A genuinely great museum
4
4
Date of visit: September 2025
I am a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: a hidden impairment, accessing toilets and moving around.
I use or have experience of: changing places toilet, disabled toilet, hidden impairment, powerchair, toilet with hoist, toilets, walking aid, wheelchair
Overall Rating
Good
The Perth Museum website proudly proclaims it to be home to the Stone of Destiny, but what they don’t shout about is just how wonderful and accessible this venue is. No venue is perfect, but they really have tried. Some lacklustre loos are more than made up for by the generous Changing Places toilet on the ground floor. Level access throughout and genuine attention to accessibility are the main attractions, aside from the Stone of Destiny of course. The museum is free to enter and the Changing Places toilet is available to all who need it.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
The main entrance to the museum is just across the road from Monterey Jack’s – I highlight this as I circuited the whole building before finding the entrance. The entrance has automatic sliding doors, and as you come in, you’re greeted by the smell of coffee from the café area. The main hall is on the right as you enter and is exceedingly spacious, with plenty of room for even the largest mobility devices. There is a lift to the upper floor, which is spacious and can comfortably fit several people. It has Braille-marked buttons and a hearing loop, as does the front desk. There are a few benches to sit on throughout the venue and some interactive tablets and panels at a low height, making them accessible to small children and wheelchair users. The café area is spacious, with lots of seating options, including some high-backed chairs. Although there isn’t a dedicated lowered counter, the counter itself is fairly low. There’s plenty of space to move around, with two accessible routes in and out. There are also USB and plug sockets on the wall for charging phones, tablets or laptops. Assistance dogs are, of course, permitted throughout the museum and café, where fresh water is provided. Large print café menus are available for visitors who need them. For those who prefer a calmer experience, there are quiet mornings on Thursdays between 10am and 12pm, or Sundays from 11am to 12pm. Sensory packs, including noise-cancelling headphones, are also available from the front desk – just ask a member of staff when you arrive. Please see their website for BSL guidance for the museum.
Accessible facilities: Lift to all areas, Step-free entrance, Seating at regular intervals
Parking & Transport
Poor
Parking options in the immediate area aren’t great, as this is largely a pedestrian region of the city. The nearest bus stop is on Tay Place, around 640 metres away, and is located near the City Council building, which has its own Changing Places toilet. The 11, 11S, 16, 16B and 51 services operate here.
Accessible Toilets
Good
There are several accessible toilets and a Changing Places toilet at this venue, as such my rating is mostly reflective of the Changing Places toilet as the other toilets have their issues. Ground Floor Toilet: On the ground floor, I visited the toilet to the far right. The door opens outwards and doesn't need a RADAR key, but the space itself is very small – more like a galley kitchen. There’s a sink with a lever-operated tap and a soap dispenser. The light grey toilet seat has some contrast, though it’s not especially strong against the grey backboard. The red cord was hanging freely to the right, when seated. Accessing the toilet can be a bit tricky because there’s only space to move forward. It’s not possible to turn a wheelchair, particularly a power chair, inside.There’s no real transfer space, and there are no grab rails beside the toilet or sink. First Floor Toilet: Up on the first floor, I visited the accessible toilet. This toilet is a little better than the one downstairs but tere’s a manual door that needs to be opened before entering the toilet corridor. The toilet is on the right, and its door opens outwards. It doesn’t require a RADAR key. There’s enough room to turn a wheelchair, though the transfer space is still quite limited. Someone using a smaller chair might manage fine, but a power chair user would find it tight. There are grab rails on either side of the sink with a lever-style tap, and a contrasting toilet seat with silver grab rails on both sides. The red cord was hanging to the floor during my visit, which is good. It also has a baby change. Overall, this toilet is better than the one downstairs, though still not perfect. Changing Places Toilet: I then visited the Changing Places toilet, which is located along the corridor as you enter the building. Instead of turning left towards the café, just continue straight ahead. This facility is excellent. It includes a ceiling track hoist, an adjustable bench, and an adjustable sink with two large lever-style taps. There’s a privacy screen, transfer space on both sides of the toilet, and a colostomy shelf – great to see. The toilet has grab rails on both sides and a contrasting seat. To the right of the toilet (when seated) there’s a shower, and to the left is the red emergency cord, which had an Euan’s Guide red cord card attached. The door opens outwards and requires a RADAR key. There’s a large grab rail on the back of the door, and the sink has a deep basin, which is useful. There’s plenty of room to move around, as you’d expect in a Changing Places toilet – overall, a very good facility.
Facilities: Accessible toilet, Changing Places toilet
Staff
Excellent
The staff were very helpful, quick to offer me entry when they saw me close to the door to the Changing Places toilet. and made sure I was able to find my way around.
