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Access Information for Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens

Parking

There are accessible parking bays for blue badge holders on Burdon Road, opposite the museum entrance.

The nearest drop-off point by taxi, dial-a-ride, car or coach is on Burdon Road close to the Museum entrance.

Entrance

There is flat level access to the Museum. You will enter the Museum through a curved automatic sliding glass door. Here you will find the shop and reception area. You enter the Museum galleries through a second automatic sliding door.

Getting Around

Inside the Museum there are lifts and stairs providing access to all floors. The lift has a voice announcer, Braille indicators and visual floor numbers. The Museum is spread out across the ground floor, first, second and third floors. The café is on the ground floor. All floors have level access, apart from a gentle upward slope from the shop into the Museum and a gentle downward slope into the Winter Gardens.

The Winter Gardens are on two levels. There is a lift or stairs to reach the upper level. The lift has no voice announcer or Braille indicators.

Large static visual and touch orientation maps are in production to help you find your way around each floor of the Museum and Winter Gardens.

Seating

Seats can be found on every floor of the museum and on the ground floor of the Winter Gardens. There is mainly bench seating with backs and arms and rows of wooden seats.

Public Telephone

The shop phone can be used on request for emergencies or to book taxis for disabled people. A minicom is available on request at the shop.

Borrowing a wheelchair

Two wheelchairs are available for visitor use. They can be booked in advance. They can be found at the shop and reception area in the main entrance.

Gallery Plans

Standard, large print and Braille gallery plans are available from reception.

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 shop can provide a bowl of water.

The Displays

Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens offers a hands on and interactive experience. Most audio points also have text versions beside them. Large print and Braille labels are available on request. Most audio visual displays are subtitled.

There are various sensory and touch experiences throughout the Museum and Winter Gardens, including glass, pottery, fossils, coal and textiles in the museum and smells, textures of plants and feely pods in the Winter Gardens.

Audio Guides

There is an audio description guide of the Winter Gardens for blind and partially sighted visitors with detailed descriptions of the plants. 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 and available from reception.

Guided Tours for Groups

Groups with access requirements can book a guided tour of the site, led by staff from the Learning Team. BSL/English interpretation can be arranged on request. Please note at least two weeks notice is required and booking is essential.

Fire Alarms

The fire alarms have voice evacuation sounders and visual flashing lights. The lift in the Museum can be used in the event of a fire. The lift in the Winter Gardens 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 accessible unisex toilets on every floor of the Museum and separate male and female toilets on the ground floor. There is baby changing in the ground floor female toilets and in all the accessible toilets.

Eating at Eden Café

The café is on the ground floor. Hot and cold drinks are available and meals and sandwiches at lunchtime. Large print menus, menu explainers, 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 and we will be happy to assist you.