Accessibility for Groups - St Fagans National History Museum

All groups need to book in advance. When making a group booking, please make us aware of any additional access or learning needs your group may have. 

Please use the Visual story: A visit to St Fagans to plan your visit.

You can also Explore St Fagans in 360° help prepare learners for their visit.

Additional learning needs 

  • For advanced bookings we can create a more flexible timetable and arrange use of a separate sandwich room space where possible.

  • If you are concerned about light levels and sounds, please get in touch and we can discuss what could be possible.

  • The historic buildings can be very dark, with low ceilings and lit fires. We can make some adaptions during a session to support sensory requirements. For example, request to not have the fire lit in Bryn Eryr Iron age roundhouse while your workshop is taking place.

  • We can adapt the content or delivery of a workshop or activity on request. 

  • Please contact us to discuss your requirements and any adaptions to support your learners.

  • You can purchase a site map from the reception desk which includes information on accessible routes. 

  • There are also large-scale site plans at key points around the Museum.

  • If you prefer to visit when we’re less crowded, there are usually fewer people in the museum from 3pm each day.

Video welcome call

We can arrange a short video welcome call for your learners with a member of our learning team. This will give learners the chance to ask questions and help reduce any anxiety they may have about the visit.

Virtual visits

We also offer a number of free virtual visits, which your learners could take part in before or after visiting the Museum. Typically, these last 45mins to an hour – but we can adapt them on request. 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 & BSL.

Visitors with limited mobility and wheelchair and pushchair users

  • Dedicated parking spaces for disabled visitors are provided adjacent to the main entrance.

  • Wheelchairs available on request, free of charge provided on a first come first served basis.

  • Wheelchair access is possible to most parts of the site. However, due to the historic nature of some of the buildings, some access may be difficult. 

  • Please speak to a member of the booking team if you have any questions about accessing the buildings. You can find more information about the historic buildings here: The Site | Museum Wales

  • The terrain on the Castle side of the Museum is steep in places and may prove difficult for some wheelchair users and their helpers. A map clearly displaying a suggested path for wheelchair users, and identifying steep gradients, is available. Visitors can also request to book the buggy, driven by a member of the museum team-which can drop them off by the Italian gardens. The buggy needs to be booked two weeks in advance and can sit 5-6 people. Please contact the museum switchboard to book.

  • The food outlets, Y Gegin and Y Gweithdy are accessible to wheelchair users.

Blind and partially sighted visitors

  • One of the pleasures of visiting St Fagans is experiencing the sounds and smells on such a varied site, from fresh bread being baked and wood fires burning to the sounds and smells of our farm animals.

  • Most buildings are staffed and in addition many crafts and demonstrations are displayed on site. Our staff will be happy to explain the techniques and skills involved.

  • Some parts of the site may present orientation difficulties to visually impaired people, such as the stream and ponds. Advice can be sought at Information desk in the entrance hall before going out on site.

  • Members of our team have experience in delivering audio described tours and guiding blind and visually impaired people. Please request on booking.

  • Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing visitors

  • The Gallery has a good standard of written material to support the collections. 

  • Many of our staff have basic deaf awareness training. 

  • We have BSL video content for our virtual visits some of which can be used to introduce our in-person sessions.

  • All the buildings have information boards located outside them.

  • Portable audio loops are available at the learning desk and in the Studios - can be taken into workshop spaces.

Dementia awareness

  • Many of our staff have received Dementia Friendly training. 

  • Dementia friendly tours can be arranged in advance for groups.

Dogs

  • St Fagans National Museum of History is happy to welcome trained assistance dogs, but we do not allow any other animals into the galleries, historic houses, or the cafés.

  • Dogs are allowed in all other areas but must be kept on short leads at all times.

  • Water bowls are provided at the museum entrance and by the cafés.

  • ‘Pooper-scoopers’ are available on entering the Museum and we appreciate your co-operation in keeping the Museum clean and safe.

  • There are two dog waste bins around site. 

Toilets and Changing Places Unit

  • There is a disabled toilet at the Weston Centre for Learning and there is a toilet block, with a disabled toilet next to the Prefab building, no. 45 on site map.

  • There are two 'Changing Places’ facilities available including one with an electronic bed and hoist in addition to the toilet and other facilities there. One is on the ground floor of the main building next to the café and another in the Gweithdy building.

  • Please ask for a Radar key at the main reception desk in the Foyer. Visitors advised to bring their own hoist.

  • Please see the Visual story St Fagans (museum.wales) for further information to plan your visit.