Accessibility statement for the Royal Armouries website

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA  standard due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below.

The following content is not accessible for the reasons described.

Downloadable documents (PDFs, Word documents)

Some documents are not accessible because they fail WCAG 2.2 AA success criteria:

• lack document titles WCAG 2.4.2 Page titled
• lack tagging of tables, rows, and columns WCAG 1.3.1 Info and Relationships
• do not have text alternatives for images WCAG 1.1.1 Non-text content
• do not follow a logical reading order WCAG 1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence and WCAG 2.4.3 Focus Order 
• may not be compatible with assistive technology 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value

We are reviewing and updating documents as part of ongoing work and where possible will be converting these to HTML pages. Alternative formats can be provided on request.

Interactive exhibition: Up Close

This feature is hosted on a third-party platform and is not fully compatible with screen reader software or keyboard navigation.
This may fail WCAG 2.2 success criteria 2.1.1 Keyboard, 2.4.3 Focus Order, and 1.3.1 Info and Relationships.

Videos published after 23 September 2020

Some videos do not yet include audio description. This fails  the success criterion of WCAG 2.21.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded).

We have a prioritised programme of work to address this backlog.

Result of UK Government Digital Service accessibility test January 2026

How accessible the website is

We checked https://royalarmouries.org/ on 20 January 2026 against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standard.

Based on our testing, this site is partially compliant with WCAG 2.2 AA. This means there are some things which are not fully accessible.

Safeguarding procedure PDF accessibility

https://royalarmouries.org/sites/default/files/2023-06/Safeguarding-Procedures-2022114_TL.pdf

Issue 2361-A-1 WCAG 2.4.2 Page titled

PDF documents should have titles that describe the topic or purpose of the page. Titles help users understand the topic without having to read the entire document.
Without a descriptive title a user may need to spend time searching the document to decide whether the content is relevant.

When a PDF is displayed in a browser the title will usually be displayed in the top title bar or as the tab name. The PDF does not include a document title.

Issue 2361-A-2 WCAG 1.3.1 Info and Relationships: Tables

Information in tables must be shown in a way that maintains the relationships between the data even when a user cannot see the table. Assistive technologies like screen readers rely on correct markup within a table to understand and show the correct information to a user.

Tables in PDF documents should be tagged to give information such as row and column titles.

There are tables in the document that do not have correctly marked up headers. You should review the tags across the document.

Issue 2361-A-3 WCAG 1.1.1 Non-text content

People with sight loss may not see an image clearly on a page. You need to use a text alternative to share the information. The alternative text must describe the information or function represented by the image.

Screen readers can share the alternative text with the user. In PDF documents you must ensure that images are tagged correctly with alternative text.

Images have been used in the PDF without text alternative.

Home page accessibility issues

https://royalarmouries.org/

Issue 2361-A-4 WCAG 2.1.1 Keyboard

Users should be able to use a keyboard to access all content and functionality of a web page. This means the page can be used by people with no vision as well as people who use alternative keyboards or input devices that act as a keyboard.

The navigation dots or pips below the carousel of 'Fascinating Stories', 'The Collection' and 'Shopping' cannot be accessed by keyboard.

Issue 2361-A-5 WCAG 1.4.3 Contrast (minimum): Elements must have sufficient colour contrast

Poor colour contrast makes it difficult for someone with sight loss to see the content properly. If there is a big difference between the background and foreground colours it should be much easier to see the difference between them.

There are a number of instances of black text, such as 'Watch Video', which do not have sufficient colour contrast against the black background when they receive focus.

Contact Us page accessibility issues

https://royalarmouries.org/contact-us

https://royalarmouries.org/contact-us/connect-with-us

Issue 2361-A-6 WCAG 1.4.3 Contrast (minimum): Elements must have sufficient colour contrast

There are a number of instances of black text, such as 'Sign up to our newsletter', which do not have sufficient colour contrast against the black background when they receive focus.

Accessibility Statement page accessibility issues

https://royalarmouries.org/accessibility-statement

Issue 2361-A-8 WCAG 1.4.3 Contrast (minimum): Elements must have sufficient colour contrast

There are a number of instances of black text, such as 'Sign up to our newsletter', which do not have sufficient colour contrast against the black background when they receive focus.

Issue 2361-S-60

There should be a heading of ""Non-accessible content"

No heading in the accessibility statement of "Non-accessible content".

Issue 2361-S-61

The statement needs to include all outstanding issues and which criteria they fail until they can be fixed.

Accessibility issues found in the test are not included within the "non-compliance with the accessibility regulations" section.

Compliance deadline 23 April 2026

Pre-recorded videos published before 23 September 2020

These videos do not require audio description under the regulations.

Where possible, we will update or replace them during content reviews.

Producing audio description for some historic video content would be a disproportionate burden due to:

• exceptionally high cost of describing large volumes of archive footage
• technical limitations of some third-party hosting platforms
• missing or inaccessible source files preventing re-editing

We will review these decisions regularly.

A list of the affected videos and reasons will be published here once finalised.

We are taking the following steps to improve accessibility:

• reviewing and remediating documents to meet accessibility standards
• ensuring all newly created documents and videos are fully accessible
• training staff and content creators in WCAG 2.2 AA requirements
• testing new features and content before they are released
• monitoring third-party services and raising accessibility issues with vendors

We expect this work to continue throughout future development cycles.

This statement was prepared on 19 February 2018.
It was last reviewed on 25 November 2025.

This website was last technically tested by Numiko Ltd on 18 August 2023.
We carry out ongoing internal testing using automated tools and manual checks with assistive technologies.

If you need information on this website in an alternative format such as accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille, please contact us:

Email: communications@armouries.org.uk
Telephone: 0113 220 1916

We aim to respond within 7 working days.

If you find any problems not listed here or think we are not meeting accessibility requirements, please contact us using the details above.

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the accessibility regulations.

If you are not satisfied with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

We have provided a simpler version of this accessibility statement which is suitable for wider audiences.