Access Guide
Summary
- The Greek and Roman galleries display objects from the Bronze Age until the fall of Rome (about 3200 BC to AD 476).
They show the expansion of the Greek world across the Mediterranean and beyond, the growth of increasingly powerful Italian cultures and their coming together in the Roman Empire.
The Ancient Greece and Rome galleries are located over two levels.
On Level 0 it is located to the left after you enter the Great Court.
On Level 3 is it located to the right after you exit the south lift/stairs via Room 68 - The Citi Gallery, or to the right after you exit the west lift/stairs. - 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 (Level 0 - Rooms 6, 11-23)
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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.
-
Attraction / Exhibit
View
- There is step-free level access throughout this area.
- 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 and stone.
- There is some 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.
- From Room 15 There are 15+ steps with handrails on both sides from the second step onwards leading up to room 16.
There are 3 steps at either end of Room 18, which give access to an upper gallery. These steps can be overcome by platform lifts located at either end of Room 18.
There are 8 steps with handrails on both sides, leading from Room 23 to Rooms 22.
There are 8 steps with handrails on both sides leading from Room 21 to Room 22, there is a platform lift to overcome these steps. - Some of the exhibits can be audio described via the British Museum app, there is a BSL guide available on the app too.
In the Pantheon exhibition Room 18b there are braille and tactile signage on the information boards.
A free self-guided tour is available for the Parthenon galleries (Room 18 & 18b).
The tour consists of 12 stops which provide an introduction to some of the sculptures that decorated the Parthenon.
Supporting information for the Touch tour is available in the following formats: large print, Tactile drawings with braille information, Audio on your own smartphone or tablet and as a Guided Touch tour for blind and partially sighted visitors to the Museum (advance booking only).
To book a Guided Touch tour, email [email protected] at least four weeks in advance of your visit
There is bench seating available in Rooms 6,1314,17,18 and 21.
There are portable resting stools available in Room 17.
. - 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.
- There are double, permanently held open doors with an opening width of 75cm+ when exiting this area/attraction.
- The exit is step-free.
Lift (Room 18 - Parthenon - Rear Galleries)
- There is a lift for public use.
- The lift is located at either end of Room 18.
- The lift is a platform lift.
- The platform lift accesses a small level change.
- There is a clear level manoeuvring space of 150cm × 150cm in front of the lift.
- The clear door width is 80cm (2ft 7in).
- The dimensions of the lift are 85cm x 100cm (2ft 9in x 3ft 3in).
- There are separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
- The lift does not have a visual floor indicator.
- The lift does not have an audible announcer.
- The internal controls for the lift are not within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
- The Controls are between 76cm to 80cm.
- 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 good.
Lift (Room 21 to Room 22)
- There is a lift for public use.
- The lift is located between Rooms 21 and 22.
- The lift is a platform lift.
- A member of staff does not need to be notified for use of the lift.
- The platform lift accesses a small level change.
- Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are not 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 within 90cm - 110cm from the floor.
- The colour contrast between the external lift controls and the control plate is high.
- The colour contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is High.
- The clear door width is 90cm (2ft 11in).
- The dimensions of the lift are 115cm x 140cm (3ft 9in x 4ft 7in).
- There are separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
- There is not a mirror to aid reversing out of 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 not a hearing loop system.
- The lift does have Braille markings.
- The lift does have tactile markings.
- The lighting levels in the lift are moderate to good.
Toilet with Adaptations (Level 0)
- The nearest accessible toilet(s) is/are located in the Great Court.
Standard Toilet(s) (Level 0)
- The nearest standard toilet(s) is/are located in the Great Court.
Attraction / Exhibit (Level -1 - Rooms 77 and 78)
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Entrance / Opening
View
- There are no doors, however there is an open width of 75cm+ for access to this area/attraction.
- There is stepped access at this entrance/opening.
- There is/are 10+ clearly marked step(s), with handrails on both sides, for access to Rooms 77 and 78.
- Handrails are at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
- Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
- Handrails are not easy to grip.
- Handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
- The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
- The depth of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
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Attraction / Exhibit
View
- There is step-free level access throughout this area.
- Clear directional signage is provided in this area.
- During busy periods this area can become congested.
- The type of flooring in this area is vinyl.
- There is some flooring which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
- There are resting/seating areas within this area.
- Explanations for the exhibit(s) is/are in information board format.
- No exhibits can be audio described.
- There are some exhibits which start from the floor level.
- There is a high colour contrast between some walls and the floor in this area.
- The lighting levels in this area are good.
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Exit
View
- Visitors exit via the entrance/opening.
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 low.
- The colour contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is low.
- 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.
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Comments
View
- There is a similar lift on the opposite side of the foyer, to the right from the Great Russell Street entrance.
Lift (West Lift)
- There is a lift for public use.
- The lift is located at the west end of the building, near to the west stairs.
- Signs indicating the location of the lift are not available from the entrance.
- The lift is approximately 40m (43yd 2ft) from the Montague Place entrance.
- The lift is a standard lift.
- The floors which are accessible by this lift are 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 contrast visually with lift lobby walls.
- The external controls for the lift are within 90cm - 110cm from the floor.
- The colour contrast between the external lift controls and the control plate is high.
- The colour contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is Medium.
- The clear door width is 90cm (2ft 11in).
- The dimensions of the lift are 152cm x 123cm (4ft 12in x 4ft).
- 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 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 good.
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 low.
- The colour contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is low.
- 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.
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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 3 - Rooms 69-73)
-
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.
- During busy periods this area can become congested.
- The type of flooring in this area is carpet.
- There are resting/seating areas within this area.
- Explanations for the exhibit(s) is/are in information board format.
- Some exhibits can be audio described.
- There are some exhibits which start from the floor level.
- There are 15+ medium steps leading up to Room 69a.
- 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 bench seating available in Rooms 67, 70 and 71.
- There is a high colour contrast between the walls and the floor in this area.
- The lighting levels in this area are good.
-
Exit
View
- Visitors exit via the entrance/opening.
- There are double, permanently held open doors with an opening width of 75cm+ when exiting this area/attraction.
- The exit is step-free.
Toilet with Adaptations (Level 3)
- The nearest accessible toilet(s) is/are located in the north stairs/lift lobby.
Standard Toilet(s) (Level 3)
- The nearest standard toilet(s) is/are located in the north stairs/lift lobby.