Access

Access for People with Disabilities

The Museum is a Grade I listed building which has been largely unaltered since the early 19th century. For this reason access for some disabled people is limited. Disabled visitors are encouraged to contact the Museum in advance whenever possible to ensure that staff and, if required, wheelchairs, are available without delay.

Our staff will do everything possible to maximise the enjoyment of our visitors. All groups of six or more people must book in advance. The booking enables staff to plan in advance how best to meet the needs of the group.

Physically Disabled Visitors

The Museum welcomes physically disabled visitors.

There are two accessible parking bays on the East side of Lincoln’s Inn Fields for Blue Badge Holders. They operate on a first come first served basis. Please note, these are not for the sole use of the Museum.

The Museum is working to improve physical accessibility and will have a lift and accessible toilets in place by summer 2012. Our toilet facilities are currently located in our basement, down a flight of stairs. We have an accessible toilet but visitors may find this inconvenient to access at certain times. There are accessible toilets on the North-East corner of Lincoln’s Inn Fields, opposite the accessible parking bays.

The Museum has eight steps to the entrance door with a single handrail on one side. The Museum always makes staff available to assist visitors to enter the building. However, visitors must be able to negotiate, with assistance, the eight steps from the pavement to the entrance hall where a wheelchair can be provided on request. Corridors and doorways are narrower than standard wheelchairs. To overcome this, the Museum has two specially manufactured narrow wheelchairs.  

By using the Museum’s narrow wheelchairs visitors can see all the principal historic interiors: the Library and Dining Room, the Breakfast Parlour, the celebrated Picture Room containing paintings by Canaletto and two series of Hogarth paintings, the Study and Dressing Room and the Dome area. Soane’s imaginative architecture also allows visitors on the ground floor to see parts of the basement ‘Crypt’, part of the Monk’s Parlour, the ‘Sepulchral Chamber’ and its centrepiece, the celebrated Sarcophagus of King Seti I as well as the

The basement and the two public rooms on the first floor have no step-free access. However, if a visitor can use stairs with assistance, Museum staff will provide the necessary help and bring a wheelchair after them.

Visitors using crutches or sticks can access the whole Museum. Members of staff are available to assist as necessary and the Museum’s wheelchairs are available on request.

Visually Impaired Visitors

The Museum welcomes visually impaired visitors. Assistance dogs are also welcome.

The Museum provides large-print copies of the labels and panels for temporary exhibitions held in the Soane Gallery, which can be borrowed by any visitor for the duration of their visit.

Please note that the Museum uses very little artificial light (to keep the Museum as Sir John Soane wished) so, if possible, it is advisable to visit when natural light levels are highest. Additional lighting in the form of torches or additional overhead illumination can sometimes be provided on request.

We will always try, if requested in advance, to make a member of staff available to describe the Museum and its contents. A list of objects in the Museum which may be touched is available on request.

To book a Museum tour tailored to groups of visually impaired visitors in advance, please contact our Community Education Officer (Julia Cort jcort@soane.org.uk 020 7440 4249)

D/deaf and hearing impaired visitors

The Museum welcomes D/deaf and hearing impaired visitors. Assistance dogs are also welcome.

There is an information sheet at the front door with practical information about visiting the Museum.

Many of the Warding staff have attended RNID Deaf Awareness training.

To book a Museum tour for a group of D/deaf or hearing impaired visitors in advance, please contact our Community Education Officer:

Julia Cort

E: jcort@soane.org.uk

SMS: 07583 413 467

T: 020 7440 4249

Most groups bring their own interpreters or lipspeakers but the Museum is happy to arrange this, if given enough notice.

The Museum uses very little artificial light so it is best to visit when natural light levels are high. Additional overhead light can sometimes be provided on request.

There are induction loops and amplifiers in two teaching/seminar spaces but no loop in the main Museum.

Groups can arrange in advance to bring their own induction loop or equivalent if they are having a lecture or discussion on the Museum.

The Museum plans to acquire a portable induction loop by 2014 as part of the accessibility improvement programme. An induction loop will be installed in the shop area, due to open in summer 2012. 

Visitors with learning difficulties, mental health impairments or other access requirements

The Museum welcomes visitors with learning difficulties, mental health impairments and other access requirements.

All groups must book in advance. This allows group leaders and Museum staff to tailor the visit to the group’s needs and interests.

Our Community Education Officer (Julia Cort jcort@soane.org.uk 020 7440 4249) can help to plan sessions and tours tailored to the needs and interests of the group.