Accessibility – National Museum Cardiff

We are proud to be the first museum to become a member of the National Access scheme Hynt.  Whether you’re an individual or an organisation you can access free tickets for carers and companions for some of our events and exhibitions. 

Hynt is an Arts Council of Wales initiative managed by Creu Cymru in partnership with Diverse Cymru; you can apply to be a member on the Hynt website.

Booking a ticket with a Hynt card

When booking your ticket with a Hynt card, we’ll ask you for your unique Hynt reference number. You can book your tickets with us in the following ways:

• In person at National Museum Cardiff – our friendly Museum Assistants behind the information desk will be happy to help you
• Or online – click this link to get started. If you have booked with us online using a valid Hynt barcode number, your Hynt account will be added to your Amgueddfa Cymru account for your future convenience. Please note it may take up to 24 hours for your Hynt membership to be added to your online account. 

Tickets are issued to the cardholder, who is required to present their photographic Hynt card at each exhibition or event that they attend. The amount of Hynt tickets available for online booking is restricted and determined by the number agreed upon during the application process. Please make sure to select the appropriate number of tickets for all members of your group.

To help plan your visit, have a look at our visual story. This includes photographs and information of what you can expect from your visit to the museum.

Museum entrance and exit

The main entrance and exit to the museum is on Gorsedd Gardens Road.  There are 16 steps with handrails or alternatively we have an accessible walkway at the front of the building.  On your arrival into the museum you will be on level two.

Accessible parking

We have four accessible parking spaces available to the rear of the Visitor Car Park, accessed via Museum Avenue. Parking is free to blue badge holders. Please use the intercom at the barrier near the car park’s exit to verify your blue badge permit. Accessible parking is also available at the front of the Museum, on Gorsedd Gardens Road. 

Quiet Times 

The Museum can sometimes be crowded and noisy. We have a limited number of ear defenders for adults and children. If you would like to borrow these during your visit, please enquire at the Welcome Desk. The quietest time to visit the Museum is usually from 3pm.  All of our galleries close at 4.45pm and the museum closes at 5pm.

Quiet areas 

Our Art galleries are our quietest areas in the museum.

Lighting and temperature 

Some of the natural science galleries have changes in lighting throughout the spaces, this will vary from low light levels to strong spotlights. All walkways, text panels and exhibits are clearly illuminated.

The temperature varies as you move through the Museum and some galleries and spaces are quite cold. You may want to bring an extra layer of clothing to put on in these areas.

Uneven flooring 

Please be aware that there are undulating floor levels throughout the Evolution of Wales exhibition. This is intentional. The dips in the floor represent the times when Wales was submerged under the sea, while the rises represent the times when Wales was above sea level. This gallery has some sections of tactile flooring through the gallery.  Please take care in these areas.

Borrow a wheelchair 

Four manual wheelchairs and six mobile seating sticks are available free of charge for your visit. These can be collected and returned from the information desk on request. These are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide staff assistance around the museum for wheelchair users.  Wheelchairs may not be taken outside of the museum.

Mobility scooter 

Mobility scooters are welcome and permitted inside the museum.

Emergency evacuation 

It's unlikely that an alarm will sound during your visit. If one does, please don't worry – just follow any instructions given by members of staff, they will guide you to the nearest safe exit.

Lift and access to galleries 

Most lifts in the museum are wheelchair and mobility scooter accessible and have audio announcements.  To view all the locations of the lifts please view our Museum map (link this up). Most galleries can be visited independently, but lifts to some galleries must be operated by a Museum Assistant for security reasons. There are signs indicating the location and operating instructions of all lifts. Museum staff are nearby to help.

Level one     
Oriel restaurant     
Accessible toilets     
Changing places     
Meeting Rooms (Please book in advance) 0300 111 2 333     
Level two - Main entrance     
Museum shop     
Information desk     
Evolution of Wales galleries     
Natural History galleries     
Café     
Learning space     
Level three    
Natural science galleries (only in the West wing of the museum)    
Level four     
Art Galleries – Historic Art, Impressionist and Modern and contemporary art.    
 

Accessible Toilets

Accessible Toilets are available in the Oriel Restaurant on level one.  All our accessible toilets have pull-cord alarms. Please refer to the map or ask member staff.

Baby changing facilities

Baby changing facilities and a breastfeeding room are available for those who wish to have privacy in the Oriel Restaurant. Breastfeeding is allowed in all locations.

Changing Places

In addition to our accessible toilets we do have a Changing Places facility on level one.  Our Changing place is equipped with a hoist and adjustable bed.  Access to the toilet is via radar key, which can be obtained from the welcome desk and to be returned after use.

Find other Changing Places locations. 

Seating

There are some seats in selected galleries, special exhibitions, public spaces, cafés and the Restaurant. The Restaurant is open on weekends and school holidays.

Most of our seating in the galleries are benches.

You're welcome to use walking sticks or folding stools with seat attachments, provided they have rubber stoppers.

Several portable stools are available in a range of different galleries.  Please ask a member of staff on the galleries for their locations. Please return the folding stools to a member of staff upon leaving the galleries.

Enhanced Sounds

You will hear some sounds as you make your way around the Evolution of Wales gallery. These include two large screens playing films with sound at start of the exhibition route. Towards the middle of the exhibition route, you will trip automated animal sounds as you pass by the mammoth and the hyenas. These are highlighted on our site map.

Service dogs

We understand that some of our visitors will require the support of a service dog and we are happy to admit appropriately trained service dogs.  Service dogs should be supervised and kept under your control throughout your visit, ideally remaining on a lead and wearing the appropriate tabard or harness. Please ask a member of staff to direct you to the nearest toilet/toileting area. Drinking water is available on request from the coffee shop.

Hearing Loops

Induction loops are provided in the Evolution of Wales gallery, the information desk, shop, restaurant and coffee shop counters and in the Reardon Smith Theatre. A portable induction loop is available for use in the meeting and learning rooms. All induction loops operate on the 'T' setting. Switch your hearing aid to activate.

Large Print Guide

A large print guide can be found in our temporary exhibition Art of the Selfie.

Audio described tours

We can offer free Audio Description tours and guided assistance for individual visitors. See this page for details Audio Described Tours 

Events and BSL Interpreting Services

For information about BSL Interpreted events, please search our listing on the What’s on page.

All BSL interpreted Events will be provided by fully qualified interpreters.

For events at the Reardon Smith Lecture Theatre

The Reardon Smith Lecture Theatre has a viewing platform with six designated spaces for wheelchair users. Access to the Theatre is from the rear of the Visitor Car Park or via a level access pathway from Park Place.  There is no direct access from the theatre to the Museum.