Overview

We visit Bowes Museum regularly and are Friends of the Museum. There are many, many interesting rooms full of the collections of John and Josephine Bowes and also a gallery dedicated to different exhibitions. Sometimes a theme, like LEGO exhibition, might be scattered all over the museum to find the models. The cafe is fabulous and the service excellent. There are lifts to each floor and plenty of space to move around. The grounds are beautiful and the whole space has an air of peace. There does appear to be only one disabled toilet and it is quite basic, though big enough for wheelchairs. There is also a disabled car park but it is very rough ground, has a lip from the car onto the road that can be difficult to get over alone. There are very few spaces - I think 4, not marked out clearly among staff spaces, or with allocated spaced bays, and not large - so you may come out of the museum and find you can't get your wheelchair alongside the car because someone else has parked too close. To get into the museum you must go around the side to the service entrance, ring the bell and wait for someone to come and let you in.

Transport & Parking

There are no transport facilities except by coach trip. Barnard Castle is an old market town. A rare bus would be a long push from a bus stop up a long steep drive to the museum. A car drive gives you disabled parking around the back but it has no allocated or bigger bays (other than very small disabled signs in front of where your car is parked), is rough and difficult to manage alone.

Access

The disabled access is around the side, a stores entrance too. You ring the bell to get someone to let you in. Often there are supplies that have been delivered left in the way and the person answering the door has to move them. There are limited 'kerbs' dropped enough to get over and you are left pushing on a road. There are steps at the front so this is the only disabled access. There is a sign to direct you around the side of the building. There is a lift to access all floors and push buttons to open automatic doors. There is limited seating. The only place to sit is when you go to watch the silver swan exhibition.

Toilets

There is one disabled toilet at the side beside stores and the kitchen. It is raised loo and has grab bars and a 'paperclip'. It is big enough for a wheelchair.

Staff

The staff and volunteers are amazing and could not be more helpful to make your visit interesting and enjoyable. There are guides, if you join a tour, who are extremely knowledgeable. Where access into the building is difficult the staff physically move things to make sure you have all the space you need.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

Access and parking - especially having to push on the road with cars coming around the building, could be much improved. However, I am a Friend of the Museum and visit often. Hopefully, some day soon, parking and access will be easier to manage (although I appreciate it will be costly) and we will feel more equal with the other visitors who can walk!