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Asia

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

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Access Guide

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Summary

  • The Asia Galleries display objects exploring the history and culture of Chinese, South and Southeast Asian, Korean and Japanese cultures from prehistoric times to the present day.
    The Asia galleries are located over 3 levels (Level 1, Level 2 and Level 5) The China, South Asia and India galleries are in rooms 33, 33a and 33b on Level 1.
    There is step free access from the North Lift.
    The Korea Gallery is in Room 67 and the Chinese Ceramics Room is in Room 95 on Level 2. The main access is located on the North Stairs landing between Level 1 and Level 2, this only has stepped access.
    There is step free access to Rooms 95 and 67 via the lift located in Room 33a, the lift opens next to Room 95.
    The Japan Gallery is in Room 92-94 on level 5, there is step free access via the North Lift.
  • For the British Museum - General Access AccessAble Access Guide please click here (new tab).
  • For the Great Court AccessAble Access Guide please click here (new tab).

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 1 : China and India - Rooms 33, 33a and 33b)

  • 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.
    • Photograph 1 shows the step-free entrance to Room 33 from the north lift on level 1. Photograph 2 shows stepped entrance to the room directly from a mid landing on north stairs.
  • Attraction / Exhibit View
    • There is not step-free level access throughout this area.
    • There are 3 unmarked, medium steps with handrails to the left to access Jade Room - Room 33b from Room 33. These steps can be overcome using the stairlift to the right of the steps.
    • Clear directional signage is not provided in this area.
    • The type of flooring in this area is vinyl, stone and wood.
    • There is flooring which includes patterns or colours which could be confusing or look like steps or holes to some people.
    • 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 pictorial and information board format.
    • There are no exhibits which start from the floor level.
    • The distance between the lowest exhibit and the floor is 40cm.
    • 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 both manual and push pad automatic doors with widths of over 75cm to access 33a.
    • There is a good colour contrast between some walls and the floor in this area.
    • The lighting levels in this area are varied.
  • Exit View
    • Visitors exit via the entrance/opening.
    • The exit is not clearly signed internally.

Lift (Room 33 China and South Asia to 33b Chinese Jade - Out of Service at time of survey November 2023)

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located next to stairs up from Room 33 into Room 33b.
  • The lift was out of use at the time of the survey.
  • Signs indicating the location of the lift are not available from the entrance.
  • The lift is a stair lift.
  • A member of staff needs to be notified for use of the lift.
  • A member of staff is required to operate the 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 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 good.
  • The colour contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is good.
  • The clear door width is 76cm (2ft 6in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 76cm x 80cm (2ft 6in x 2ft 7in).
  • There are separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • The lighting levels in the lift are good.

Lift (Room 33a (Level 1) to Room 95 and Room 67 (Level 2))

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located in Room 33a.
  • The lift is a standard lift.
  • A member of staff needs to be notified for use of the lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are Room 33a to Room 95.
  • 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 poor.
  • The colour contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is good.
  • The clear door width is 80cm (2ft 7in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 115cm x 130cm (3ft 9in x 4ft 3in).
  • There are not separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • There is not a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
  • There is not 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.

Attraction / Exhibit (Level 2 - China Ceramics - Room 95)

  • Entrance / Opening View
    • There is a single, permanently held open door 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 wood.
    • Handrails with a rounded or oval profile are not provided in this area.
    • 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 and television/screen 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 an information touchscreen.
      The height of the touchscreen is between 100cm and 120cm.
      There is an information desk with a lower level computer and large print guide for the exhibition.
      The height of the desk is 68cm.
    • 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 the entrance/opening.

Attraction / Exhibit (Level 2 Korea - Room 67)

  • 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 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 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 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 the entrance/opening.

Attraction / Exhibit (Level 5 : Japan - Rooms 92-94)

  • 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.
    • Clear directional signage is provided in this area.
    • During busy periods this area can become congested.
    • The type of flooring in this area is laminate.
    • There are some exhibits which start from the floor level.
    • There are 6 medium steps with handrails on both sides, leading to Room 94. These can be overcome by using the platform lift located to the left of the steps.
    • 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 the entrance/opening.

Lift (Japan - Room 93-94)

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located at the rear of Room 93.
  • The lift is approximately 45m (49yd 8in) from the from the exhibition entrance into room 92.
  • 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.
  • Lift doors do contrast visually with lift lobby walls.
  • The colour contrast between the external lift controls and the control plate is good.
  • The colour contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is good.
  • The clear door width is 90cm (2ft 11in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 90cm x 135cm (2ft 11in x 4ft 5in).
  • 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 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.

Accessible Toilet(s)

  • The nearest accessible toilet(s) is/are located off the north stairs/lift lobby, on level 3 using the north lift.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • The nearest standard toilet(s) is/are located in the north stairs/lift lobby, on levels 0 and 3 for female toilets and level 1 for male toilets.