A brilliant place for wheelchair users to visit
5
5
Date of visit: December 2018
I am a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: accessing toilets and moving around.
I use or have experience of: disabled toilet
Overall Rating
Excellent
This fascinating museum has done everything to make access for wheelchair users easy. It's a great pleasure to write a five-star review for it.
Disabled Access In and Around
Excellent
Access to the main entrance is up a steep incline, if you're a manual wheelchair user you may find this challenging. After that, everything is easy, and there is a gigantic lift, big enough for a cocktail party, between the main floors, and a smaller lift to the aquarium floor. Doors to display halls are big and non-automated, wheelchair users may need assistance with opening them. Signage is good but perhaps a little too discreet.
Parking & Transport
Good
The following bus routes are useful: 176, 185, 197, 356, P4 - stop outside the Museum and Gardens on London Road 122 - stops on Dartmouth Road P13 - stops on Underhill Road 363 - stops on Sydenham Hill Road The museum is a five to ten minute walk from Forest Hill station and is signposted from the platform 1 exit. TfL claims that Forest Hill station is step-free from street to platform (I haven't checked whether this is really true). You'll need to talk to staff if you need a ramp to board/leave the trains. Forest Hill station is on the London Overground network which offers a turn-up-and-go service, so there's no need to book assistance in advance. Parking in the area is very difficult.
Accessible Toilets
Excellent
I used the accessible toilet in the basement floor. It's spacious and well-designed, half a star lost because the emergency cord had been tucked away out of reach of anyone who might fall to the floor and need to call assistance - this is silly and thoughtless. See my photo below.
Staff
Excellent
Five stars richly deserved for all the staff I encountered and spoke to. A really delightful team.
Additional Information
The museum is quirky. It has a collection of musical instruments; a collection of artefacts from cultures all over the world; a collection of stuffed birds and animals; an aquarium; and a garden. The aquarium is really fantastic, well worth the supplementary ticket price to get in. I was absolutely gob-smacked by the beauty of the colourful tropical fish. There are also some striking frogs - if you can spot them. They know how to blend into the background. From the garden (see my picture below) there is a stunning view over the City of London. Wow. There is also a café which is well worth a visit, and a gift shop. I strongly recommend visiting this museum, you will have a good time, and wheelchair users will find almost everything wonderfully easy.
