Venue Description

The Great North Museum: Hancock is North East England’s premier museum of natural history, geology, archaeology and world cultures. The museum is open daily with free entry and brings together important collections owned by the Natural History Society of Northumbria, the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne and Newcastle University. Visitors can enjoy a life size replica T. rex skeleton, John Hancock’s trailblazing taxidermy, Egyptian mummies, Ancient Greek art and scores of artefacts found along the length of Hadrian’s Wall. The museum regularly holds temporary exhibitions (New for 2019: Dippy the Dinosaur) and boasts the region’s best value planetarium.

Accessibility

The approach to the main front entrance from Claremont Road is tarmac, paving and resin bonded gravel on paths. Visitors can access the front entrance doorways in three ways: The accessible ramp on the Claremont road side of the building, which has two accessible routes: one from Claremont Road and one at the front corner of the museum. These routes provide level access to the front entrance with power assisted doors. Here you will also find the Reception Desk and shop area. There is also an external platform lift on the other side of the entrance (nearest to the Central Motorway). This also provides level access through power assisted doors to the entrance of the museum. The third route is the stepped route up the stairs to the central door which is not power assisted. The Reception Desk for the museum can be found at the main (front) entrance. There is also a fourth entrance to the museum which can be found at the rear, leading directly to the Street Café and to the rear area of the museum. This is level access with a power assisted door.

Accessibility Guide

Accessibility Guide Link: https://greatnorthmuseum.org.uk/visit-us/access-information

Accessible Performances

We regularly hold relaxed early openings for our visitors with autism spectrum conditions.

Awards List

Visit England, Access for All, Gold Award, 2012.

Toilets

Accessible toilets are available on the ground, first and second floors of the museum. The accessible toilet at the rear of the museum on the ground floor has a shower with a seat and an adult changing table.

Staff

A first aider is on duty at all times.

Assistance dog facilities

Assistance dog exercise facilities

We welcome assistance dogs. They may exercise on our large front lawn.

Other assistance dog facilities

The Reception Desk can provide a bowl of water.