Facilities and accessibility

Access to the museum

We want everyone to enjoy the museum. It is fully wheelchair and buggy accessible, entry is free for essential companions, and we welcome assistance dogs (and our team are more than happy to arrange a bowl of water for hard-working thirsty dogs – please just ask).

The museum offers quiet openings on the last Sunday of each month from 10am–11am when the lights will be up and the sounds down.  You can download a copy of our gallery map, which includes some sensory information and other details here.

You can find more accessibility information by visiting our guide hosted on
Visit Britain’s website.

You can also download the PDF version of the guide.

Gallery Audio Description and BSL

Dressing Disability

Dressing Disability is a display exploring relationships between fashion and disability, which can be found on the first floor of the museum. 

Audio description and British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation is provided here to help make the Dressing Disability display as accessible and welcoming as possible. 

Introduction

There are 8 stops in Dressing Disability that have accompanying audio description and BSL. 

Stops 1-6 of this tour all appear within the main Dressing Disability display case.

Stop 1: Upper Limb Prosthesis

Upper Limb Prosthetic

Stop 2: Enas’ Prosthetic Arm

Artificial arm prosthesis for left forearm, designed for Enas Saeed.

Stop 3: Colostomy Belt

Colostomy Belt

Stop 4: Enas’ Modelling Shot

Stop 5: Lucy’s Modelling Shot

Stop 6: Hollister Drainable Stoma Pouch

Hollister Drainable Stoma Pouch

Stops 7-8 are around the corner in the film screening room. They consist of a short animated film and the dress opposite, made by accessible fashion designer Victoria Jenkins. 

Stop 7: For Us, By Us 

A film by animator Florence Burns (@flossburns.art) and poet Enas Saeed (@Official_enas). 

Stop 8: Lucy’s Unhidden Dress 

Acknowledgements

Dressing Disability was curated by Amelia Silver, Curating for Change Fellow, in collaboration with Lucy Jane (@Lucyjane.fashion) and Enas Saeed (@Official_enas) 

Audio description by Elaine Lillian Joseph, SoundScribe 

BSL by Marcel Hirshman 

Curating for Change is a national programme of museums hosting D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent curators, delivered in partnership with Screen South and the Accentuate Programme and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Art Fund and Arts Council England.