Venue Description

We The Curious is an idea and a place for everyone. We're all about asking questions, getting creative and testing things out. Science is collaborative, living and a vital part of culture. Our venue on Bristol’s harbourside is a bit like an indoor festival, with all sorts of different experiences, where you can interact with exhibits and take part in experiments. It’s where boundaries are removed between science, art, people and ideas Our venue is less SHHH and more playful - DO touch the exhibits, DO use your phone, DO laugh out loud, bring your kids, friends, grandparents or come and escape on your own. Curiosity is the engine that drives both artistic and scientific enquiry. It’s something we are all born with. It is the seed for beautiful questions that lead to deep learning and new discoveries. So we need to empower everyone to keep asking questions, and have a voice in shaping our collective futures.

Accessibility

Free admission for dedicated assistants Level access, with lifts to all floors Disabled toilet facilities throughout the venue Wheelchair spaces are available in the Planetarium (please contact us in advance to arrange) Wheelchairs can be loaned for the duration of your visit (subject to availability) Our venue hire spaces are also fully accessible for people with limited mobility and wheelchair users. Hearing loop in the Planetarium Guide and assistance dogs are welcome. Exhibits have been especially designed to cater for visually impaired visitors; this includes colour contrasts and font size on all the interactive exhibits. Prepare for your visit by taking our Virtual Tour On arrival you can request over-head ear defenders We have weighted blankets and a quieter room with low level lighting, please note this room doubles up as a first aid room so there are shelves with supplies (If this is not suitable a member of staff will do their best to accommodate)

Accessibility Guide

Accessibility Guide Link: https://www.wethecurious.org/accessibility

Accessible Performances

Autism Friendly Early Opening We're a big and sometimes noisy venue with lots going on and we know this can sometimes be challenging for visitors on the autism spectrum. The venue will be open early for this session from 9am and you'll have an hour and a half to explore our exhibits at your own pace, chat about what you discover with our staff, and take part in some intriguing activities. There will be an autism-friendly show in our Planetarium (suitable for age 5+). The show will be in 2D, with softer music, the lights on and doors open, so you can leave at any time if needed. The show lasts around 30 minutes. We also be open up the Planetarium for an Open Doors session before the show. This is a chance to have a look inside the Planetarium and get a feel for the space, prior to the show itself.

Toilets

Accessible toilet on the ground floor has a sliding door and the two accessible toilets on the 1st floor are push pull door. We have a hoist in the accessible toilet in the cafe. This is accessed with a radar key. Door locks & taps are easily operated without the need to clench or grip a handle. Grab rails in all accessible toilets. As we are a charity we are currently fundraising for a Changing Places Toilet

Staff

Staff are currently under going BSL training to be able to assist Deaf and hard of hearing visitors

Assistance dog facilities

Assistance dog exercise facilities

Tickets to the venue allow you to come in and out all day so visitors with assistance dogs are free to take their dogs outside and re enter with their ticket. We are situated on Millennium Square and Anchor Square which are both dog friendly but are concrete. Over the road and up an incline there is College Green or just the other side of the river and across the road is Queen Square if you are looking for some grass.

Other assistance dog facilities

Feel free to ask any member of staff if you would like a bowl of water and we will provide you with one. If you carry your own bowl with you we will be happy to fill that up too.