Overview

Visiting the museum for the first time I will admit to not knowing quite what to expect. I knew the access was good as I'd read the website and even watched a video. On the day it was great to roll up the ramp and find automatic doors, great signage, and a large lift going to the differing floors. I became so immersed in exploring I lost track of time !

Transport & Parking

I arrived at the museum from using public transport. It was easy to find the museum and only around ten minutes wheeling from the railway station. There were accessible parking bays in the streets along side the museum.

Access

The museum access started fir me before I even set out on the journey to visit. Without knowing about the wheelchair access, provision of accessible loos and somewhere to eat I would find it hard to decide to make a visit. The museum ticked all these boxes. Even more, there was an online video showing some of the access which was great. When I visited, along with my visually impaired pal, it was easy to find the building, a gentle ramp leads up to the front door which is automated. Once inside we started exploring. There are several floors, all well signposted, and a large lift (got two large wheelchairs in at the same time) to go between floors. The exhibits are all well labeled and at heights and positions that worked well for us. Some are interactive and it took ages to get my pal away from some of them! The lighting was good and the navigation around was easy. The museum has a spacious and comfortable cafe where we stopped off for lunch - the staff were great! We didn't realize but soon we'd spent four hours exploring!

Toilets

Can't praise the museum enough as there were loads of good accessible loos throughout the building. We were visiting as part of Disabled Access Day and it was fantastic to wheel around the corner when we arrived to discovered a mobile Changing Places toilet! A great idea and much appreciated by some of the other visitors we met.

Staff

Staff on the day of our visit were fabulous! They even has Access Buddies - people there to lend that extra bit of help if required. The museum staff were polite, friendly and enthusiastic and it makes you feel part of things. There's no doubt in my mind, having visited many places across the UK for work and pleasure that the team in Leeds City Museum and the museums know how to create not only an accessible space and opportunity but also an inclusive one!

Anything else you wish to tell us?

All I can add to the review is that it was such a great experience I shall be going back for more!

Photos