Dover Transport Museum

accessible_toilets

18 Jun 2017

A good variety of things to see.

4.5

4.5

Date of visit: June 2017

I have experience of challenges around: moving around

Overall Rating

Excellent

A very pleasant afternoon in a museum which has 2 main 'hangers' and a few side rooms to view (cafe and gift shop). Access is variable - as an independent wheelchair user you might struggle. The exhibits are maybe 75% accessible (a few are up stairs or in very small rooms with little or no turning space and the cafe is up stairs). The toilet has support rails but the transfer space is only suitable for child sized chairs. Nevertheless, the staff were very friendly and there was a good range of different transport types from prams to wheelchairs, traveller caravans, bikes, ferries, motor vehicles/motorbikes and a large model railway. There are also vintage shop windows to look into. An enjoyable few hours.

Disabled Access In and Around

Good

The main entrance has six steps from the gift shop into the museum so access is via the large hanger door next to the entrance. Once inside, there is plenty of space to see vehicles in the hangers and look into the shop window displays. Some side rooms are either very tight on turning space or you have to enter forwards and go out backwards. One small area was up stairs. The cafe was up some stairs (see photo). There is one table at the bottom of the stairs and staff brought a menu and described the food available. I could see most exhibits and shop windows from a low height and the floor is smooth and flat. There are buttons to activate an audio description of some shops/history. Outside is a picnic table with wheelchair access. There are no rope barriers between motor vehicles.

Parking & Transport

Excellent

We went by car. Parking was near the entrance on grass. You can drop of in front on a hard, flat surface.

Accessible Toilets

Bad

There is no toilet on site that is suitable for adult chair users who need transfer space to the side. The toilet has support rails.

Staff

Excellent

Staff were very friendly and helpful in accessing the hangers and serving food.

Additional Information

There is a Marstons pub a few buildings away which may have an accessible toilet. There is a Changing Places toilet at the Dover discovery centre about 5 minutes away (council gateway centre). No free cater entrance tickets.