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7 American Air Museum

IWM Duxford, Duxford, Cambridgeshire, CB22 4QR

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Access Guide

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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.

Getting to IWM Duxford and Useful Information

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: written wall menus and handheld 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.
    • Plastic/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 good 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 to 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 door 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.

Accessible Toilet(s) (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 poor.
    • 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 fair.
    • The door has a horizontal grab rail.
    • The contrast between the horizontal grab rail and internal door is good.
  • Toilet 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.
    • The lighting levels are moderate to good.
    • 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 poor.
    • 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 poor.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) to the right of the toilet and wall is good.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is good.
    • 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.
  • Additional Fixtures View
    • 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.
    • The toilet has a backrest and a cistern.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 41cm (1ft 4in).
    • The toilet seat colour contrast is poor.
    • 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 poor.
    • 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 poor.
    • 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 poor.
  • 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.

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 good.
    • 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.