Accessibility

Information for Carers

So that everyone can make the most of their visit, we encourage carers to carry out a pre-site visit, where appropriate. Staff on site can answer your questions and direct you to areas of interest, including local facilities.

Accessible parking spaces at the Royal Armouries

• There are five accessible parking spaces provided for visitors with disabilities in the coach park area
• The coach park is opposite the Holiday Inn, 100 metres (approximately 110 yards) from the museum entrance
• These spaces are only provided during museum opening times, 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Sunday, and 10am to 5pm every day during school holidays.

Accessible parking spaces at CitiPark Leeds Dock

There are approximately 40 blue badge parking bays in the multi-storey car park located next to the Holiday Inn.

• The multi-storey car park is operated by CitiPark.
• There is no discount for blue badge holders, standard tariff applies
• Parking charges range from £2.50 to £13 - please check the CitiPark website for the most up to date information on parking charges.
• Blue badge parking bays situated on all levels from level 2 upwards and located conveniently closest to the lifts
• All floors have lift access to the ground floor and exit
• The car park lifts exit onto a boulevard that provides a paved and step-free route to the museum entrance about 100 metres (approximately 110 yards) away.

Accessible museum entrance

The museum entrance is 100 metres (approximately 110 yards) across Armouries Square from the museum's disabled parking spaces, coach park, and drop-off point.

• Armouries Square is an open and level paved area
• All access routes to the museum entrance have a step-free path
• Entrance to the museum is through two sets of automatic sliding glass doors
• Beyond the entrance is a long atrium space containing access to the café, shop, and reception desk
• Information and a list of the days events can be obtained from staff at the red reception desk
• Reception desk staff will be pleased to assist you in anyway

Access to galleries

• All galleries are accessible via the lifts
• The lifts are located near the Hall of Steel on each floor
• To access floor five you need to take the gold-coloured lift
• Lifts are fitted with:
  • handrails
  • operation buttons with braille labels
  • Audio announcements
  • Lift controls are at the rear of the car at a height suitable for wheelchair users
• The maximum load for each lift is 16 persons/1,250 kilogrammes (approximately 2,755 pounds)
• High bridges with glass balustrades that span the museum's atrium can be used to access different galleries on the same floor.
• Light levels within the galleries can be quite low this helps to conserve some of our more fragile objects.
• All films in the galleries are presented with:
  • Closed Captions
  • a progress bar with timer
  • controls to restart the presentation
  • a single ear-phone

Comfort seating

The museum is large with galleries and facilities over 6 floors. Therefore, we have provided seating throughout.

• Benches with handles but without back rests can be found at the museum entrance.
• A limited number of portable folding seats are provided in every gallery for visitors who find standing difficult.
• Chairs with arms can be found in the window areas of some galleries, providing a quiet and restful space for visitors.

If you cannot find a seat while visiting please ask a member of staff who will be happy to assist.

Wheelchairs

All public areas in the museum are accessible by wheelchair.

We have four manual wheelchairs available for use by visitors. The wheelchairs can be used for the duration of your visit. Please ask at the reception desk on your arrival.

• Free to use
• No booking required
• Allocated on a first come, first served basis

Mobility scooters

Mobility scooters are permitted in the museum, however we do not have any to loan.

Assistance dogs

Assistance dogs are welcome in the museum and can look forward to:

• A water bowl provided on request in our Café
• Plenty of space outside of the museum in Armouries Square for exercise and toilet.
• Please be aware that the museum is situated next to a canal dock with deep water.

Accessible and Changing Places Toilets

Accessible Toilets

Accessible toilets can be found throughout the museum:

• Ground floor café next to the main entrance
• Floors 1, 2, and 4 close to the lift areas on the Dock side of the museum.
• Please note that these toilets are 200 millimetres (approximately 8 inches) shorter than recommended in the current accessibility standards.

Toilet features

• Braille door labels
• Emergency alarm
• Grab rails

Changing Places Toilets

Our Changing Places Toilet (CPT) is accessible to the public and located on the ground floor of the museum, approximately 36 metres (120 feet) from the main entrance. Access to the CPT is by Radar key which is available from our reception desk.

CPT facility features

• Bench - Height adjustable, adult sized, wall mounted
• Hoist - Ceiling, Loop
• Washbasin - height adjustable
• Peninsular toilet
• Unisex
• Non-slip floor
• Emergency alarm
• Privacy screen
• Paper roll
• Colostomy shelf
• Signage in the room
• Drop down grab rails
• Wall grab rails
• Large bin
• Door width - 1 metre
• Ceiling height - 2.4 metres
• Floor space - 15 square metres

Sensory backpacks

We have five sensory backpacks to encourage, support, and enhance the museum experience of children and young people on the autism spectrum and their families.

Backpack features

• They contain fun and soothing sensory toys and ear-defenders
• They are available free of charge
• They can be used for the duration of your visit
• Collect from Reception and return to Reception on departure

Tactile Experience

Currently, we do not offer handling sessions for regular visitors, but there are often opportunities for handling objects and asking questions after live shows in the galleries. Sometimes, the handling of objects is the focus of our gallery talks. 

Object handling sessions are available for school groups to book.

Large print booklets

Large print booklets for our "Treasures trail" are available to borrow on request from gallery hosts on these floors.

• Floor 2 - Large print "Treasures trail" booklet that covers floors 2 and 3
• Floor 4 - Large print "Treasures trail" booklet that covers

Accessible live performances and outdoor events

Live performances take place daily in a variety of dedicated spaces in the galleries. Performance areas are equipped with:

• Performers with microphones
• Speakers
• Bench seating
• Space for wheelchairs and mobility scooters

Tiltyard

The Tiltyard is an outdoor event space which is used for our horse events, including jousting. It is located opposite the Holiday Inn and close to the disabled parking bays. Accessibility for wheelchairs or mobility scooters is limited and varies for each event. Therefore, we encourage people to reach out to us when planning your visit.

If you’d like to see an outdoor show and you have additional access needs, please contact us in advance so we can help you plan your day.  enquiries@armouries.org.uk or call 0113 220 1916​. Lines are open 10 am to 4.30pm every day.

Amphitheatre

We occasionally use our outdoor amphitheatre for combat demonstrations and gun firing. It is located at the north-west corner of the museum, between the Hall of Steel and the canal dock.

The step-free route from the museum entrance to the amphitheatre is paved with Yorkshire stone, which can be uneven. There is a ramp onto a block paved area that surrounds the amphitheatre. 

Seating is on the steps of the amphitheatre and the floor of the amphitheatre is paved with stone blocks, which can make the surface uneven.

3D Virtual Tour of Royal Armouries Museum

We have created a 3D Virtual Tour with help from our friends at Apollo 3D. We understand that not everyone finds it easy come to visit our awesome museum in Leeds, so now, no matter why you can’t visit, you can explore our museum’s galleries and amenities 24/7.

Accessible version of the 3D Virtual Tour of the Royal Armouries Museum

An accessible video version of the 3D Virtual Tour of the Royal Armouries Museum is available on YouTube.  Unfortunately, because the technology used to create and host the virtual tour is not fully accessible, the video provides a similar experience. Providing views of the museum and audio descriptions, and features the same iconic objects. Closed Captions are provided throughout.

Staff awareness training

We want to remove as many barriers as possible for our visitors, and we know that staff training is vital in ensuring all visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience.

All of our Museum Assistants have been trained by Guide Dogs UK on how to guide visually impaired visitors around the museum, and how to better support visually impaired visitors. They have also completed Dementia Friend Training and Trans Awareness training. 

We have delivered in-house training around neurodiversity, highlighting better ways of supporting neurodiverse visitors in the museum.

A number of our Museum Assistants have completed BSL training and are now training colleagues across the organisation.

Contact Us

If you require any additional information please contact us at enquiries@armouries.org.uk.

See also

Disabilities Equality Policy (PDF, 41 KB)