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Themes - Level 3 Clocks & Watches and Money Level 4 Prints and Drawings

The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3DG

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Access Guide

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Summary

Getting Help and Assistance

  • For the British Museum accessibility information page please click here (new tab).
  • There is a member of staff available for help and assistance.
  • There is a member of staff trained in British Sign Language.
  • The alternative formats documents can be provided in include: different languages on request, large print on request, audio on request and Braille on request.
  • There is an assistance dog toilet or toileting area at the venue/nearby.
  • The assistance dog toilet or toileting area is located in Russell Square Park.
  • Water bowls for assistance dogs are available.
  • Manual wheelchairs are available to pre-book free of charge for your visit. These can be collected at the Great Russell Street entrance only and returned to either the Great Russell Street entrance or the Montague Place exit at the end of your visit.
    If you'd like to reserve a wheelchair, please either email [email protected] or phone 020 7323 8181.
    Please allow at least two working days' notice for reservations.
    Unfortunately, the Museum is unable to provide staff assistance around the Museum for wheelchair users.
    Wheelchairs may not be taken outside of the Museum site.
    .
  • Quieter Times and Sensory Information
    The Museum can sometimes be crowded and noisy.
    The quietest times to visit the Museum are when the galleries first open between 10.00 and 11.00 and again in the afternoon after 16.00. Please remember that the Museum closes at 17:00, except Fridays when open until 20.30.
    The middle of the day is usually the busiest time in the Museum galleries, cafés and shops.
    Please note that some Friday late openings have additional activities that can be busy and noisy.
    The busiest times are at weekends, during UK school holidays, UK bank holidays, Christmas and the New Year.
    The permanent galleries can get especially busy during the first and final weekends of a special exhibition.
    The quietest time of the year tends to be November and early December.
    For more information about the specific information about the quieter areas and a sensory map of the museum, please visit the British Museum Accessibility Page.
  • If you need assistance during your visit, staff members will be able to help you, The Visitor Services team wear blue or black shirts and a red lanyard/name badge and you can also ask for assistance at the Ticket Desk in the Great Court.
    There are sensory support back packs are available from the Families Desk in the Great Court, which is open on weekends and school holidays from 10.00–16.30.
  • Service, assistant, and emotional support animals – including assistant dogs in training – are welcome at the Museum.
    Service, assistant, and emotional support animals must be kept with you at all times and be identifiable as working. This includes a harness or lead which indicates their status and a high standard of behaviour in keeping with the animal's task and training.
    If your service, assistant or emotional support animal is not a dog, please contact the accessibility team at [email protected] prior to your visit to avoid disappointment on the day.
    .

Lift (South Lift)

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located to the left of the foyer after the Great Russell Street entrance.
  • Signs indicating the location of the lift are clearly visible from the entrance.
  • The lift is approximately 20m (21yd 2ft) from the Great Russell Street entrance.
  • The lift is a standard lift.
  • A member of staff does not need to be notified for use of the lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are -2,-1, 0 and 3.
  • Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are provided on lift lobby landings.
  • There is a clear level manoeuvring space of 150cm × 150cm in front of the lift.
  • Lift doors do contrast visually with lift lobby walls.
  • The external controls for the lift are not within 90cm - 110cm from the floor.
  • The colour contrast between the external lift controls and the control plate is poor.
  • The colour contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is poor.
  • The clear door width is 89cm (2ft 11in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 130cm x 160cm (4ft 3in x 5ft 3in).
  • There are separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • There is a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
  • There is a list of floor services available within the lift.
  • The lift does have a visual floor indicator.
  • The lift does have an audible announcer.
  • The internal controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
  • There is a hearing loop system.
  • The lift does not have Braille markings.
  • The lift does have tactile markings.
  • The lighting levels in the lift are low to moderate.
  • There is a/are similar lift(s) available.
  • Comments View
    • There is a similar lift on the opposite side of the foyer, to the right from the Great Russell Street entrance.

Attraction / Exhibit (Level 3 - Clocks and Watches Rooms 38-39)

  • Entrance / Opening View
    • There are double, permanently held open doors with an opening width of 75cm+ for access to this area/attraction.
    • The entrance/opening is clearly signed.
    • The entrance door(s) does/do contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • There is step-free access at this entrance/opening, via lift.
  • Attraction / Exhibit View
    • There is step-free level access throughout this area.
    • Clear directional signage is provided in this area.
    • The type of flooring in this area is wood.
    • There are resting/seating areas within this area.
    • Explanations for the exhibit(s) is/are in information board format.
    • Some of the exhibits can be audio described via the British Museum app, there is a BSL guide available on the app too.
      .
    • There is a good colour contrast between some walls and the floor in this area.
    • The lighting levels in this area are good.
  • Exit View
    • Visitors exit via a separate set of doors/opening.
    • The exit is clearly signed internally.
    • There are double, permanently held open doors with an opening width of 75cm+ when exiting this area/attraction.
    • The exit is step-free, via lift.

Attraction / Exhibit (Level 3 - Money Room 68)

  • Entrance / Opening View
    • There are double, permanently held open doors with an opening width of 75cm+ for access to this area/attraction.
    • The entrance/opening is clearly signed.
    • The entrance door(s) does/do contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • There is step-free access at this entrance/opening, via lift.
  • Attraction / Exhibit View
    • There is step-free level access throughout this area.
    • Clear directional signage is provided in this area.
    • There are walkways/corridors with a surface width of less than 120cm (excluding any permanent obstructions over a small distance).
    • The type of flooring in this area is wood.
    • There are resting/seating areas within this area.
    • Explanations for the exhibit(s) is/are in information board format.
    • There are some exhibits which start from the floor level.
    • Some of the exhibits can be audio described via the British Museum app, there is a BSL guide available on the app too.
      .
    • There are "hands on" desks availble within the gallery where visitors get a unique opportunity to handle objects from the Museum’s collection.
      Volunteers will help you and answer your questions.
      For more information about the object handling sessions please click here (opens in a new tab).
    • There is a good colour contrast between the walls and the floor in this area.
    • The lighting levels in this area are varied.
  • Exit View
    • Visitors exit via a separate set of doors/opening.
    • The exit is clearly signed internally.
    • There are double, permanently held open doors with an opening width of 75cm+ when exiting this area/attraction.
    • The exit is step-free, via lift.

Lift (North Lift)

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located to the left of the foyer, from the Montague Place entrance.
  • Signs indicating the location of the lift are not available from the entrance.
  • The lift is approximately 10m (10yd 2ft) from the Montague Place entrance.
  • The lift is a standard lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
  • Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are provided on lift lobby landings.
  • There is a clear level manoeuvring space of 150cm × 150cm in front of the lift.
  • Lift doors do not contrast visually with lift lobby walls.
  • The external controls for the lift are not within 90cm - 110cm from the floor.
  • The colour contrast between the external lift controls and the control plate is poor.
  • The colour contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is poor.
  • The clear door width is 83cm (2ft 9in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 180cm x 128cm (5ft 11in x 4ft 2in).
  • There are separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • There is not a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
  • There is a list of floor services available within the lift.
  • The lift does have a visual floor indicator.
  • The lift does not have an audible announcer.
  • The internal controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
  • There is not a hearing loop system.
  • The lift does not have Braille markings.
  • The lift does have tactile markings.
  • The lighting levels in the lift are low to moderate.
  • Comments View
    • At this lift, level -1 is the level of Montague Place.
    • Level 0 is the main ground floor level, including the Great Court.
    • The separate exit doors do not operate on all levels.

Attraction / Exhibit (Level 4 - Prints and Drawings)

  • Entrance / Opening View
    • There are double, manual doors with an opening width of 75cm+, which may be difficult to open for access to this area/attraction.
    • The entrance/opening is clearly signed.
    • The entrance door(s) does not/do not contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • There is step-free access at this entrance/opening.
  • Attraction / Exhibit View
    • There is step-free level access throughout this area.
    • The type of flooring in this area is wood.
    • There is flooring which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
    • This area does not play background music/sound.
    • There are resting/seating areas within this area.
    • Explanations for the exhibit(s) is/are in information board format.
    • There are no exhibits which start from the floor level.
    • Some of the exhibits can be audio described via the British Museum app, there is a BSL guide available on the app too.
      .
    • 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.
  • Exit View
    • Visitors exit via the entrance/opening.