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Yorkshire Museum

Museum Gardens, Museum Street, York, YO1 7FR

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Access Guide

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Overview

  • About View
    • Yorkshire Museum houses galleries showcase some of Britain’s archaeological treasures from the city’s Roman, Viking and medieval past as well as a natural science collection.
    • Facilities available in the venue include: historical exhibits, library, lecture and conference space, standard and accessible toilets, and picnic spaces.
    • View information on opening times.
  • Parking and Public Transport View
  • Getting In and Around View
    • There is step-free access via a slight ramp at the most accessible entrance.
    • The most accessible entrance is the main entrance.
    • There is step-free level access throughout the majority of areas, this may include the use of a lift.
    • The following areas have stepped access: the stairs, historic library and reading room.
    • The following areas have step-free access via slopes or ramps: some areas on the lower ground exhibits, first floor and the museum gardens.
    • Doors are held open along circulation routes.
    • Access throughout may include uneven surfaces, narrow walkways and pillars.
    • The lower ground, ground and first floors can be accessed via a standard lift and stairs.
  • Getting Help and Assistance View
    • Seating is available.
    • There is a fixed hearing assistance system.
    • You can borrow or hire the following equipment: a manual wheelchair.
    • There is a designated safe space which can be used by people with dementia, autism or learning disabilities.
    • The designated safe space is located near the admissions desk.
    • The alternative formats documents can be provided in include: large print.
    • A bag search may be carried out on arrival by a trained member of staff who reserve the right to conduct bag searches randomly and indiscriminately.
    • Buggies, wheelchairs and mobility scooters are welcome but may also be subject to searches.
    • There is a water bowl available for assistance dogs.
    • There is not a designated assistance dog spending area.
    • Staff receive the following training: Dementia awareness and Disability awareness.
    • The museum's management team are First Aid trained. Mental Health first aiders are on site. One team member is trained in British Sign Language.

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There is 1 toilet with adaptations.
    • The toilet with adaptations is located on the lower ground floor, via the lift or stairs.
    • The toilet with adaptations has a left hand transfer space.
    • Female and male step-free standard toilet facilities are located on the lower ground floor, via the lift or stairs.
  • Changing Facilities View
    • Parent and baby changing facilities are located in the toilet with adaptations.
    • The height of the changing table is 90cm.

Entrance

  • This entrance is located through the museum gardens, in front of the building.
  • There is step-free access via ramp at the entrance.
  • The ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide with a handrail on the left going up.
  • The ramp is steep.
  • There are double manual doors at this entrance.
  • The doors opens towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 168cm.
  • There is a second set of double manual doors .
  • The second set of doors open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 85cm.
  • The minimum width between the security barriers is 85cm.
  • Both sets of doors are permanently open. In the event of bad weather, the inner door may be closed but assistance is available.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter.
  • There is a table on the left of the entrance for bag searches carried out by staff.

Admissions Desk

  • The counter is located on the right of the entrance.
  • There is step-free level access to the counter.
  • The height of the counter is 98cm.
  • There is a lowered section at the counter, however it is not at a suitable height for a wheelchair user .
  • There is a clearly signed fixed hearing assistance system.
  • There may be background noise in this area.
  • Seating available in this area includes: benches.
  • The hearing assistance system was not working at the time of the survey.

Gift Shop

  • Access to the Shop View
    • There is step-free level access into the shop.
    • There is an opening without doors.
    • The width of the opening is 90cm.
  • Shop View
    • There is step-free level access throughout all areas.
    • The majority of main aisle widths are between 150cm - 180cm.
    • Some aisles did have obstructions at the time of the survey, these included: product bins.
    • There may be background noise.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
  • Payment Counters and Checkouts View
    • The payment counter is located at the admissions desk.
    • Signage is not provided for the counter.
    • The height of the counter is 98cm.
    • There is a lowered section at the counter.
    • The height of the lowered section is 74cm.
    • The counter has a television and patterned/distracting backgrounds which may affect the ability of someone to lip read.
    • The payment machine is moveable.
    • There is a clearly signed fixed hearing assistance system.
    • The hearing assistance system was tested, however it was not working at the time of the survey.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Ground Floor Exhibition Space

  • The museum is indoors.
  • There is step-free level access throughout all areas.
  • Access throughout may include doors permanently held open, narrow walkways and bollards.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
  • The following may be experienced here: water effects and interactive video effects.
  • There is background noise which varies depending on the time of day.
  • Display information includes: pictorial, information boards and televisions/screens.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • Seating available in this area includes: benches.
  • There are shows/talks with no designated seating for wheelchair users .
  • There is a small threshold upon entering the gallery space.
  • The opening to the ground floor exhibition space is approximately 6m from the entrance.
  • The opening width is 158cm.
  • There is low lighting in the long Jurassic gallery.

The TA Hall

  • Theatre Information View
    • Advanced bookings are available.
    • Concessions are not available.
    • The availability of features such as captioned performances depends on the production or performers booking the venue and is not determined by the theatre.
    • There is a fixed hearing assistance system.
  • Auditorium View
    • The most accessible route to the auditorium has step-free level access and doors permanently held open.
    • There is a designated seating area.
    • The following rows have stepped access: A to P.
    • Row R has designated wheelchair space for up to 3 users.
    • Seating available includes: flip-down seats with armrests.

Lift

  • The lift surveyed is located on the right hand side of the ground floor exhibition.
  • The journey time to this lift from the ground floor exhibition opening is approximately 30 seconds.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access and doors permanently held open.
  • The lower ground, ground and first floor are accessed by this lift.
  • All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift door opening width is 80cm.
  • All of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • Internally the lift has: a visual floor indicator and an audible announcer.

Stairs

  • The stairs surveyed are located near the lifts.
  • There are permanently held open doors to access the stairwell.
  • The lower ground, ground and first floor can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 20+ steps between floors which are clearly marked and have handrails on both sides.
  • The handrails do not extend past the first and last step.
  • The handrails are easy to grip.

Toilet with Adaptations (Lower Ground - Left Hand Transfer)

  • Location View
    • The toilet surveyed is located on the lower ground floor, via the lift.
    • The distance from the lift is 3m.
  • Route View
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access.
    • There are no doors to open along the most accessible route.
  • Access View
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the door.
    • The width of the opening is 93cm.
    • The door has a twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a high colour contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door, with a high colour contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 160cm (width) x 200cm (depth).
    • There is not room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the left as you face the toilet, however it is obstructed.
    • The lateral transfer space is 93cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a lever flush for the toilet.
    • The flush is on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a medium colour contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a medium colour contrast.
    • There is a dropdown grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown grab rail has a medium colour contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 50cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a low colour contrast.
    • The toilet has a padded backrest.
    • The toilet roll holder can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a high colour contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 106cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever tap.
    • The wash basin and tap can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 70cm from the floor.
    • There are vertical grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rails have a medium colour contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser.
    • The soap dispenser cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a medium colour contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 100cm from the floor.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a medium colour contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 94cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin and a sanitary bin.
    • There are no coat hooks.
    • The walls and floor have a medium colour contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Lower Ground Exhibition Space

  • This area is indoors.
  • There is step-free level access throughout the majority of areas.
  • The following areas have step-free access via ramps or slopes: some of the exhibit space.
  • Access throughout may include uneven surfaces, doors permanently held open and narrow walkways.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
  • The following may be experienced here: interactive video effects.
  • There is background noise.
  • Display information includes: information boards, touchscreens and televisions/screens.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • Seating available in this area includes: chairs without armrests, armchairs and benches.
  • Furniture available in this area includes: tables.
  • There are shows/talks with no designated seating for wheelchair users .

First Floor Exhibition Space

  • This area is indoors.
  • There is step-free level access throughout the majority of areas.
  • The following areas have step-free access via ramps or slopes: from the lift to the first floor balcony.
  • The following areas have stepped access: the library and reading room.
  • Access throughout may include doors permanently held open.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
  • There may be background noise.
  • Display information includes: information boards.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • Seating available in this area includes: benches.