ACCESSIBILITY

ACCESSIBILITY & INCLUSION

Everybody is welcome at Shaftesbury Abbey Museum and Garden and we have a commitment to making our offer as accessible and inclusive as possible.

Below you'll find access to information to help plan your visit. If you've got any questions in advance or need help, our friendly team is here before, during and after your visit.

You can email us at office@shaftesburyabbey.org.uk or telephone 01747 852910.

Getting to us

The Abbey Museum can be found on Park Walk - there is level access to the museum along Park Walk from the High Street.

We don't have our own car park. Shaftesbury has a number of car parks close to the museum, including the Bell Street Car Park and New Road Car Park, which both offer disabled spaces.

Arriving at the museum

There is a welcome desk in the museum and our friendly volunteers will greet you. Please ask them if you need any further information or support. The museum is free to enter. We offer light refreshments to purchase including tea, coffee, soft drinks, cake and ice creams.

Physical access

The museum building has full step free access, with even floors fully accessible for wheelchair users, families with buggies and for those with limited mobility. Much of the garden is physically accessible too with

level grass areas and paths. There are raised herb beds close to the museum building. As an historic excavated site, there are parts of the garden that have uneven ground with raised stone foundations and there are steep steps to the upper level of the main herb garden. In very wet weather some areas of the garden may prove more difficult to access for wheelchair users.

Dogs and assistance dogs

We love dogs but only assistance dogs can come into the museum gallery. All dogs are welcome to visit the garden as long as they are kept on a lead and under control. Fresh water is available for dogs.

Toilet and baby change

There are two WC's available for visitors and both are unisex. Each is self contained with a toilet and sink. Both are accessible to wheelchair users. One can be found by the main entrance and one in the Lodge, which is accessed from the garden. The WC by the main entrance also contains a baby changing facility.

Seating

Seating is provided throughout the museum and garden.

Museum displays and supporting information

Interpretation aims to cater for a range of learning styles and needs through offering multi-sensory opportunities and following good practice guidance. This includes:

Engaging text panels which include a hierarchy of text and images, with good text contrast and accessible font type and size.
The main museum displays are presented in a chronological sequence with a simplified timeline below, to provide a developing story understandable by all.
There is an Easy Read Guide to Shaftesbury Abbey available at the welcome desk. It is designed to make information about the history of the Abbey accessible to anyone who finds longer texts difficult or who needs a larger font size.
An audio tour facility is available free of charge to all visitors.
A sub-titled 'Minecraft' video in the main museum show the Abbey's development.
Handling objects, and objects on open display, are valuable for use by all visitors but particularly aimed at family groups, people with visual impairments or those with other sensory needs.
Additional trails and activities are available to support families to access the museum displays.
Non-intrusive background music is played in the museum gallery area.