Accessibility – National Slate Museum

Baby changing facilities

  • Baby changing facilities are provided in both the ladies and gents toilets, located in the cafe building. Please ask if assistance is required with the doors.

Visitors with limited mobility and wheelchair and pushchair users

  • There are designated disabled parking bays located in Padarn Country Park. This is a pay and display car park therefore blue badges should be displayed. There is free parking for buses.

  • From the car park there are flat paved routes into the museum which can easily be used by all visitors.

  • Entrance to the museum for wheelchair users and those with pushchairs is via the shop.

  • A wheelchair is available on request in the shop. The chair is allocated on a first come first served basis and cannot be pre-booked, although any advanced requests will be considered.

  • Seating is available at various locations throughout the museum. Please ask any member of staff if you require seating at any other location.

  • Both the shop and the café are accessible to wheelchair users.

  • Toilets for the disabled are available in the cafe building.

There is wheelchair access, suitable for unaccompanied wheelchair users to most parts of the museum, along slate paving and shingle paths. This includes the waterwheel to the rear of the museum which can be accessed by lift.

However, due to the nature of the museum buildings some areas may require extra assistance:-

  • Railway tracks run throughout the site and may cause difficulty if visitors leave the official pathways. Please ask for assistance.

  • Unfortunately the only access to the pattern loft currently is via a steep stairway therefore wheelchair users cannot access it.

  • The pathway narrows slightly in the smithy making it impossible for a wheelchair to use the normal pathway. Please ask a member of staff to assist with opening the barriers to allow access.

  • There is a slight gradient to reach the houses and unaccompanied wheelchair users may need staff assistance. The nature and historical correctness of these houses makes access by most wheelchairs difficult. Please contact a member of staff if you have any problems.

Blind and partially sighted visitors

  • One of the great joys of visiting an industrial site such as the National Slate Museum is the experience of the noises and smells of the exhibits and demonstrations. Few objects are in glass cases. Museum Assistants and craftsmen are happy to allow visitors the opportunity to touch and handle the exhibits to give a full explanation of their role.

  • Handling sessions which include museum artefacts are available by arrangement with the Learning Manager.

  • Large print guide books are available free on loan. Please ask at the entrance.

Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing visitors

  • Video presentations can be seen throughout the museum.

  • Induction loops are available and headsets can be worn in the film theatre.

Additional learning needs

  • If you prefer to visit when we’re less crowded, there are usually fewer people in the museum before 11am each day.

Dogs

  • The National Slate Museum is happy to welcome trained assistance dogs, but we do not allow any other animals into the film theatre, galleries, historic houses, slate splitting demonstration, or the café.

  • 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.