Overview

Queer Britain is a museum of British LGBTQ history and culture and the first dedicated LGBTQ+ museum in the UK. It is a small but mighty museum. The museum is has excellent access and is housed in the former home of The House of Illustration. and is located on the ground floor of the building

Transport & Parking

Queer Britain is located in King's Cross by Granary Square. The nearest tube station is King's Cross and it is step free. The nearest train stations are King's Cross and St Pancras. From these stations it is a slight but noticeable walk uphill to the museum. There are several buses that stop nearby in King's Cross. If you are looking for the shortest walking distance on the flat, take the 390 bus from King's Cross/ York Way Stop G and go one stop to Copenhagen Street York Way Stop E. Exiting the bus, retrace your steps till you come to the end of the building on your right. Here there is a path, the canal and a small car park. Follow the path and within a couple of minutes you will see the large building that houses Queer Britain. It is between Waitrose and the Central Saint Martin's building.

Access

Access is step free and excellent. ENTRANCE There are either four steps with a handrail on both sides or a permanent ramp to the entrance of the building. The glass entrance door is manual but there are staff in the entrance hall who would be to see you and assist of required. INSIDE The museum and shop are located on the ground floor and the building has step free access. The museum is open plan and there are no doors. It consists of one large gallery, which has bench seating, with no back support or arms. The display cabinets are at wheelchair height. There are some pictures above the cabinets, some of the images are small and it may be difficult for wheelchair users to see easily. There are two smaller rooms, both have seating and one shows a film with subtitles. The museum has lots of fascinating things on display. On the lower ground floor there is a meeting room space, sorry I forgot to take a photo. It was laid out with free standing tables and chairs when we visit.

Toilets

There are two accessible toilets. Both were clean, tidy and well maintained. GROUND FLOOR On the ground floor there is an accessible toilet. It has plenty of grab rails and an emergency cord that reaches towards the floor. LOWER GROUND FLOOR On the lower ground floor there is another accessible toilet. It has an accessible toilet, which when seated, there is a horizontal grab rail on the left and a vertical grab rail on the right, which made it quite to transfer off the toilet. In the opposite corner there is a shower with grab rails on both side. When I came home I checked the access information and the lower ground floor toilet is described on their website as being a Changing Places toilet. This is NOT a Changing Places toilet as: The toilet is not in the middle of the room allowing for transfer from both sides, as it is located in the corner. There is no Changing Bench or Hoist. I also checked on the Changing Places website and the museum is not listed as having a Changing Places toilet. I hope the museum correct this information. If a Changing Places toilet is required there are a couple in King's Cross area, in King's Cross Station and Pancras Square Leisure Centre.

Staff

Staff were so lovely, friendly, welcoming. It feel a very inviting and inclusive and safe space. We attended a workshop in the lower ground floor, they had considerately thought of so many things, provided water, session was relaxed. Afterwards I spoke with a member of staff about the lower ground floor accessible toilet's lack of a second horizontal grab rail and they listed and said they would arrange to get that sorted out. Please note at the time I had not realised that the website was advertising it as a Changing Places toilet so I am only raising for the first time in my review.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

The museum is small but fits a lot in and is well worth visiting. It is informative and also celebratory. Ranging from the iconic, such as one of Divine's dresses is on display, to grass roots campaigning. It has a lovely and welcoming atmosphere. It is well worth visiting and we will certainly be returning. Thank you to the staff which made it such an inviting place.

Photos