Disabled Access Guide for Imperial War Museum London

Last admission is at 17.45.

The venue is situated within the centre of the city.

This venue is situated in London.

The venue is not on a road with a steep gradient.

The nearest mainline Railway Station is Elephant and Castle.

There is a bus stop within 150m (164yds) of the venue.

The nearest underground station is Lambeth North.

This venue does have its own car park.

Parking is not free for all users.

Parking is free for Blue Badge holders.

The car park is at the back of the venue.

The car park type is open air/surface.

Parking spaces for Blue Badge holders do need to be booked in advance.

There are 2 designated parking bay(s) within the car park.

The nearest designated bay is 32m (35yd) from the Park entrance.

The furthest designated bay is 36m (39yd) from the Park entrance.

The route from the car park to the entrance is accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance.

Assistance may be required because there is/are slopes/ramps.

The car park surface is tarmac.

The patron does not have to cross a road.

The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.

There is not a designated drop off point.

To book a parking space, please call 020 7416 5000.

This information is for the entrance located at the front of the museum.

There is not level access to the service.

The main doors open away from you (push).

The doors are double width.

The doors are heavy.

The door opening is 120cm (3ft 11in) wide.

This entrance gives access to the ground floor.

There is a ramp or slope to access this area/service.

The ramp or slope is located leading from Lambeth Road to the steps.

The ramp or slope is moderate.

The ramp or slope is permanent.

There are steps to access this area/service.

The steps are located in front of the entrance.

There are 10 steps to the area/service.

The steps are not clearly marked.

The steps are medium.

The steps do have handrails.

The handrails are on both sides.

This information is for the entrance located at the side of the museum.

There is not level access to the service.

The main doors open away from you (push).

The doors are double width.

The doors are permanently held open.

The door opening is 112cm (3ft 8in) wide.

There is a second set of doors.

The doors open away from you (push).

The doors are single width.

The doors are heavy.

The door opening is 108cm (3ft 6in) wide.

This is the accessible entrance to the museum giving access to the lower ground floor.

There is a ramp or slope to access this area/service.

The ramp or slope is located to the left of the entrance as you face it.

The ramp or slope is moderate.

The ramp or slope is permanent.

There is a level landing at the top of the ramp.

There are steps to access this area/service.

The steps are located in front of the entrance.

There are 2 steps to the area/service.

The steps are not clearly marked.

The steps are medium.

The steps do not have handrails.

The ramp overcomes the steps mentioned.

The reception desk is 50m (55yd) from the main lift.

There is not level access to reception from the entrance.

The reception desk is medium height.

The desk does not have a lowered section.

Lighting levels are medium.

There is not a hearing assistance system.

The Cloakroom is located just inside the main entrance.

There is also an Information Desk located at the rear of the main hall on the ground floor.

This is due to moved towards the front of the main hall mid 2010.

There are steps to access this area/service.

The steps are located in the main hall.

There are 3 steps to the area/service.

The lighting levels at the steps are medium.

The steps are not clearly marked.

The steps are medium.

The steps do have handrails.

The handrails are on both sides.

These steps lead from the main hall to the Cloakroom and the main entrance.

There is level access to the service.

There is a hearing assistance system.

The system is a portable loop.

Staff are trained to use the hearing assistance system.

This venue does not play background music.

The lighting levels are varied.

Motorised scooters are allowed in public parts of the venue.

Customers can charge scooters or wheelchairs at the venue.

Some of the larger exhibits in the main hall on the ground and 1st floors have steps to raised viewing areas.

There is a ramp or slope to access this area/service.

The ramp or slope is located opposite the main lifts on the lower ground floor.

The ramp or slope is moderate.

The ramp or slope is permanent.

This ramp leads down to both galleries

There is also a moderate ramp leading up to some displays in the Secret War exhibition on the 1st floor.

There is a ramp or slope to access this area/service.

The ramp or slope is located on the far side of the 1st World War Gallery.

The ramp or slope is moderate.

The ramp or slope is permanent.

There are steps to access this area/service.

The steps are located on the far side of the 1st World War Gallery.

There are 5 steps to the area/service.

The lighting levels at the steps are medium.

The steps are not clearly marked.

The steps are medium.

The steps do have handrails.

The ramp overcomes the steps mentioned and has a handrail on the left hand side going up.

At the top of the ramp there are 2 sets of double, push pad operated automatic doors to access the Trench.

The Trench exhibit has an uneven surface.

The steps have handrails on both sides for the 1st 3 steps only.

There is a similar ramp on other side of the lower ground floor, in 2nd World War Gallery, to access The Blitz Experience.

As this is a timed show, a member of staff will provide access to the exhibition at the top of the ramp.

The floors which are accessible by stairs are LG-G-1-2-3.

There are 15+ steps between floors.

The lighting level is medium.

The steps are clearly marked.

The steps are medium height.

The steps do have handrails.

There is a landing.

There are 2 staircases located at the rear of the main hall, 1 of which was being refurbished at the time of research. The other staircase will be refurbished after.

Both staircases will have handrails on both sides after refurbishment.

There is a lift for public use.

The lift is located to the right of the Park entrance as you enter.

The lift is a standard lift.

The floors which are accessible by this lift are LG-G-1-2.

The lift is 10m (11yd) from the Park entrance.

Staff do not need to be notified for use of the lift.

The dimensions of the lift are 0.93m x 2m (3ft x 6ft 6in).

The clear door width is 85cm.

There are not separate entry and exit doors in the lift.

There is a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.

The lift does have a visual floor indicator.

The lift does have an audible announcer.

The controls for the lift are within reach for a wheelchair user.

The lighting level in the lift is medium.

The lift does not have Braille markings.

The lift does not have tactile markings.

This lift gives access to the Conference Rooms, Teaching Rooms and Eduction Office.

All galleries on these floors can also be accessed via this lift.

There is a lift for public use.

The lift is located in the 2 main stair wells.

The lift is a standard lift.

The floors which are accessible by this lift are LG-G-1-2-3.

The lift is 30m (33yd) from the Park entrance.

Staff do not need to be notified for use of the lift.

The dimensions of the lift are 1.47m x 1.44m (4ft 9in x 4ft 8in).

The clear door width is 88cm.

There are not separate entry and exit doors in the lift.

There is not a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.

The lift does not have a visual floor indicator.

The lift does not have an audible announcer.

The controls for the lift are not within reach for a wheelchair user.

The controls are between 110 - 131 cm high.

The lighting level in the lift is medium.

The lift does have Braille markings.

The lift does not have tactile markings.

There are 2 lifts available, but at time of research 1 was being refurbished. When complete, the other lift will be refurbished.

Exhibits can be audio described.

Tactile signage for exhibits is not available.

Braille signage for exhibits is not available.

Touch tours are not available.

Video tours are not available.

There is a hearing assistance system.

The hearing system is a portable loop.

Staff are trained to use the hearing system.

A deposit is not required for the hearing system.

Concessions are available.

There is a wheelchair to borrow.

To borrow the wheelchair ask at the Information Desk or call 020 7416 5000.

The audio tour of the main galleries is also suitable for use with a hearing aid in the 'T' position.

There is also a special audio guide for The Holocaust Exhibition. This tour includes extracts from the Museum's Sound Archive and access to boxes containing replica exhibits for handling.

Visitors with visual impairments are also permitted to touch the exhibits in the Large Exhibits Gallery on the ground floor and 1st floor balcony.

Magnifying sheets are available to aid reading captions or documents in the museum. Some special exhibitions have large print captions produced for exhibits.

Video clips played in special exhibitions, such as The Holocaust Exhibition, are often subtitled.

The cinema has 1 screens.

All screens have level access.

Companions sit next to you.

This venue does not have audio description.

There is a hearing assistance system.

The hearing system is infrared.

Subtitles are not available.

Staff are trained to use the hearing system.

A deposit is not required for the hearing system.

Assistance dogs are allowed in the cinema.

The cinema is located on the 1st floor, to the rear of the main lift.

The floors which are accessible by stairs are 2-3.

There are 15+ steps between floors.

The lighting level is low.

The steps are clearly marked.

The steps are deep.

The steps do have handrails.

The steps have a handrail on the left side going up.

There is not a landing.

The exhibition is accessed on the 3rd floor.

There is a lift for public use.

The lift is located in the centre of the exhibition.

The lift is a standard lift.

The floors which are accessible by this lift are 2-3.

The lift is 46m (50yd) from the main lift.

The dimensions of the lift are 0.93m x 2.1m (3ft x 6ft 10in).

The clear door width is 80cm.

There are separate entry and exit doors in the lift.

There is not a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.

The lift does have a visual floor indicator.

The lift does not have an audible announcer.

The controls for the lift are within reach for a wheelchair user.

The lighting level in the lift is medium.

The lift does have Braille markings.

The lift does have tactile markings.

There are steps to access this area/service.

The steps are located within The Children's War exhibition.

There are 7 steps to the area/service.

The lighting levels at the steps are low.

The steps are clearly marked.

The steps are medium.

The steps do have handrails.

The handrails are on the right going up.

These steps lead down to the 1st floor of the 1940s House from the exhibition on the ground floor.

There are 14 deep steps, with a handrail on the right hand side going up, leading down to the ground floor of the house, which can be accessed via a shallow step on the lower ground floor of the museum, shown in photograph 2.

There is a booklet containing photographs of the 1st floor rooms available outside the house on the lower ground floor.

The following information is for the cafe.

Once inside, there is not level access to the service.

Food or drinks are ordered from the service counter.

Food or drinks can be brought to the table.

There is a lowered section at the service counter.

There is ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.

No tables are permanently fixed.

No chairs are permanently fixed.

No chairs have armrests.

The nearest table is 35m (38yd) from the main lift.

The distance between the floor and the lowest dining table is 68cm (2ft 2in) cm.

The distance between the floor and the highest dining table is 74cm (2ft 5in) cm.

Menus are wall only.

Menus are not available in Braille.

Menus are not available in large print.

Picture menus are not available.

Menus are clearly written.

Menus are presented in contrasting colours.

The type of food served here is main meals and snacks.

The cafe is located on the the ground floor, off the main hall.

Some seating is available outside the Cafe, in the main hall.

There is a ramp or slope to access this area/service.

The ramp or slope is located at the entrance to the Cafe.

The ramp or slope is easy.

The ramp or slope is permanent.

There is not a level landing at the top of the ramp.

The width of the ramp or slope is 82cm (2ft 8in).

There are adapted toilets within this venue designated for public use.

Location of and access to adapted toilets

Features and dimensions of adapted toilets

Position of fixtures in adapted toilets

Colour contrast and lighting in adapted toilets

The details here are for the adapted cubicle with the male toilets. There is an identical cubicle in the female toilets.

There are also unisex adapted toilets available on the ground, 1st and 2nd floors, some of which have functional alarms.

Baby Change Facilities

Baby change facilities are located within the venue.

The baby change facilities are located in the 2nd floor adapted toilet.

The height of the baby change table once extended is 88cm (2ft 10in).

Inside the venue, there is level access to the baby change facility.

This is by lift.

There is also a baby changing cubicle by the ground floor adapted toilet. This was being refurbished at the time of research.

Availability and Location of Standard Toilets

Standard toilets are available.

Access to Standard Female and Male Toilets

The female and male toilets are located directly to the right of the Park entrance.

The female and male toilets are 15m (16yd) from the Park entrance.

Inside the venue, there is level access to the female and male toilet.

Lighting levels are medium.

Baby Change Facilities

Baby change facilities are located within the venue.

The baby change facilities are located in the 2nd floor adapted toilet.

The height of the baby change table once extended is 88cm (2ft 10in).

Inside the venue, there is level access to the baby change facility.

This is by lift.

There are further standard toilets on the lower ground floor, accessed via steps only.

They both contain baby changing facilities.

Staff do receive disability awareness training.

Documents are available in large print.

Registered assistance dogs are welcomed.

A member of staff trained in BSL skills is not generally on duty.

This service can be requested.

Staff are Text Relay aware.

Plastic cups are available.

Plastic cutlery is available.

Drinking straws are available on request.