Overview

The People's History Museum is the national museum of democracy in Britain. It is well worth visiting. It has a collection of historic and contemporary of banners, badges, placards and personal items. I went specifically to visit the Nothing About Us Without Us exhibition which is on till 16 October 2023. I am planning to write a separate blog about the exhibition for Euan's Guide, so this review is going to focus on the accessibility of the museum generally, which is excellent. Please be aware that the museum has obtained funding for a Changing Places toilet which they hope to have installed later this year.

Transport & Parking

I travelled to the museum by bus and it dropped me off at Bridge Street which is a couple of minutes away. The free shuttle bus also stops nearby but as I didn't use it I can't comment on it. The nearest tram stop is St Peter's Square which is a 10-15 minute walk away. the tram system in Manchester is modern and has step free access. The museum's website says that the museum is 2 minutes away from Salford Central Train Station, but the station is currently closed until Summer 2023, as they are upgrading the platforms and making the station more accessible.

Access

The museum can be approached by a short flight of stairs with handrails or step free by the permanent slope which has a handrail on one side. The main entrance has a revolving door and an automatic ush button door. This leads into a large, spacious foyer with low level reception desk and gift shop to the left hand side and the café on the right. In this area are free standing table and low benches, without back support or arm rests. There are lifts to all floors or stairs with handrails on both sides.

Toilets

There are accessible toilets. I visited the two on the ground floor near the reception area, and next to the lift. There are signs on the doors including in braille. One door has a women's symbol and the other a man, also have writing in braille and state they have right hand transfers. When you open either of these doors off the corridor you come into a space with three cubicles, one of which is an accessible cubicle. When I was coming out of the accessible toilet into the men's toilet area I got a strange look from someone who was coming inside. The accessible toilets are spacious, clean, tidy and well maintained. There are plenty of grab rails and an emergency cord that hangs down towards the floor. Staff were pleased when I said that I had come with Euan's Guide red cord cards, as they said theirs were getting tatty with use and welcomed a replacement. There was a large bin next to the accessible toilet in the women's toilets, which could make it difficult for wheelchair users to transfer. Good news is the museum has got funding for a Changing Places toilet, which should be installed later this year.

Staff

Staff were very friendly, helpful and supportive. I only interacted with them at the reception desk and didn't see any staff as I went round the exhibition. When I finished my visit I feedback to them about my review and they were interested in my observations. This is a very welcoming and inclusive staff group. Thank you.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

This is a fascinating and very accessible museum, which explores issues of equality and social justice. the Nothing About Us Without Us exhibition is fascinating, I learnt a lot and different impairments are well presented. I hope to return and do the other galleries and there are so many important historical and contemporary issues discussed. It's refreshing to see an exhibition where ordinary people are represented and not just the good and the great, highly recommend.

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