Excellent day out with superb access and facilities
4.5
4.5
Date of visit: February 2023
I am a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: dexterity or coordination and moving around.
Overall Rating
Excellent
This is a full day out with plenty of indoor and outdoor things to do and see. We spent the last day of our holiday here and will almost certainly come back again, probably for one of their flying days.
Disabled Access In and Around
Excellent
The vast majority of the site is wheelchair accessible. There were only a couple of things I couldn't do, such as going inside Concorde, but I didn't mind, as there was so much I could do. The site is about a mile from end to end, but if you prefer, there is a wheelchair accessible bus that runs for free throughout the day. The restaurant was well laid out with plenty of space to move between tables and it was clean.
Parking & Transport
Excellent
The museum was easy to find, just off the M11 and well signposted. The car park is huge and there is plenty of blue badge parking.
Accessible Toilets
Excellent
I don't think I've ever been anywhere with so many toilets! It was great! They were mostly clean, though there were a lot of people there and sometimes people don't leave it as they would wish to find it.
Staff
Good
The staff were very friendly and helpful. There is an army of volunteers who all wear distinctive red jackets. They are very willing to tell stories and explain the history of the exhibits, which helps to really bring it to life. My only negative feedback is that the staff tend to make assumptions about disabled people. On entry, people were asked whether they wanted to gift aid their ticket price, but I wasn't asked that. When I asked if I could, he stressed that you have to work and pay tax (which I do and I already knew that). Throughout the day, the red-jacketed men kept reminding me about the bus, and telling me that it's a mile to the other end and I'll get tired. When I told them I'd be fine, one mentioned about the ramp up to the American museum, and suggested that my hubby should push me up it. I felt like they assumed that a female wheelchair user must be weak and lacking in stamina. Maybe some training is due.
