You are on Summary. Skip to the next section.

Summary

• There is onsite parking available here with designated Blue Badge parking.
• The most accessible entrance has: a steep ramp/slope.
• There is step free access to the majority of the venue once inside.
• Toilet and changing facilities available include: ambulant cubicles and accessible toilets.
• This accessible toilet is approximately 40m from the site entrance.
• This venue also has the following available: a sign language interpreter, seating, a companion/carer discount, a hearing assistance system and audio format information.
• The closest accessible toilets to the site entrance are to the left-hand side of the ramped site entrance or in the Mess Deck within the building.
  The steep ramp at the site entrance has to be used to access all attractions within the site.
  The attraction inside the entrance plays visual / audio information with a sign language interpreter to the corner of the screen.
  There is an induction loop at the shop counter, opposite the ticket office / counter.
  Assistance dogs are welcome on site.
  There are various manual wheelchairs available for loan at the admissions point. Booking in advance is advised to avoid disappointment.
  For emergency use, there is a staff operated 6-seater electric buggy.
  One personal assistant is permitted free entry if you are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment. If you need multiple personal assistants, prior arrangements must be made in advance and written evidence of this may be required.

You are on Opening Times (5th February - 26th March and 31st October - 20th November). Skip to the next section.

Opening Times (5th February - 26th March and 31st October - 20th November)

• Monday 10:00 - 16:00.
• Tuesday 10:00 - 16:00.
• Wednesday 10:00 - 16:00.
• Thursday 10:00 - 16:00.
• Friday 10:00 - 16:00.
• Saturday 10:00 - 16:00.
• Sunday 10:00 - 16:00.

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• Comments View
  • Galleries begin to close 30 minutes before closing time.

You are on Opening Times (27th March - 30th October). Skip to the next section.

Opening Times (27th March - 30th October)

• Monday 10:00 - 17:00.
• Tuesday 10:00 - 17:00.
• Wednesday 10:00 - 17:00.
• Thursday 10:00 - 17:00.
• Friday 10:00 - 17:00.
• Saturday 10:00 - 17:00.
• Sunday 10:00 - 17:00.

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• Comments View
  • Galleries begin to close 30 minutes before closing time.

You are on Parking (Main Car Park). Skip to the next section.

Parking (Main Car Park)

• This venue has a car park .
• This is an open air car park with a loose chippings and gravel surface.
• Parking is free for all users.
• There is not a designated drop-off point.

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• Comments View
  • Photographs 1-4 show the main car park.
    
  • Photographs 5 and 6 show the step-free or shallow stepped access onto the pavement from the car park.
    
  • Photograph 7 shows a tarmacked car parking section that is used at times, however, it is further from the entrance.
    
  • There are Blue Badge bays and electrical vehicle charging bays in the No.5 Slip, to the right of the site entrance and main car park.

You are on Parking (No.5 Slip: Blue Badge Bays and Electric Vehicle Bays). Skip to the next section.

Parking (No.5 Slip: Blue Badge Bays and Electric Vehicle Bays)

• This venue has a car park .
• This is a sheltered car park with a tarmac and concrete surface.
• Parking is free for all users.
• There are 5 Blue Badge parking bays.
• The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 225cm x 470cm.
• There is a hatched zone on both sides and to the rear.
• The nearest Blue Badge bay is 127m from the site entrance.
• Potential obstacles between the Blue Badge parking and the entrance include dropped kerbs, uneven surfaces and a road crossing.
• There is not a designated drop-off point.

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• Comments View
  • Photograph 1 shows the No.5 slip which has the Blue Badge bays and 6 electrical vehicle charging bays within it. This is to the right-hand side from the main car park and site entrance.
    
  • Access does not have to be pre-arranged.
    
  • A security barrier and intercom 120cm high are used to access the car park. Staff will open the barriers when requested via this intercom.
    
  • Photograph 4 shows one of the Blue Badge Bays and photograph 5 shows the electrical vehicle charging bays.
    
  • Photographs 6-8 show the route to the site entrance.
    
  • There is a pedestrian crossing which is level with the road one side, with a dropped kerb and tactile paving on the other side.
    
  • The route consists of tarmac and block paving.

You are on Public Transport. Skip to the next section.

Public Transport

• There is not a bus stop within approximately 150m of the venue.
• There is a designated drop-off area for coach tours within 150 metres of the site entrance.
• The nearest train station is Gillingham.
• Gillingham Station is approximately 1.9 miles away.

You are on Ramp or Slope and Steps (Ramped Access to External Accessible Toilet). Skip to the next section.

Ramp or Slope and Steps (Ramped Access to External Accessible Toilet)

• There is a ramp with a slight gradient .
• The ramp does not have handrails.
• There are 3 steps.
• The steps are not clearly marked and there are no handrails.
• The ramp overcomes the steps.

You are on Toilet with Adaptations (Main Car Park / Site Entrance - Left Hand Transfer). Skip to the next section.

Toilet with Adaptations (Main Car Park / Site Entrance - Left Hand Transfer)

• There is ramped/sloped access into the accessible toilet.
• There is a manual door which opens outwards and has a high colour contrast.
• The door has a lever twist lock.
• The width of the accessible toilet door opening is 84cm.
• The dimensions of the cubicle are 154cm x 215cm and it does not have a 150cm x 150cm turning space.
• There is a lateral transfer space to the left of the seat.
• The lateral transfer space is 81cm (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 vertical grab rail on the transfer side, a horizontal grab rail on the non transfer side, vertical grab rails on both sides of the wash basin and a horizontal grab rail on the door.
• There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
• The following have a high colour contrast with their surroundings: the internal door, some grab rails and the toilet seat.
• The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: the floor, some grab rails and the dropdown rail.
• There is pull cord emergency alarm at a recommended height for a seated user.
• The cubicle also has: a sanitary bin and a padded back rest for seat.
• The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
• The following fixtures are at the recommended height: the toilet seat, the toilet roll holder, the wash basin, the soap dispenser and hand dryer.
• The following fixtures can be reached from the toilet seat: the toilet roll holder, the wash basin and the soap dispenser.
• The following fixtures cannot be reached from the toilet seat: hand dryer.

You are on Main Car Park / Site Entrance: Play Area. Skip to the next section.

Main Car Park / Site Entrance: Play Area

• The play area is located to the left of the ramped site entrance and at the front of the main car park.
• The play area is accessed via the ramp that is also used to access the accessible toilet (photograph 2).
• There is a heavy gate, 103cm wide, that open away from for access into the play area (photograph 3).
• Photographs 4 and 5 shows an open entrance to the play area via a further sloped path.
• The area has block paving, cobbles, wooden planks/logs and wood chip by the equipment.
• There are slopes and steps within the area.

You are on Entrance (The Historic Chatham Dockyard: Site Entrance). Skip to the next section.

Entrance (The Historic Chatham Dockyard: Site Entrance)

• There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
• A width of at least 150cm and There is a ramp with a steep gradient .
• The ramp has handrails on both sides.
• There is a single automatic door which opens by sliding.
• The width of the opening is 151cm.
• There is a second set of doors.
• There is a single automatic door which open by sliding.
• The width of the opening is 173cm.

You are on Inside Access (Site Entrance). Skip to the next section.

Inside Access (Site Entrance)

• There is step-free access, via ramps, throughout the majority of the venue.
• There is background noise here which varies, depending on the time of day.
• The building has a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
• There is a signed loop at the shop counter, which is close to the site entrance.

You are on Counter (Ticket Office). Skip to the next section.

Counter (Ticket Office)

• There is step-free access to this counter.
• There is not a low level counter at the recommended height for seated users.
• There is background noise here which varies, depending on the time of day.

You are on Entrance (Access to the Shop, Exhibit and Mess Deck). Skip to the next section.

Entrance (Access to the Shop, Exhibit and Mess Deck)

• There is step-free access at this entrance.
• There are no doors at this entrance.
• The width of the opening is 110cm.

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• Comments View
  • On either side of the ticket office / counter there are 5 identical doors.
    
  • Those which have the cordon tied back can be used to access the Mess Deck, shop and the small exhibit in the area.
    
  • Once finished in the shop / restaurant / exhibit, visitors can head through one of these doorways and the security barriers by the ticket office towards the first gallery space, the Command of the Oceans.
    
  • There is signage above a few of the doors (photographs 3 and 4).

You are on Attraction / Exhibit. Skip to the next section.

Attraction / Exhibit

• There is step-free access to and throughout this area.
• The majority of walkways are 150cm+ wide.
• There is background noise here.
• Exhibit information includes the following formats: touchscreens, television/screen, information board and pictorial.
• There are bench seats in this area.
• All of the seating is fixed.
• There are touchscreens at 2 heights of 102cm and 82cm.
  The table has a 70cm knee recess (photograph 2).
  There is a screen that is 62cm high (photographs 3 and 4). The video has audio and a sign language interpreter to the side of the screen. There are options to play it in various languages.
  There is background noise from the shop and restaurant.

You are on Shop. Skip to the next section.

Shop

• The majority of aisle widths are not 150cm+.
• There is step-free access to the till(s).
• There is a low level till at the recommended height for wheelchair users.
• The till has a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
• There is background noise here which varies, depending on the time of day.
• The card machine is moveable but not detachable from its base.
  There is a fixed loop at the counter, however, no sound was picked up at time of survey (June 2022).
  This counter can also be used to buy tickets if the loop is needed.

You are on Entrance (Security Barriers / Entrance onto Site via Command of the Oceans). Skip to the next section.

Entrance (Security Barriers / Entrance onto Site via Command of the Oceans)

• There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
• There is a slope with a slight gradient and a width between 75cm and 150cm .
• The ramp has handrails on both sides.
• There are no doors at this entrance.
• The width of the opening is 125cm.

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• Comments View
  • The security barriers, shown in photograph 1, have a ticket bar code reader that is 92cm high. The barriers automatically open away from you.
    
  • The ramp and corridor, shown in photographs 2-5, lead towards the Command of the Oceans gallery space and the two exit doors that lead outside.

You are on Entrance (Command of the Oceans to Museum Square: External Site Area). Skip to the next section.

Entrance (Command of the Oceans to Museum Square: External Site Area)

• There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
• There is a slope with a slight gradient and a width of at least 150cm .
• There are double automatic doors which open away from you.
• The width of the opening is 153cm.
• There is a second set of doors.
• There is a single automatic door which opens by sliding.
• The width of the opening is 168cm.

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• Comments View
  • There is a very slight slope by the first set of automatic doors, shown in photograph 2.
  • The slight slope is located beyond the second automatic door as shown in photograph 4.

You are on Entrance (Site Exit). Skip to the next section.

Entrance (Site Exit)

• There is ramped/sloped or stepped access at this entrance.
• A width between 75cm and 150cm and There is a ramp with a slight gradient .
• The ramp has handrails on both sides.
• There are 4 steps.
• The steps are clearly marked with handrails on both sides.
• The ramp overcomes the steps.
• There are double automatic doors which open by sliding.
• The width of the opening is 167cm.
• There is a second set of doors.
• There are double automatic doors which open by sliding.
• The width of the opening is 254cm.

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• Comments View
  • The site exit is located to the right of the entrance from the Command of the Oceans in the Upper Mast House.
  • Photograph 7 shows the security barriers which open automatically away from you to a width of 95cm.
  • Photograph 8 shows the signage by these barriers.
  • Visitors then pass through the shop and the 'Shop, Exhibit and Mess Deck entrance' to head back out from the site entrance.

You are on Related Access Guides. Skip to the next section.

Related Access Guides

• To view other AccessAble Detailed Access Guides that are related to this one please use the links below.
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: Changing Places and Accessible Toilets link (new tab) - click here
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: Getting Around link (new tab) - click here
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: Mess Deck Restaurant link (new tab) - click here
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: Wagon Stop Canteen link (new tab) - click here
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: Command of the Oceans link (new tab) - click here
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: Command of the Oceans - Hearts of Oak link (new tab) - click here
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: The Big Space link (new tab) - click here
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: No.1 The Smithery link (new tab) - click here
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: RNLI Historic Lifeboats Collection link (new tab) - click here
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: Victorian Ropery link (new tab) - click here
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: Steam, Steel and Submarines link (new tab) - click here
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: HM Submarine Ocelot link (new tab) - click here
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: HMS Cavalier link (new tab) - click here
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: HMS Gannet link (new tab) - click here
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: Commissioner's Garden link (new tab) - click here