Does what it ‘says on the tin’
4
4
Date of visit: June 2022
I am a carer or friend of a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Good
We visited with a manual wheelchair and found it pretty much as per the description. There is nowhere to park - or even drop off - at the museum. Public car parks nearby by up and down steepish slopes. Helpful staff. Carer admitted free. If you don’t want to visit the museum itself, there’s free access to the gift shop and nice cafe (via lift).
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
Everything flat on the ground floor. Lift with automatic doors to 1st floor (small history of the museum and accessible loo) and 2nd floor (living rooms of the house). Staircase access only to 3rd floor - so we didn’t visit. On 2nd floor access to the Gallery is via 3 steps or small lift. This lift had heavy doors that have to be opened manually and being in a corner was tricky to open. (Update to 2020 review, visited The Lost Words exhibition) There is one manual wheelchair available to borrow. Top floor is inaccessible except by staircase, but items can be viewed by tablet available from staff. All staff we met were helpful.
Parking & Transport
Poor
No parking at the venue. Public car parks up and down slopes needing a good wheelchair pusher. If you use a mobility scooter from the car park remember that you can’t use it inside the museum. Bus routes stop nearby (near Royal Bath Hotel) but again steep approach to the museum. You’d need to take a taxi from the railway station.
Accessible Toilets
Good
Good accessible loo but within paid area. Clear red cord (with Euan’s guide label) but positioned where it might easily be pulled by mistake when rising from the loo. Plenty of grab rails and space for wheelchair and carer.
Staff
Excellent
Helpful receptionist, opened the main doors for us on entry and exit, even though she had people waiting to pay for entry at the time.
Additional Information
Lots to see in this small museum with lots of printed information about the rooms and their content. Interesting sculptures and dramatic pictures in the gallery. Probably worth the £7.50 entrance fee - free access for carer.
