Accessibility for Groups - National Museum Cardiff

Where possible group bookings should be made 2 weeks in advance. When making a group booking, please make us aware of any additional access or learning needs your group may have.

Additional Learning Needs

For advanced bookings we can create a more flexible timetable and adapt the content and delivery of a workshop.

Virtual visits

We offer a number of free virtual visits which your learners could take part in before or after visiting the museum.  Typically these last 45 minutes to an hour.  They give learners the opportunity to zoom in on museum treasures and engage in thought provoking discussions with museum staff.  All sessions are supported with relevant digital resources and pre-recorded content in Welsh English and BSL.

Visitors with limited mobility and wheelchair and pushchair users

  • Coaches can drop and collect groups outside the front entrance of the museum. 

  • There are designated parking bays for Blue Badge holders 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 exit barrier to verify your blue badge permit.  

  • If you’re unable to use the steps to access the museum, please use the accessible walkway at the front of the building.

  • Once inside there is wheelchair access to all galleries. 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.

  • Four wheelchairs and six mobile seating sticks are available on loan from the Information desk on request. These are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.

  • A variety of seating is available throughout the Museum.

  • Please be aware that there are uneven floor levels throughout the Evolution of Wales exhibition and in some of the Natural History galleries; please take care in these areas.

  • The Museum Shop, Coffee Shop and Oriel Restaurant are accessible to wheelchair users.

Blind and partially sighted visitors

  • Audio Described tours for groups will be listed in the ‘What’s On’ section of the website.

  • In the Evolution of Wales, Natural History and Man and the Environment galleries some of the visual exhibits incorporate audio material.

  • There is a wooden freestanding tactile exhibit in the woodland section of the Natural History galleries.

  • Sometimes there are Explore Volunteers with Object Handling Trolleys in our galleries. You can ask at the front desk if there is a handling trolley open during your visit. 

  • Some of the learning team have Vocaleyes training. You can request a trained member of staff for your school group.

d/Deaf visitors

  • An Induction Loop is provided in the Evolution of Wales gallery, the Information desk, Shop, Restaurant and Coffee Shop counters and in the Reardon Smith Theatre. 

  • A mobile induction loop is available for use in the meeting and learning rooms.

  • Most galleries and exhibits have a good standard of written material to support the collections.

  • Some of our learning team have basic BSL. You can request a trained member of staff for your school group.

Dementia awareness

Many of our staff have received Dementia Friendly training.

Dogs

  • Only assistance dogs are allowed on site.

  • Drinking water is available on request from the Oriel Restaurant or Coffee Shop.

  • Dogs must leave the premises to relieve themselves and staff will assist in identifying a suitable area.

Toilets and Changing Place

  • Disabled access toilets are next to the restaurant on the lower floor (Level 1) and Gallery 21

  • There is an adaptive toilet ‘Changing Place’ with a hoist available. Please speak to the Museum Assistants.