Access Guide
Summary
- View information about opening hours.
- Amenities in this building include: a reception and exhibition rooms.
- Additional amenities in this area include: guided tours of the surrounding area, on foot, kayak or paddle board.
- The most accessible entrance has a steep ramp/slope and a manual door.
- This entrance is the visitor reception entrance.
- There is step-free access once inside.
- There is a member of staff available for help and assistance.
- Staff/volunteers can describe the layout and access around the site.
- The following are also available: seating, audio description and a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
- At the time of our visit the hearing assistance system was working.
- This site is not part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
- Toilet and changing facilities available include: a toilet with some adaptations and step free standard toilets.
- The toilet with adaptations for disabled people surveyed can be found in the toilet block adjacent to the visitor reception.
- This toilet with adaptations for disabled people is approximately 7m from the visitor reception entrance.
- The standard toilets surveyed can be found in the toilet block adjacent to the visitor reception.
Admissions
- At this location the following are free to access for all visitors: the outdoor space and visitor reception.
- At this location the following areas require payment from everyone (including National Trust members): the city tours, with discounts for National Trust members.
- This site offers companion or carer discounts.
- Tours can be booked in advance, but if spaces are available, it is possible to participate without pre-booking.
Public Transport
- There is a bus stop within approximately 150m of the building.
- The nearest train station is Birmingham New Street.
- Birmingham New Street is approximately 1 mile away.
- The nearest tram station is Brindley Place Tram Stop.
- Brindley Place Tram Stop is approximately 1.5 miles away.
- For the latest travel options and information you can plan your travel using Traveline (opens new tab).
Parking
- This building does not have a car park.
- Nearby parking includes: a multi-storey public car park.
- The closest public car park is the Birmingham Arena (South Car Park).
Equipment and Resources to Borrow
- You can borrow these from visitor reception. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
- Powered mobility vehicles cannot be borrowed or hired.
- Kayaks and paddleboards are available to book for guided canal tours.
Outdoor Spaces
- This information is for the access point located at the junction of Sheepcote Street and St Vincent's Street.
- Access into the area is via a steep ramp/slope.
- The slope is over 150cm wide, with no handrails.
- There is open access at the surveyed access point.
- The bollards contrast visually with the paving.
- The following outdoor facilities are available: a cobbled courtyard and seating.
- The outdoor spaces include the following surfaces: cobbled and block paving.
- Footpaths are available in some of the outdoor space.
- The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
- There is no step-free level access around the area.
- There are steep ramps/slopes without handrails in the main areas .
- There are steep slopes throughout the area.
- There are bench seats situated along the paths for people to rest.
Visitor Reception
- Access into the area is via a steep ramp/slope.
- The slope is over 150cm wide, with no handrails.
- The door is manual, opens inwards and has a high colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 100cm.
- Internally the door has a high colour contrast.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the doorway with a height of less than 1.5cm.
- There is step-free level access around the area.
- There is room for wheelchair users to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm) throughout the area.
- All flooring is smooth and even.
- There is step-free level access to the counter.
- The height of the counter is 109cm.
- There is a low level section at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- The counter has windows, TVs, glazed screens or mirrors which could adversely affect the ability of someone to lip read.
- The counter has a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
- The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.
- There are bench seats available in the visitor reception.
- The following furniture is permanently fixed: all of the chairs.
- Services/facilities available include: a member of staff to provide assistance.
- There is no (or very little) background noise here.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
Attraction / Exhibit (Visitor Reception)
- There is step-free level access into the area.
- The majority of walkway widths are between 120cm and 180cm.
- There is background noise here.
- Exhibit information includes the following formats: tactile, pictorial, information board, television/screen, audio description and subtitles.
- Some of the exhibits have hearing assistance systems which are not signed.
- The hearing assistance systems were tested and working at the time of the survey.
- There is step-free level access around the area.
- There are bench seats and chairs without armrests available in the area.
- The following furniture is permanently fixed: some of the chairs.
- All flooring in the area is smooth and even.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
Entrance (Toilet Block)
- The entrance surveyed is located adjacent to visitor reception.
- There is step-free access via slope at the entrance.
- The steep slope is over 150cm wide, with no handrails.
- There is a single manual door which is permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 78cm.
Toilet with Adaptations (Toilet Block - Ambulant - Right Hand Transfer)
- This toilet is located adjacent to the visitor reception.
- There is step-free level access into the toilet.
- This toilet is approximately 7m from the visitor reception.
- There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
- The door is manual, opens outwards and has a low colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the toilet door opening is 85cm.
- The door has a locking handle.
- The dimensions of the cubicle are 152cm x 250cm and it does not have a 150cm x 150cm turning space.
- There is a lateral transfer space to the right of the seat but it is obstructed.
- The lateral transfer space is 84cm from the side of the toilet pan to the wall.
- There is a lever flush on the transfer side.
- The following grab rails are available: a horizontal grab rail on the door, a horizontal grab rail on the non transfer side, a vertical grab rail on the transfer side and vertical grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
- There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
- The following fixtures can be reached from the toilet seat: toilet roll holder and wash basin.
- The following fixtures cannot be reached from the toilet seat: soap dispenser and hand dryer.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm.
- The height of the toilet roll holder is 90cm.
- The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
- The height of the wash basin is 75cm.
- The height of the soap dispenser is 116cm.
- The height of the hand dryer is 105cm.
- The height of the baby change is 78cm.
- There is a pull cord emergency alarm at a recommended height (within 10cm from the floor).
- There is a shelf located where it is reachable for seated and standing users.
- The shelf does not meet the criteria for Stoma Friendly Toilets. For the Stoma Friendly Toilets criteria click here and select the Stoma Friendly tab in the right hand pane.
- The cubicle has: a full length mirror, a sanitary bin, a clinical waste bin and a padded back rest for seat.
- The following have a high colour contrast with their surroundings: the dropdown rail, the toilet seat, the floor and all grab rails.
- The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: the internal door.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
Standard Toilet (Toilet Block)
- There is step-free level access into the toilet.
- The door is manual, opens inwards and has a low colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 70cm.
- Internally the door has a low colour contrast.
- The shared standard toilet was surveyed.
- The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
- Lighting levels are bright.
- There are hand dryers.