displays of epic original aircraft, innovative interactives and intriguing personal objects.

Generic (Getting to IWM Duxford and Useful Information)

Generic (Getting Around Duxford)

Outside Access (Main Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located off the path.
    • The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
    • This entrance is signed with '7 American Aircraft Museum'.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
    • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • There is a dark mat or floor marking at this entrance that might be perceived as a hole.
    • The entrance door(s) does not/do not contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • The main door(s) open(s) automatically.
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The width of the opening is 155cm.
    • There is a second set of doors.
    • The door(s) open(s) automatically.
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The width of the opening is 140cm.
    • There is a slope with a very easy incline.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located on the path leading to the entrance.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.

Eating and Drinking (The American Air Museum Cafe)

  • Location and Access View
    • The following information is for the café.
    • The café is located to the left after you enter from the main entrance.
    • There is step-free access to the café.
  • Service and Menus View
    • There is a counter where food and drink can be ordered.
    • Staff can bring food and/or drinks to tables.
    • Menu types include: handheld menus and written wall menus.
    • Menus are clearly written.
    • Menus are presented in contrasting colours.
    • Staff can read menus to customers if requested.
    • The type of food served here is hot and cold meals and snacks.
    • Takeaway cups are available.
    • Adapted cups are not available.
    • Adapted cutlery is not available.
    • Drinking straws are available.
    • This area does not play background music.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • Service Counter(s) View
    • The height of the counter is 85cm.
    • There is not a clear knee recess beneath the low/lowered section of the counter.
    • There is a moveable card machine available for payment.
  • Tables and Seating View
    • There is ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
    • The majority of tables are accessible to wheelchair users.
    • The standard height for the underside of dining tables is 75cm.
    • No tables are permanently fixed.
    • No chairs are permanently fixed.
    • No chairs have armrests on both sides.
    • The type of flooring in this area is vinyl.
    • The lighting levels are moderate to good.

Attraction Space(s) (Upper Level - Exhibition)

  • Entrance / Opening View
    • The entrance/opening is not clearly signed.
    • There are no doors, however there is an open width of 75cm+ for access to this area/attraction.
    • There is step-free access at this entrance/opening.
  • Attraction / Exhibit View
    • There is step free access throughout this attraction space.
    • There is sufficient space for a wheelchair user to turn within the room.
    • The type of flooring in the attraction space is carpet.
    • There is seating available within the attraction space.
    • There is bench seating available.
    • There is a high colour contrast between the walls and the floor in this area.
    • The lighting levels in this area are moderate to good.
    • There are video screens in this attraction space. The central screen has subtitles and a BSL interpreter.
    • There is bench seating to watch the videos. There is space for a wheelchair.
    • There is a touchscreen with headsets.
    • The height of the touchscreen is between 90cm and 100cm.
    • The height of the headset is 90cm.
    • The headset is fitted with a hearing loop and the loop was tested and working at the time of the survey.
  • Exit View
    • Visitors exit via the entrance/opening.

Ramp(s) or Slope(s) (Upper Level to Lower Level)

  • There is a ramp/slope located either side after you enter from the main entrance.
  • The ramp/slope is used to access the main exhibition space on the lower level.
  • There is information on the walls of the ramp.
  • The aircraft in the main exhibition space can be viewed from the ramp.
  • The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
  • The ramp/slope is permanent.
  • There is a/are handrail(s) at the ramp.
  • The handrail(s) is/are on both sides of the ramp.
  • The lighting levels at the ramp/slope are moderate to good.

Outside Access (Lower Level - Alternative Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the rear of the museum.
    • The entrance area/door is not clearly signed.
    • There is step-free access at this entrance.
    • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The entrance door(s) does not/do not contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The door(s) is/are permanently held open.
    • The width of the opening is 260cm.
    • These doors are only permanently held open on some days and to provide direct access to the main exhibition space.
    • If these doors are closed and you wish to use them to overcome the ramp, please speak to a member of staff.

Attraction Space(s) (Main Exhibition Space and Aircraft)

  • Attraction / Exhibit View
    • There is step free access throughout this attraction space.
    • There is sufficient space for a wheelchair user to turn within the room.
    • The type of flooring in the attraction space is vinyl.
    • There is flooring which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
    • There is seating available within the attraction space.
    • There is a mixture of seating with and without armrests.
    • The attraction space does not play background music/noise.
    • During busy periods the attraction space can become congested.
    • The hangar contains a number of American Aircraft and Ground Vehicles.
    • There are low level information boards next to the aircraft and vehicles.
    • There a number of exhibitions with touchscreens and headsets.
    • The height of the touchscreens are between 90cm and 100cm.
    • The height of the headset are 90cm.<
    • The headset is fitted with a hearing loop and the loop was tested and working at the time of the survey.
    • There are information booklets next to the touchscreens.
    • The height of the exhibitions are between 85cm and 100cm.

Attraction Space(s) (Lower Level - The Georgia Frontiere Gallery)

  • Entrance / Opening View
    • The entrance/opening is clearly signed.
    • There are no doors, however there is an open width of 75cm+ for access to this area/attraction.
    • There is step-free access at this entrance/opening.
  • Attraction / Exhibit View
    • There is step free access throughout this attraction space.
    • There is sufficient space for a wheelchair user to turn within the room.
    • The type of flooring in the attraction space is carpet.
    • There is not seating available within the attraction space.
    • The attraction space does not play background music/noise.
    • During busy periods the attraction space can become congested.
    • There are two remembrance wall screens either side of the room as you enter.
    • The exhibitions are from floor level to the ceiling.
    • There are touchscreens with headsets.
    • The height of the touchscreen is between 90cm and 100cm.
    • The height of the headset is 90cm.
    • The headsets are fitting with a hearing loop.
    • The hearing loop was tested and working at the time of surveying.
    • There is an interactive touchscreen activity table.
    • The height of the table is 85cm.
  • Exit View
    • Visitors exit via a separate set of doors/opening.

Toilet with Adaptations (Lower Level - Left Hand Transfer)

  • There is an/are accessible toilet(s) available.
  • Location and Access View
    • This accessible toilet is located at the rear of the lower level main exhibition.
    • There is step-free access into the accessible toilet.
    • This is a shared toilet.
    • A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is low.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door may be difficult to open.
    • The door is locked by a twist lock.
    • The width of the accessible toilet opening is 86cm (2ft 10in).
    • The contrast between the internal door and wall is medium.
    • The door has a horizontal grab rail.
    • The contrast between the horizontal grab rail and internal door is high.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 160cm x 216cm (5ft 3in x 7ft 1in).
    • The accessible toilet does have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the left.
    • The lateral transfer space is 140cm (4ft 7in).
    • There is a flush, however it is not on the transfer side.
    • There is not a spatula type lever flush.
    • There is a lever flush.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall is low.
    • There is a/are wall-mounted grab rail(s) available.
    • As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rail(s) is/are on both sides.
    • There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal wall-mounted grab rail on the opposite side of the seat to the transfer space.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) to the left of the toilet and wall is low.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) to the right of the toilet and wall is high.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 41cm (1ft 4in).
    • The toilet has a backrest and a cistern.
    • The toilet seat colour contrast is low.
    • There is a toilet roll holder.
    • The toilet roll holder can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The contrast between the toilet roll holder and the wall is low.
    • The lighting levels are moderate to good.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is high.
  • Additional Fixtures and Fittings View
    • There is an emergency alarm.
    • The emergency pull cord alarm was out of reach (higher than 10cm (4") from floor) when surveyed.
    • There is not a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the toilet.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the toilet.
    • There is a/are sanitary, nappy/incontinence items bin and general waste (with no lid) disposal units.
    • There is a/are coat hook(s).
    • The height of the coat hook is 125cm from the floor.
    • There is a mirror.
    • The mirror is not placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • There is not a shelf within the accessible toilet.
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin and tap(s) can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
    • The height of the wash basin is 78cm (2ft 7in).
    • There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the left hand side of the wash basin.
    • The contrast between the wash basin wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is low.
    • The wash basin tap type is lever.
    • There is not a wall fixed soap dispenser.
    • There is a handheld soap dispenser available.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the hand dryer is 125cm (4ft 1in).
    • The contrast between the hand dryer and the wall is low.
  • Baby Changing Facilities View
    • Baby changing facilities are located within the accessible toilet.
    • There is a height adjustable baby change table available.
    • The height of the baby change table is 90cm.
  • Comments View
    • There is a similar toilet with adaptations available with a lateral transfer space on the right.

Standard Toilet(s) (Lower Level)

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • The female and male toilets are located on the lower level, at the rear of the main exhibition.
    • There is step-free access into the toilet(s).
    • The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is high.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • It was not possible to access the female toilet.
    • An ambulant toilet cubicle is not available.
    • The height of the wash basin(s) is 86cm.
    • The wash basin(s) tap type is lever.
    • Lighting levels are moderate to good.