Access Information
Access Information for Discovery Museum
You can download the access information for Discovery Museum as a Word document here.
Entrance
The approach to the main gate from the car park and footpath is tarmac. At the main gate there is a gentle slope to the main entrance. Automatic sliding doors lead into the main entrance dominated by 'Turbinia', the first steam powered ship. Here you will also find the Information Desk and shop area.
Getting around
Inside the Museum there are lifts and stairs providing access to all floors. All lifts have voice announcers and Braille indicators. The Museum is spread out across the lower ground, ground, first and second floors with access to the fourth floor when exhibitions are showing in the Great Hall. The café is on the second floor.
All floors have level access, with ramped access from lower ground to ground floor in the main entrance. Stairs have raised tactile indicators on the handrails. Part of the Newcastle Story gallery has a raised track floor to guide you around.
Large static visual and touch orientation maps are in production to help you find your way around each floor of the Museum.
Seating
Chairs with armrests can be found in the main entrance. On the first floor there is bench seating in Working Lives Gallery and Tyneside Challenge. There are seats with arms and bench seating in the Soldier's Life gallery. The Story of the Tyne, Tyneside Challenge and Working Lives galleries have seats with arms and bench seating. There are seats with arms and a sofa in Live Wires. On the second floor there is bench seating in Science Maze and a relaxing resource area with sofas in Fashion Works.
Borrowing a wheelchair
Two wheelchairs are available for visitor use. They can be found at the main entrance. Please ask at the Information Desk.
Public telephone
The shop telephone can be used on request for emergencies or to book taxis for disabled people.
Gallery plans
Standard, large print and Braille plans are available from the Information Desk.
Pre-visit information
Pre-visit information packs are available to borrow for free for blind and partially sighted people to plan a visit. Please contact the museum. The packs include:
- Large print museum leaflet
- Braille museum leaflet
- Large print detailed guide to the museum and its facilities
- Braille detailed guide to the museum and its facilities
- Audio CD detailed guide to the museum and its facilities
- Audio tape detailed guide to the museum and its facilities
- Large print maps of the museum floors
- Braille and tactile (touch) maps of the museum floors
Dogs
We welcome assistance dogs. The Information Desk can provide a bowl of water.
Induction loops
Induction points are fitted in Story of the Tyne, Tyneside Challenge and Working Lives. An induction loop is fitted in the Great Hall. Counter loops are fitted to the shop, Information Desk, Tyne & Wear Museums' reception and café.
The displays
Most audio points also have text versions beside them. The audio visual displays in Story of the Tyne, Tyneside Challenge and Working Lives are subtitled. There is BSL interpretation added to the North East Innovators video screen outside Tyneside Challenge.
Audio guides
A general 'highlights' audio guide is available in English, Urdu, Sylheti, Cantonese, French and Norwegian. An audio description guide for blind and partially sighted visitors also includes a range of touch experiences.
The audio handset is similar to a television remote control. It has numbered push pads and play and pause buttons. There are optional earpieces and straps for hands-free operation. The guide is free for blind and partially sighted people and is available from the Information Desk on the Lower Ground Floor.
Guided tours of the Museum
The curator, visitor services and learning staff can lead tours but these must be booked in advance. They last between forty five minutes to an hour.
Fire alarms
The fire alarms have voice evacuation sounders, visual flashing lights and there are rolling text messages around the museum. The lift cannot be used in the event of a fire. There are evac-chairs to assist people unable to exit the building and safe fire refuge points to await evacuation. These are clearly signposted. If you will need assistance to exit the building in the event of a fire alarm please tell a member of staff.
Toilets and baby changing
There are male and female toilets on the ground and second floors. Separate accessible toilets are on the ground, first and second floors. The accessible toilet on the second floor also has a day bed and shower with a seat. There is also a wide accessible toilet in the People's Gallery on the ground floor fitted with a hoist, day bed and shower.
There is baby changing in the male and female toilets on the ground and second floors and in the accessible toilets on the ground, first and second floors and in the wide accessible toilet in the People's Gallery.
Eating at Café Discovery
The café is on the second floor. Hot and cold drinks are available and meals and sandwiches at lunchtime. Large print menus, large handled cutlery and open ended handled mugs are available on request.
If there is anything that we can do to make your visit more enjoyable please contact us, we will be happy to assist you.