Venue Description

Somerset Rural Life Museum is a newly developed and completely accessible museum in Glastonbury, Somerset. The museum holds a wide range of artefacts and collections telling the story of Somerset's rich farming history from the 1800s until the modern day. Other galleries at the museum depict celebrating, learning, creating, believing and remembering in Somerset. The museum also includes the Abbey Barn, a 14th century home manor barn which was constructed as part of Glastonbury Abbey's estate in the 1340s. On site there is also a wonderful café serving local produce, a delightful shop filled with artisan products and a car park.

Accessibility

Entrance to the museum is all on one level to provide ease of access, we have disabled parking bays and all doors within the museum have automatic push pads. We have a lift on site that accesses all floors and is suitable for one wheelchair at a time, we also keep one wheelchair on site which can be used to improve access to customers visit. We also have accessible toilets on site, and the ability to ensure all of our visitors are able to access the orchard area through a separate entrance. The galleries are wide enough for wheelchairs or mobility aids and we welcome assistance dogs. Some of our staff are trained as Dementia Friends and we also will be holding 'inclusive afternoons' for visitors with learning disabilities where the museum will be quieter, lights will be more comfortable and we will have a sensory station. More information can be found online or by calling the museum.

Accessible Performances

We will be running 'inclusive afternoons' which will ensure any audio/visual or harsh lighting is reduced to a comfortable level for those who may be sensitive to such things. We will also be running a quiet contemplation area and a sensory station within the museum on certain dates. More information can be found online.

Awards List

Best Educational Building Winner 2018 by LABC Building Excellence Awards. Best Educational Building Winner 2018 by Somerset Building Control Partnership. TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence.

Toilets

All toilets are located on the ground floor, with no steps leading to them. The accessible toilet has a wide doorway and an user friendly sliding door. The toilet has hand/grab rails. There is a pull cord located in the toilet which will alarm the staff if any visitors need assistance.

Staff

Some of our staff are trained as Dementia Friends. Most are first aid trained and all are very friendly and helpful and respectful of all our visitors and their needs.

Assistance dog facilities

Assistance dog exercise facilities

We are close to Glastonbury Tor if an assistance dog required a long walk or a big space to run around.

Other assistance dog facilities

We welcome all assistance dogs to help make your visit as comfortable as possible. We have dog drinking water bowls outside by the Abbey Barn/ café seating area.