Accessible Visits

Lifts maintenance (Nov 2024 to Jan 2025):

Due to essential maintenance, the museum lifts will be out of service at different points between November and January.

  • Gallery lift: Unavailable from 4 November to 6 December 2024
  • Reception lift: Unavailable from 9 December 2024 to 10 January 2025

Please contact us ahead of your visit if you have any questions.

Find out what to expect when planning a visit to our museum, café, shop, or garden.

If you have a specific access need that you would like to ask us about, contact us.

A person in a wheelchair, accessing an archive.

Physical access

Arriving at the museum

The museum entrance is located on Redlands Road, Reading, RG1 5EX. Find out more about getting here.

If you need to park, you can use one of the two bays reserved for disabled parking in front of the museum. Alternatively, there are three reserved bays in the University of Reading car park on Acacia Road.

You can access the museum reception through the main, step-free entrance. Our staff will be there to welcome you.

Wheelchair access

Due to essential maintenance from November 2024 to January 2025, some museum areas may be less accessible for visitors with wheelchairs or buggies.

  • Ladybird Gallery and museum store: The lift will be unavailable between 4 November and 6 December
  • The Nook and Staircase Hall: The lift will be unavailable from 9 December to 10 January

All other galleries in the museum remain accessible. Learn more from the museum floorplan.

We have an adult-sized wheelchair available to borrow during your visit. Please let us know in advance so we can reserve it, or you can ask at reception when you arrive.

Portable seating

Foldaway and portable stools are available throughout the galleries for your use.

Toilets and Changing Facilities

You can find our wheelchair-accessible toilet in the galleries, after Forces For Change and before Our Country Lives. Learn more on our Galleries and Floorplan page.

The accessible toilet includes baby-changing facilities. We are unable to provide hoists or adult-changing facilities. Please follow this link for the closest facilities to the museum.

Using the garden

We have some gravel paths though most of our garden is laid to lawn with some woodland areas. In bad weather the garden can get muddy and may not be suitable for wheelchair users or anybody unstable on their feet.

Sensory access

  • Assistance is available for those with hearing needs at our talMuseums My Way written in white round the inside of a blue circleks and events
  • Service animals are welcomed
  • Large-print guides for our permanent displays are available on request. Please ask reception staff on arrival, or let us know in advance that you would like to use it, and we can have it ready for you.
  • Museums, My Way programme, developed with Autism Berkshire, to enable neurodivergent visitors of all ages to enjoy a safe visit. Find out more about this programme that is part of Museums Partnership Reading

Resources

You can access resources both before and during your visit to feel more comfortable at the museum.

Sensory Map

Our Sensory Map incorporates sound, light and touch. The museum has atmospheric sounds, so you may wish to bring your own ear defenders, or borrow ours (see Sensory Backpack).

Social Story

Our Social Story walks you through a visit and the route through the galleries.

Sensory Backpacks

You can borrow our Sensory Backpacks during a visit. You can find them in our activity trolley, by the galleries’ entrance.

We would be grateful if you could return the backpack to a member of staff once you finish using it.

Explore the galleries interactively

The tour below is made up of a series of 360° photographs that take you around the Museum and our garden. Take the tour on Google Maps or use the window below, and then navigate the museum by clicking or using the arrow keys on your keyboard. It is best viewed on desktop.