York Minster

York Minster has a smooth and gentle slope up to the main (west) entrance. The doors are automatic, and counter to pay at is at a comfortable height for wheelchair users. The Minster itself has smooth, wide spaces with ramps where necessary. To my surprise, there is lift access to the underground museum and crypt, all of which can be readily accessed via wheelchair with plenty of staff on hand to assist where needed. I believe the only thing not accessible via wheelchair is climbing the iconic towers on the west front, but it also wouldn't surprise me to learn they had somehow managed to add lifts there too! Disabled toilets are available. The gift shop is a little cramped in places, and my main reason for dropping a star is that you need to get staff to open the accessible exit on the south wing, although the response time was very quick.

For a historical building, visitor attraction and fully functioning Church this a delight to visit. As I am profoundly VI, I contacted York Minster about visiting, I was passed to a member of their Visitor Services Team who explained everything they could about a VI person visiting the Minster. The time, explanation and details taken and given were exceptional. I stated I was arriving by train and booked me a slot to coincide for my tour with my arrival and departure, as they could see me approaching the main entrance I was warmly welcomed and assisted through the entrance bypassing the queue that was there. I was introduced to my guide who had a B, VI, and PS pack available - I had already asked for the ordinary tour the a B, PS, VI tour to fully appreciate and note the differences. Although there was a charge of £10.00 the concession price was £9.00. Both tours were tremendously well done, the guide used her skills of clear explanations and the touch sensory aspects match brilliantly which contributed to a visualisation of what was around me. Wood carvings, masonry, marbles and the windows that were out of sight , touch and reach were supplemented by 3 D touch floor building and plan with a Braille explanation and electronic pen that was a audio guide that told of what the pen touch on all in a A4 size folder and bag with touch directions for each solid board of the book that made up the guide. There are also full explanations on the tracery and windows for anyone to use in computer screen form with a zoom in and out with a detailed explanation.. There is an extensive, accessible shop that covers the fabric, widows and masonry of the Minster it is well throughout and is not cluttered and difficult to navigate round.

The minster consists of excellent disabled access, as well as having spacious amount of area. It contains ramps and lifts which are both accessible within and outside the minster. Guided tours are also available and catered to all however, during this visit a guided tour was not required. Beautiful building work, architecture was breathless.