Here at Lancaster City Museums we are working hard to make our buildings and collections as accessible as possible.

Our historic, listed buildings pose some challenges, but most of our displays are physically accessible to all visitors. We're also developing several ideas to increase accessibility in other ways. This page is a work in progress, so please bear with us as we continue to add content.

Do you have lived experience of a disability or caring for someone with a disability? 

• Click here to find out how to join our Disability Advisory Group.

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City Museum

• Wheelchair access: most of the museum is accessible for wheelchair users and anyone with limited mobility via ramps and a stairlift, rated up to 250kg. (There is a small mezzanine area within the King's Own Regimental gallery which can only be reached via stairs or a small domestic-style stairlift.)
  • Please note that fire evacuation for wheelchair users from the upper floor of the City Museum relies on an Evac Chair and the presence of trained staff. This means that we are only able to provide access for one wheelchair user at a time to the upper floor. You must also be able to transfer yourself into an Evac Chair in the event of an emergency.

• Wheelchair available: ask a member of staff if you'd like to borrow it.

• Pushchairs: We can accommodate prams and pushchairs on the ground floor, but if you wish to take them upstairs you will need to carry them. Alternatively please ask the museum assistant at reception where you can leave your pram on the ground floor.

• Parking: There is a Blue Badge parking space in New Street, behind the museum. Please note the City Museum is in a pedestrian area, so other visitors will need to park elsewhere and walk to the museum. There are several pay and display car parks within easy walking distance.

Maritime Museum

• Wheelchair access: most of the museum is accessible for wheelchair users and anyone with limited mobility via a lift. (There is one small mezzanine gallery within the Warehouse which is only accessible via a short flight of stairs.)
  • Please note that fire evacuation for wheelchair users from the two upper floors of the Maritime Museum relies on Evac Chairs and the presence of trained staff. This means that we are only able to provide access for one wheelchair user at a time to each of these two floors. You must also be able to transfer yourself into an Evac Chair in the event of an emergency.

• Wheelchair available: ask a member of staff if you'd like to borrow it.

• Pushchairs: all areas of the museum are accessible via a lift, except for the small mezzanine gallery.

• Parking: There is a Blue Badge parking space in front of the museum entrance. For other visitors, free on-street parking is available for up to 3 hours, and there is a pay-and display car park behind the museum for longer visits.

Cottage Museum 

• Physical accessibility at the Cottage is very limited: There are a number of historic features which impede physical access for all. This includes small, tight staircases, dark areas, and uneven floors. There are no lifts or ramps available.

• Parking: There are a small number of on-street pay-and-display parking spaces nearby on Castle Hill, as well as several pay and display car parks within easy walking distance.

City Museum

• There are no public toilets or baby changing facilities at the City Museum. 
• The closest public toilets are in the Marketgate Shopping Centre. These include an accessible toilet requiring a RADAR key. Keys are available for sale in the museum shop.

Maritime Museum

• There are two gender-neutral toilets on the ground floor. 
• One is fully wheelchair-accessible, with a button-activated door and emergency cord.
• The accessible toilet also has baby changing facilities.

Cottage Museum 

• There are no toilets (or even running water!) at the Cottage.
• The closest public toilets are at The Storey.

The nearest Changing Places toilet to all our museums is at Lancaster Railway Station. 

NEW Digital Guide

The Lancaster City Museum guide is now LIVE on the Bloomberg Connects Arts and Culture app, designed with accessibilty in mind. 

• Get the app or view the guide (it's free!)
• Or visit our Bloomberg Connects page for more information.

Sensory Backpacks

These are available to borrow for free from the front desk at both the City Museum and the Maritime Museum. Ideal for children and young people on the autism spectrum, each backpack includes ear protectors, communication cards, fiddle toys and more. 

Tactile Accessibility Projects

Our Touch and See project aims to make our art collection more accessible for the visually impaired. Both the City and Maritime museums have prototype lithophanes installed, and we're working on creating more. Visit the project page for details: 

• Touch and See

We're also developing portable 3D floor plans of the museums to improve accessibilty for all, including the visually impaired and those with spatial anxiety. The first of these are available in:

• the Warehouse at the Maritime Museum
• the shop at the City Museum

Audio Accessibility Projects

We've recently created a three-part audio guide for the Cottage Museum. Find it online here:

• Cottage Audio Guide

In our 100 Years, 100 Objects podcast, local people discuss their favourite objects from the museum collections. We describe each one and discuss the stories it can tell about our local history. Find the podcast here:

• 100 Years 100 Objects Podcast

Online Access

We're continually working to make our collections accessible online through virtual tours, photos, articles, videos and social media. Find out more here:

• Explore Online

Outreach Visits

If you can't visit our museums in person, we can bring the museums to you! We're happy to arrange object handling sessions, talks and more in venues such as care homes. There will be a charge for this service to cover our costs. Contact our Outreach Officer at historydetectives@lancaster.gov.uk to discuss how we can tailor a visit to suit your needs.

• Visual Story of the City Museum (PDF, 7MB)
• Visual Story of the Maritime Museum (PDF, 10.2MB)
• City Museum Access Statement (PDF, 160KB)
• Maritime Museum Access Statement (PDF, 327KB)
• Cottage Museum Access Statement (PDF, 153KB)

If you would like to talk to us about an access issue at our museums then please contact us by email or phone:

• Lancaster City & Cottage Museums - lancastercitymuseum@lancaster.gov.uk,  01524 64637
• Lancaster Maritime Museum - lancastermaritimemuseum@lancaster.gov.uk, 01524 382264