Overview

I need to confess that I didn't visit Titanic Belfast to experience the exhibits, it was far too late in the day for that, but I did nip in to use the loo and gather some more general accessibility information. If I have the opportunity to return, I'll update this review. That said, it's great that this location has a Changing Places toilet and two accessible toilets that don't require admission to be paid to access them. Titanic Belfast needs no introduction, attracting close to a million tourists each year, it's arguably the premier attraction in a city with a lot to see.

Transport & Parking

The Titanic Belfast has its own car park, where there is no shortage of nearby parking spaces – 520 to be exact – but only 10 of these are accessible parking spaces. The facility has 6 EV spaces, with 3 11kW chargers which have charging ports on either side. These are part of the Weev network and you'll need to install the app to use them. The chargers are mounted on the wall, which makes them awkward to access for those who use a mobility device and is another example of poorly thought-out charging facilities. All bays are the width of a standard parking space, though there is room in the centre of the spaces to open a car door fully, but only on one side. Parking is not free for Blue Badge Holders. On nearby Queens Road, there are three bus stops servicing the 94A, 94B and G2 services. Titanic Quarter is the closest railway station. Whilst it is accessible, there's quite the ramp to cross the platforms if you happen to come in via Platform 2, which is a fair struggle if you have reduced mobility. If you arrive on Platform 1, you'll be on the same side as Belfast Titanic. There is an incline here, but it's shorter and less severe than the way to the bridge between both platforms.

Access

Belfast Titanic has automatic doors at all entrances. I came via the front entrance, where you'll find the Titanic sign, which is great for a photo op. If coming via the main entrance, the ticket booths are on your right, where you'll find a lowered ledge in front of the windows. You're also able to borrow wheelchairs and scooters if you require the use of either. Hearing loops are active at these booths, though I didn't see clear signage. On the left, you'll find a small café with a selection of sandwiches and hot and cold drinks. The café offers plenty of seating options, with some seats having nearby power sockets. The lifts to the exhibit and to the lower floors are at the back of the room. There are no Braille markings, but there are tactile up and down buttons on the outside. There are escalators and steps leading down to different floors, with the steps having clear markings and handrails. Close to the lifts, you'll find a takeaway restaurant, the Pantry, serving food and drink. There's also a gift shop. Neither of these two showcased a hearing loop or alternative formats. Further research tells me that Audio-described guides are available free of charge for visitors with visual impairments and can be picked up from Visitor Services. Larger groups are encouraged to book these in advance. Guide Dogs are of course welcome and you'll find contrasting floor textures in place to help with navigation.

Toilets

The Changing Places toilet at Titanic Belfast is on floor -1. You need a RADAR key to enter by turning it counterclockwise. Inside there's an adjustable changing bed, a shower, a Clos-o-Mat style toilet, a height-adjustable sink with a lever tap and a Dyson Airblade dryer. There's also a privacy screen, ceiling track hoist and plenty of space to manoeuvre. It's just a shame there's no colostomy shelf considering how well-equipped it is otherwise. The grabrails on both sides of the toilet are silver and contrast well with the rest of the room. The sink also has contrasting silver rails on either side and there's a full-length mirror. There are two other accessible toilets in the same area. The one I entered had space for a left-side transfer with plenty of room. It had contrasting blue grabrails, a soft backrest, a contrasting toilet seat and grabrails on either side of the sink with a centre-set lever tap. There was also a baby changing table, a hand dryer and the red emergency cord hung freely to the floor – which we love to see. The door to this toilet opens outwards and doesn’t require a RADAR key.

Staff

I didn't interact with the staff.

Photos