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Summary

• For information about the opening hours please click here.
• Amenities at this site include: exhibition rooms, a reception and a café.
• There is onsite parking available here with designated Blue Badge parking.
• The most accessible entrance has a slight ramp/slope and manual doors.
• There is 1 step-free entrance.
• This does include the main entrance.
• The entrance surveyed is the main entrance at the front of the venue.
• There is step free access once inside with lift access to other floors.
• There is ramped access to the Planetarium and some sections of the tour.
• There is a member of staff available for help and assistance.
• This venue also has the following available: seating, audio format information, audio description, facilities for assistance dogs and maps.
• The sensory pack includes: ear defenders, fidget toys, sunglasses, activity sheets, soft toy, torch and sensory maps. For more information about reserving a pack, and any charges, please contact the venue before your visit.
• The following mobility aids are available to borrow: a wheelchair. For more information on any hire fees or booking requirements, please contact the venue.
• At the time of our visit the hearing assistance system was not working.
• Toilet and changing facilities available include: an accessible toilet for the use of everyone, step free standard toilets and a toilet designated as gender neutral.
• There is/are 2 toilet(s) designated as accessible.
• This accessible toilet is approximately 5m from the lift.
• The venue has "relaxed" opening hours on Friday afternoons. This includes reduced noise, reduced number of visitors, more lighting, and more seating in visitor areas. Please contact Dynamic Earth for further details.

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Parking

• This venue has a car park.
• This is an underground car park with a concrete surface.
• Parking is free for Blue Badge holders only.
• There are 6 Blue Badge parking bays.
• The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 480cm x 240cm.
• There is a hatched zone on one side but not to the rear.
• The nearest Blue Badge bay is 10m from the lift.
• This car park has a maximum vehicle height restriction of 230cm.
• There is a designated drop-off point without a dropped kerb.
• There is a large designated drop off area in front of the venue. There is a long ramp with no resting places to access the venue from the designated drop off point.

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Public Transport

• There is not a bus stop within approximately 150m of the venue.
• The nearest bus stop is approximately 300m from the venue. The number 35 bus stops here.
  Several tour buses stop at the venue.
• The nearest train station is Edinburgh Waverley.
• The train station is approximately 0.8 miles from the venue.

You are on Entrance. Skip to the next section.

Entrance

• The entrance surveyed is located at the front of the building.
• There is ramped/sloped or stepped access at this entrance.
• The ramp has a width of at least 150cm and a slight gradient .
• The ramp has handrails on both sides.
• There are 10 or more steps.
• There are double manual doors which open towards you.
• The width of the opening is 240cm.
• There is not a second set of doors.
• There are revolving doors at either side of the entrance door, but these are not presently in use.

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Visitor Centre/Ticket Office

• All flooring in the shop is smooth and even.
• The majority of the flooring has a very shiny finish, which could cause issues with glare or look slippery.
• There is step-free level access to the till(s).
• The height of the counter is 102cm.
• There is a low level till at the recommended height for seated users (between 76cm - 86cm).
• The till does not have a hearing assistance system.
• Services/facilities available include: a portable card machine for payment and a member of staff to provide assistance.
• There is background noise here which varies, depending on the time of day.

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Getting Around

• There is step-free access via lift, throughout the majority of the venue.
• There are bench seats and chairs without armrests throughout the building.
• All flooring in the area is smooth and even.
• Some of the flooring in the venue has a very shiny finish, which could cause issues with glare or look slippery.
• There is background noise here which varies, depending on the time of day.
• The building does not have a hearing assistance system.
• There is a welcome desk at the entrance. The height of the welcome desk is 108cm.
  There is a cloakroom facility to the left of the welcome desk (photo 4).

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Eating and Drinking (Food Chain Cafe)

• This is a café which serves hot and cold meals and snacks.
• There is step-free access to this area, via lift.
• There is table service (on request only), a self service counter, staff can provide assistance and a counter where food and drink can be ordered.
• Menu types include; written wall menus.
• Menus are easy to read.
• The following are available here: drinking straws, takeaway cups and a portable card machine for payment.
• There is background noise here which varies, depending on the time of day.
• There is a low level counter at the recommended height for wheelchair users (between 76cm - 86cm).
• The seating area has: high tables, high stools, tables which are accessible to wheelchair users, a mixture of chairs with and without armrests and room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
• The seating area does not have: a priority table.
• Tables are at a recommended height for wheelchair users (between 70cm - 80cm).
• The following furniture is permanently fixed: some of the tables.
• All flooring in the area is smooth and even.
• Some of the flooring has a very shiny finish, which could cause issues with glare or look slippery.

You are on Shop. Skip to the next section.

Shop

• The width of the door opening is 171cm.
• The majority of aisle widths are 150cm+.
• Some flooring in the shop is smooth and even.
• Where the flooring is not smooth or even, it is due to carpet.
• There is step-free level access to the till(s).
• The height of the counter is 103cm.
• There is not a low level till at the recommended height for seated users (between 76cm - 86cm).
• The till does not have a hearing assistance system.
• Services/facilities available in the shop include: a portable card machine for payment and a member of staff to provide assistance.
• There is background noise here.

You are on Tour. Skip to the next section.

Tour

• The tour is self-guided but guides are available to provide additional information.
• The tour takes approximately 1.5 hours.
• There is step-free access along the tour route, via ramp/slope.
• The majority of walkways are 150cm+ wide.
• There is background noise along the tour route.
• The following may be experienced on the tour: flash photography, 3D visual effects on screen, strobe or flashing lights, sudden loud noises, water effects, lighting effects and interactive video effects.
• Tour information includes the following formats: audio description, pictorial, audio guides, information board, interactive exhibits at a recommended height for wheelchair users (between 75cm - 120cm), television/screen, tactile and multi-language audio.
• Floor plans/maps are available for the tour route.
• There are bench seats and chairs without armrests at regular intervals along the tour.
• Some of the seating is fixed.
• All flooring along the tour route is smooth and even.
• Some of the flooring includes large repeating patterns in bold colours, which may look like steps or holes to some people.
• Some of the flooring has a very shiny finish, which could cause issues with glare or look slippery.
• Lighting levels are low along parts of the tour route.
• Some areas of the tour have very low lighting or complete darkness.

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• Lift View
  • The lift door opening width is 150cm.
  • The dimensions of the lift are 520cm x 220cm.

You are on Stairs. Skip to the next section.

Stairs

• The floors which are accessible by stairs are U, G, 1, 2, 3.
• There are 15+ steps between floors.
• The steps are clearly marked with handrails on both sides.

You are on Lift (Main Lift - right hand side of the entrance). Skip to the next section.

Lift (Main Lift - right hand side of the entrance)

• A member of staff does not need to be notified for use of the lift.
• The floors which are accessible by this lift are U, G, 1, 2, 3.
• Externally the lift has: tactile markings, buttons with a low colour contrast to the surroundings, a door with a high colour contrast to the surroundings and controls that are not at a recommended height range (between 90cm - 110cm).
• The lift door opening width is 90cm.
• The dimensions of the lift are 139cm x 150cm.
• Internally the lift has: a visual floor indicator, a mirror to aid reversing, controls at a recommended height range (between 90cm - 110cm), buttons with a medium colour contrast to the surroundings, an audible announcer and tactile markings.
• There is a similar lift on the left hand side of the building.

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Parent and Baby Room / Breastfeeding Room

• There is step-free access to the parent and baby room, via lift.
• There is a manual door which opens inwards and has a colour contrast.
• The width of the door opening is 84cm.
• There is a baby change facility which is not at a recommended height (75cm).
• The wash basin tap type is sensor.
• There is a chair with armrests on both sides.
• Waste bins include: a nappy bin.

You are on Accessible Toilet (Left Hand Transfer). Skip to the next section.

Accessible Toilet (Left Hand Transfer)

• This accessible toilet is located on level 2.
• There is step-free access into the accessible toilet, via lift.
• This accessible toilet is approximately 5m from the lift.
• There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the door.
• There is a manual door which opens outwards and has a fair colour contrast.
• The door has a twist lock.
• The width of the accessible toilet door opening is 83cm.
• There is a lateral transfer space to the left of the toilet seat but it is obstructed.
• The lateral transfer space is 80cm from the side of the toilet pan to the wall.
• There is a lever flush.
• The following grab rails are available: a vertical grab rail on the transfer side, a vertical rail on the right side of the wash basin and a horizontal grab rail on the door.
• There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
• The following fixtures can be reached from the toilet seat: the toilet roll holder.
• The following fixtures cannot be reached from the toilet seat: the wash basin, the soap dispenser and towel dispenser.
• The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 49cm.
• The height of the toilet roll holder is 98cm.
• The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
• The height of the wash basin is 72cm.
• The height of the soap dispenser is 94cm.
• The height of the towel dispenser is 108cm.
• The height of the baby change is 89cm.
• There is a pull cord emergency alarm at a recommended height for seated users (within 10cm from the floor).
• There is not a shelf.
• The height of the coat hook is 108cm from the floor.
• The cubicle also has: a waste bin with lid and a sanitary bin.
• The following have a good colour contrast with their surroundings: all grab rails, the dropdown rail, the floor and the toilet seat.
• The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: the internal door.

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Standard Toilet(s)

• There is step-free access into the toilet(s), via lift.
• There is a manual door which opens inwards and has a medium colour contrast.
• The male and female standard toilets were surveyed.
• The wash basin tap type is sensor.
• There are similar toilets on level 2 to the left hand side of the building.

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User Reviews

• Check out reviews of this venue from disabled people on Euan’s Guide, the disabled access review website (opens new tab).