Access Guide
Summary
- The comprehensive Americas collections at the British Museum capture and express the narratives of humanity from North, Central and South America.
The Americas galleries are located on the ground floor at the rear of the Great Court via either Room 24 - Living and Dying Exhibition, or Room 1 - Enlightenment Exhibition. - For the Main Building AccessAble Access Guide please click here (new tab).
- For the The Great Court AccessAble Access Guide please click here (new tab).
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.
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Attraction / Exhibit (Ground Floor - Rooms 26 and 27)
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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/do contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
- There is step-free access at this entrance/opening.
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Attraction / Exhibit
View
- There is step-free level access throughout this area.
- There is a set of double doors between the two rooms.
- Clear directional signage is provided in this area.
- During busy periods this area can become congested.
- The type of flooring in this area is tiles.
- 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 is a high colour contrast between some walls and the floor in this area.
- The lighting levels in this area are varied.
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Exit
View
- Visitors exit via a separate set of doors/opening.
- The exit is clearly signed internally.
- There are double, manual doors with an opening width of 75cm+, which may be difficult to open when exiting this area/attraction.
- The exit is step-free.
Toilet with Adaptations
- The nearest accessible toilet(s) is/are located in the Great Court and next to the east stairs between the Americas gallery 27 and Enlightenment Gallery 1.
Standard Toilet(s)
- The nearest standard toilet(s) is/are located in the Great Court and next to the east stairs between the Americas gallery 27 and Enlightenment Gallery 1.