Museum Access

• The Museum is located on the first floor of the Faculty of Classics, in the University of Cambridge's Sidgwick Site.
• There are pedestrian and vehicle entrances to the Sidgwick Site from Sidgwick Avenue. Sidgwick Avenue is a tree-lined street with uneven and narrow pavements in places.
• There is level, paved access to the building itself with a dropped curb in front of the building.
• Disabled access to the Museum is via a separate entrance and lift.
• The Cast Gallery, our main display space, is on one level and is a wide and open space, with minimal obstructions.

• There is no public parking on site.
• Blue Badge holders can park in the Pay and Display bays in Cambridge, including opposite the entrance to the Sidgwick Site on Sidgwick Avenue and on West Road.
• There are step-free routes across the site to the Museum from West Road, via the routes onto site nearest the Pay and Display bays. 
• There are also Pay and Display bays on Sidgwick Avenue, but the pavements are less even here due to the tree roots.

• The entrance to the Museum is via the Faculty of Classics, inside the Sidgwick Site.
• There is no entrance on the road.
• The glass doors can be opened automatically by pressing the disabled access button outside the entrance.
• The manifestations on the glass doors are not very clear.
• There are push buttons to open the doors.

• The main entrance to the Museum is through the foyer of the Faculty of Classics.
• The entrance lobby is carpeted and then the main foyer has a tiled floor and a red anti-slip rug. There are no busy carpet patterns, but there are differences in shade and texture.
• There are push buttons to open the two sets of glass doors.
• Access to the Museum here is via a staircase.
• Turn left at the top of the staircase to find the main doors to the Museum of Classical Archaeology's Cast Gallery.
• The doors to the Cast Gallery are heavy and do not open automatically.

• Step-free access can be faciliated through an alternative entrance, where the lift is located. This entrance to the building has a ramp and handrails.
• There are push buttons to open the doors at the entrance and also on the route through the building.

• A lift is available for step-free access.
• The lift is located in a separate entrance to the building, a short walk from the main entrance.
• The lift is fitted with a voice-over which tells you which floor you are on.
• The doors between the lift and the museum on the first floor are fitted with automatic opening buttons.
• We ask that visitors who require step-free access please stop at the Enquiries Office on entry to request that a member of Museum staff come down to guide them through the building.
• In the event that the Enquiries Office is unstaffed during opening hours, please call the Museum on 01223 330402 or use the red phone in the entrance lobby.

• The staircase in the main foyer of the Classics building, leading up to the Museum, has 19 steps.
• All staircases in the building have continuous handrails.
• In the main foyer, the continuous hand rail on the right-hand side starts above the first step but on the left-hand side it starts above the second step.
• There are no stair cases inside the Cast Gallery

• There is an Enquiries Office located to your left as you enter the main foyer of the Classics building. There is a bell to ring if you require assistance, for instance, access to the lift.
• In the Museum, the Front Desk is located as you come through the main doors. Staff here are happy to help with any questions you may have.

• Core museum staff (the Curator, Education and Outreach Coordinator and the Museums and Collections Assistant) undertake disability awareness training as available.
• All museum staff are made aware of access provision and schemes like the Sunflower lanyard scheme for invisible disabilities.
• Faculty staff in the Enquiries Office may not have undertaken disability awareness training.
• Volunteers have not usually undertaken disability awareness training.

• Seats are available around the Cast Gallery for the use of visitors and can be moved.
• Most seating does not have arm rests.
• We ask that you do not sit on any of the side benches.
• You are welcome to use walking sticks or folding stools with seat attachments.

• Please notify us at the Front Desk when you arrive at the Museum if you have any special requirements in case of emergency.
• The Faculty and Museum are equipped with evacuation chairs and a stair climber.
• We may ask you about whether you can self-transfer and what type of chair you use when you arrive.

• The Faculty of Classics has accessible facilities in the main building entrance and also in the lift entrance.
• The facilities next to the lift are larger and may provide more space for manoeuvering than those in the main entrance.
• Both disabled facilities are fitted with emergency pull cords.
• Ambulatory toilets are located in both the Ladies' and Men's facilities at Entrance 1.
• Toilets are fitted with hand-dryers which can be very noisy.
• All the toilets are fitted with lights which turn on automatically.

Unfortunately, we do not have a Changing Places toilet.

The nearest Changing Places toilet is located in the Grand Arcade (contact 01223 457452), approximately 0.6m or a 12 minute walk away (according to Google maps).

The disabled facilities in the main entrance foyer and the lift entrance are designated as gender-neutral toilets.

Baby changing is located in the disabled facilities in the main entrance to the building.

• The Museum is well lit and guide dogs are very welcome.
• Corridors are fitted with lights which automatically turn on.
• Large text versions of the display labels are available in each bay.
• We use lamination for some signs and labels. These may produce glare in direct sunlight.
• Please get in touch to see if we can arrange a touch tour, or check our What's on page.
• Manifestations on the glass doors at the main entrance to the building are not very clear.

• The Cast Gallery is carpeted and usually very quiet when there are no school groups.
• There is currently no hearing loop.

Guide dogs, hearing dogs and assistance dogs are welcome. If you can, please let us know in advance if you will be bringing a dog. Dogs should be kept with you at all times.

Large text versions of the display labels are available in each bay.

• The Museum of Classical Archaeology is generally a quiet space (more information below).
• The Sidgwick Site and the Classics Faculty building are usually quieter outside of University term-time.
• You do not need to book your visit in advance, but you can always get in touch in advance if you have any concerns.
• Disability-friendly family openings are advertised on our What's on page.
• Unfortunately, we do not have any break out spaces.

Download the visual story to help you to prepare for your visit.

There are no barriers to bringing a companion or personal assistant. Entrance to the Museum is free.

• The Cast Gallery is often very quiet and peaceful - generally more so than other busier museums
• It is busiest when there are events for families or when there are school visits
• It is quietest toward the end of the day
• Our busiest time is February half term. Other school holidays are generally less busy.
• The quietest time of the year is usually December and early January.
• Disability-friendly special openings are listed on our What's on page.

• The Cast Gallery is very well lit during the day, when the sun is shining, because we have a glass roof.
• The Gallery can be darker in the winter months, when the external light is low
• The temperature varies through the year. The Gallery can be cold in the winter months and very hot in the summer months. We recommend layers in the winter and staying properly hydrated with water in the summer.