JORVIK Viking Centre

I'm splitting this into the booking experience and the actual experience. Booking experience: If you don't have a wheelchair user in your group, you can book and pay on the website. Lots of options, and I don't know how accessible the site is, but that's the standard route. However, halfway through, there's a notice saying that wheelchair users have to call to book. They are only allowed one wheelchair user in the building at a time, which I hoped would make sense when I got there. So wheelchair users have to call. Disability time tax at it already. I called several times over the course of 3 days and never got answer - I was routed to an answer machine where I could leave a message and get a callback. I don't like callbacks because they always happen when I'm then doing something else, but that's what I had to do in the end, and they did call back relatively quickly, and took me through the booking. I hadn't fully registered, though, that they don't take payments over the phone, so when we arrived 3 minutes late for our slot (completely my fault) I then had to stop and sort out payment, so was even later. Essentially this means wheelchair users have to arrive early (more time tax!). The experience itself is underground and they have a lift down which was all good. Once you get there, the main part is a sort of 'ride' where you sit in cart with narration playing, and it slowly takes you through the recreation of Viking-era York, which is fascinating. As I'm able to transfer from my chair, this was fine - although I was asked to 'stand and wait' when I had previously been sitting in my chair to wait. I went back to my chair after realising it was a minute or two to wait (not long in the scheme of things, but long if you're in pain). I don't know if they have a cart that is full wheelchair accessible for people who can't transfer - that was the only reason I could see for limiting it to one wheelchair user in the building at a time. If I'd been travelling with a friend who also uses a chair, there would have been nothing stopping us having a good time there, other than the Jorvic policy. This did all make me quite grumpy, and staff attitude was very mixed, with some staff who was also grumpy with me and others who went out of their way to be helpful. I got the impression that Jorvic don't actually care about disabled people - they just need to talk the talk - and probably don't pay their staff enough to care about anyone - fortunately many do anyway, and some are clearly passionate about the history. The last thing I'd note is the genuine human skeletons on display, which I felt should have come with a trigger warning. The first in particular is of a disabled woman whose skeleton was not unlike what mind would look like in a thousand years, and it wasn't something I was prepared for. Having said that, the actual history and artefacts there were fascinating, and both me and my 11 year old learned lots and had fun. I would go again. I'd just be better prepared,

I was worried about the queuing here. I emailed them before and said along the lines of "Do I need to Queue". They replied yes but we can give you a chair.. Indeed on arrival in the rain, they made us queue (but only for about 5 mins) but they gave us a chair too.. So outside I was sitting on a chair.. I really don't understand how they think that's acceptable. There's an empty reception area and although it's clearly to stop too many people downstairs I can't see why the odd disabled visitor can't be sent straight downstairs to wait! Downstairs. Limited seating so more standing up. The talk and the ride though all really good. The museam area after the ride is still busy with limited seating but we didn't spend too long there. Confused to see stairs at the end so it seems only the one lift. Free carer ticket which is good.. All in worth a visit but I wish they sort the queuing out.

Visited as a family, two of us with disabilities using Access Cards and wearing sunflower lanyards. We had to queue outside the venue in the rain for 5mins after our booked time. This was crowded with a big group. No acknowledgement was made of our sunflower lanyards or that we had booked disabled tickets with a carer. When we did get inside there wasn’t anyone to ask about the sensory packs they have. We then felt rushed around the glass floor area as they were pushing us onto the ride to make way for the next group coming down. We didn’t get a chance to look at the interactive screens. The ride was good and easy to use, very smooth. The artefact area afterwards was crowded and noisy and you can only exit through the gift shop which can be busy. When raised with a staff member about feeling rushed through and not able to fully enjoy everything we were told that that is why tickets are valid for 12mths. This is ok if you live close by but not if you are on holiday as entry has to be pre-booked time slots and they are taken up quickly.