Access Guide
Overview
-
About
View
- Lancaster City Museum is housed in Lancaster’s former Town Hall, on the edge of the Market Square.
- Services available in the venue include: a shop and themed exhibitions.
- View information on opening times
-
Parking and Public Transport
View
- The venue does not have its own car park.
- There is on-street Blue Badge Bay parking, on-street standard parking and a public car park nearby.
- The nearest parking is located at Marketgate.
- View information on Marketgate Shopping Centre (opens new tab) .
- The nearest train station is Lancaster.
- The nearest bus station is Lancaster.
- For the latest travel options and information you can plan your travel using Google Maps (opens new tab).
- View information on getting here (opens new tab) .
-
Getting In and Around
View
- There is step-free access via ramp at the most accessible entrance.
- There is step-free level access throughout the majority of areas.
- The ground and first floors can be accessed via a stair lift.
- There are no toilet facilities.
-
Getting Help and Assistance
View
- There is seating available.
- There is no hearing assistance system.
- You can borrow or hire the following equipment: a manual wheelchair.
- Documents are available in the following formats: large print (on request).
- There is not a water bowl available for assistance dogs.
- There is not a designated assistance dog spending area.
- Additional facilities/services include: Wi-Fi.
- Staff receive the following training: safeguarding, first aid and fire warden training, equality and diversity training.
Parking
-
On-street Parking
View
- On-street designated Blue Badge parking is available.
- The on-street designated Blue Badge parking bays are located on New Street.
- The Blue Badge bays are clearly marked and signposted.
-
Public Car Parks
View
- There is a public car park located on Lower Church Street.
- The name of the car park is St Nicholas Arcades.
- Designated Blue Badge parking bays are available in the car park.
- There is ducting above the Blue Badge bays in this car park that restricts the headroom to 1.48m.
Entrance
- This entrance is located at the front of the building.
- The entrance area is not clearly signed.
- There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
- There is step-free access via ramp at the entrance.
- The ramp has a slight gradient.
- The ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide with a handrail on the left going up.
- The ramp bypasses the steps.
- There are 4 steps with no handrails.
- The steps are unmarked.
- The height of the steps is not between 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the highest step is 14cm.
- The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
- There are double manual doors at this entrance.
- The doors are permanently held open.
- The width of the opening is 158cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
- The doors have a medium visual contrast.
- There is a second set of double manual doors.
- The second set of doors open towards you.
- The doors require effort to open.
- The width of the opening is 130cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
- The second set of doors have a medium visual contrast.
- There is step-free level access as you enter.
Shop (with Ticket Desk)
-
Getting Around
View
- There is step-free level access throughout all areas.
- Access throughout may include narrow walkways.
- The majority of product aisle widths are between 120cm - 150cm.
- There is a high visual contrast between the shelving and floor throughout this area.
- There is no (or very little) background noise.
- Signage is provided.
- The colour, design and typeface of signs is consistent throughout.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
-
Payment
View
- The checkout area is located to the left side of the shop.
- There is step-free level access to the checkout area.
- The venue has a payment counter.
- The height of the payment counter is 92cm.
- There is not a lowered section at the counter.
- The counter has patterned/distracting backgrounds.
- There is not a hearing assistance system.
- Lighting levels were low at the time of the survey.
Exhibition Space (Main Hall Space)
- All exhibits are interactive.
- There is step-free level access throughout all areas.
- Access throughout may include doors permanently held open.
- There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
- The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
- The following may be experienced here: water effects, lighting effects and audio triggered by a sensor.
- There is background noise.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
- Display information includes: tactile, information boards, pictorial and interactive exhibits at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- There is not a hearing assistance system.
Exhibition Space (Temporary Exhibition Space)
- All exhibits are indoors.
- There is step-free level access throughout all areas.
- Access throughout may include doors permanently held open.
- There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
- The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
- The following may be experienced here: lighting effects.
- There may be background noise.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
- Display information includes: audio guides, tactile, televisions/screens, interactive exhibits at a suitable height for a wheelchair user, information boards and pictorial.
- There is not a hearing assistance system.
- Seating available in this area includes: stools.
- Wayfinding signage is provided throughout the tour.
- This room and exhibition layout will change with every exhibition.
Access To (Higher Ground Level and Stairs with Stairlift)
- To reach the stairs and stairlift from the lower level, visitors can return to the shop and access the ramp in the left corner that passes the fire engine display.
- The distance from the shop is 4m.
- The most accessible route has slight ramps or slopes and narrow walkways.
- The ramp has a slight gradient.
- The ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide with no handrails.
- The ramp bypasses the steps.
- There are 2 steps with handrails on both sides.
- The handrails are easy to grip.
- The handrails do not cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
- The handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
- The steps are clearly marked.
- The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the highest step is 15cm.
- The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.
Stairs
- The stairs surveyed are located on the upper ground level.
- The upper ground and first floors can be accessed by these stairs.
- There are 20+ steps between floors.
- The steps are unmarked and have handrails on both sides.
- The handrails are easy to grip.
- The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
- The handrails extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
- The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the highest step is 16cm.
- The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
Lift (Stair Lift to First Floor)
- The lift surveyed is located at the main staircase.
- This lift is a stair lift.
- The distance from the entrance is 25m.
- The most accessible route to the lift has slight ramps or slopes.
- The ground and first floors are accessed by this lift.
- The lift has a level manoeuvring space in front of it for a wheelchair user (150cm x 150cm).
- The lift seat is 65cm from the floor.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
- The stairlift was out of order during the survey and is due to be replaced in 2025.
Exhibition Space (First Floor - Local History Gallery)
- All exhibits are indoors.
- There is step-free level access throughout all areas.
- Access throughout may include doors permanently held open and narrow walkways.
- There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
- The walls and floor visual contrast varies between low and high.
- The following may be experienced here: lighting effects.
- There is no (or very little) background noise.
- Lighting levels vary due to the size of the space.
- Display information includes: interactive exhibits at a suitable height for a wheelchair user, information boards, tactile and pictorial.
- There is not a hearing assistance system.
Area (First Floor - Display Corridor)
- There is step-free level access into this area.
- There is step-free level access throughout the area.
- Access throughout the area may include doors permanently held open and narrow walkways.
- There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
- Some flooring is shiny and patterned.
- The walls and floor visual contrast varies between low and high.
- Some of the walls have a reflective finish.
- Seating available in this area includes: chairs without armrests.
- Furniture available in this area includes: tables.
- The surface heights are not suitable for wheelchair users.
- The clear underside space of the surfaces is not suitable for wheelchair users.
- There is not a hearing assistance system.
- There is no (or very little) background noise in this area.
- Wayfinding signage is provided.
- The colour, design and typeface of signs is consistent throughout.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
Exhibition Space (First Floor - Richard Owen Exhibit)
- All exhibits are indoors.
- There is step-free level access throughout all areas.
- Access throughout may include doors permanently held open.
- There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
- The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
- There is no (or very little) background noise.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
- Display information includes: information boards and pictorial.
- There is not a hearing assistance system.
- Seating available in this area includes: chairs without armrests.
- Furniture available in this area includes: tables.
- The surface height of the tables is not suitable for wheelchair users.
- The clear height under the tables is not suitable for wheelchair users.
Exhibition Space (First Floor - King’s Own Royal Regiment Museum)
- All exhibits are indoors.
- There is step-free level access throughout the majority of areas.
- The following areas have stepped access: the mezzanine level - a small stair lift is available which has a seat but cannot take a wheelchair.
- Access throughout may include narrow walkways.
- There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
- The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
- The following may be experienced here: lighting effects, interactive video effects and audio triggered by a sensor.
- There is no (or very little) background noise.
- Lighting levels were low at the time of the survey.
- Display information includes: interactive exhibits at a suitable height for a wheelchair user, pictorial, touchscreens, audio guides, information boards, audio description and televisions/screens.
- There is not a hearing assistance system.
- Seating available in this area includes: benches.
- Furniture available in this area includes: tables.
- The seating is fixed.
- The surface height of the tables is not suitable for wheelchair users.
- The clear height under the tables is not suitable for wheelchair users.
Exhibition Space (Mezzanine Floor - King’s Own Royal Regiment Museum)
- All exhibits are indoors.
- There is step-free level access throughout all areas.
- Access throughout may include narrow walkways.
- There is not room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
- The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
- There is no (or very little) background noise.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
- Display information includes: information boards and pictorial.
- There is not a hearing assistance system.