Accessibility – National Waterfront Museum

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

There are three entrances to the museum. Each entrance leads to the main building foyer. All have step free access with automatic or push-button doors.

These entrances are:

• Cityside Entrance (What3Words - anyone.simply.lions)
• Colonnade Entrance (What3Words - maple.tolls.neck)
• Marina Entrance (What3Words - behind.ship.prices)

Quiet Times 

The Museum can sometimes be crowded and noisy. The quietest times to visit the Museum are usually from 3pm. All of our galleries close at 4.45pm and the museum closes at 5pm.

Quiet areas 

A quiet room is available to use on the ground floor next to the lifts in the foyer. This room is open to visitors who would like to spend some quiet time away from the gallery environment.

There is also a comfortable reading/seating area on the upper floor in the Achievers gallery.

Lighting and temperature 

The museum uses light and sound to tell stories. Each gallery you walk into will have different types and colours of light. 

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 uneven floors outside in the GRAFT garden; please take care in these areas.

Borrow a wheelchair 

Wheelchairs can be borrowed from the Welcome 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. Visual fire alarms with flashing lights are also in operation.

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. There are signs indicating the location and operating instructions of all lifts. Museum staff are nearby to help.

Ground Floor      
Welcome desk       
Main Hall        
Museum Gift Shop       
Museum Café       
Quiet room       
New Gallery        
Made in Wales Gallery        
Colonnade Gallery        
GRAFT Garden       
Accessible Toilets       
Changing Places      
Upper Floor       
Red Wall Gallery      
White Wall Gallery 
Warehouse Gallery 
Achievers Gallery 
Reading Corner 
Play Area 
Accessible Toilets

If you would like to hire some of our spaces for a special or private event, please take a look at our Venue Hire pages for more information.

Accessible Toilets

Toilets can be found on the ground floor and upper floor. Accessible toilets are on both floors at the same locations. Doors and hand dryers are noisy in these areas.

Ground floor toilets can be found next to the cafe area. There are more toilets located in the Achiever’s gallery, on the upper floor.

Baby changing facilities

There are baby changing facilities available on both the ground and upper floors, located alongside the toilets. 

Changing Places

In addition to our accessible toilets we do have Changing Places facilities on the ground floor next to the Networks gallery, near the staircase. Our changing place is equipped with a shower, adjustable height sink, bed and facilities for a hoist. Ask for a Radar key at the main reception desk in the foyer.

Find other Changing Places locations. 

Seating

There are some seats in some of the galleries, public spaces, café and in the GRAFT garden. 

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

Enhanced Sounds

In some of our galleries there will be sounds of industry, people talking and more. Look out for the eye and nose symbols in the visual story for all these locations.

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 café.

Hearing Loops

Induction loops are provided at the Welcome Desk, shop, and café counters. All induction loops operate on the 'T' setting. Switch your hearing aid to activate.

Sensory backpacks

A limited number of sensory backpacks are available to borrow for free from the Welcome Desk. These are designed as a fun way to help visitors explore the Museum. The backpacks contain:
Sound cancelling headphones 
Fidget toys 
Torch 
Magnifying glass 
Sensory Map

Sensory Map

Sensory Map and backpack from Welcome Desk. You can use this sensory map to identify sensory-friendly spaces in the Museum. Please keep in mind that, as the Museum’s building and exhibitions change regularly, parts of this map may not be up to date on the day of your visit.

Quiet hours

Join us for our monthly relaxed quiet hour which is always on a Sunday between 3 -4pm for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum. To find out more information and details of our next relaxed quiet hour please see our What’s On page.