Facilities and accessibility

General information

• Museum staff will be happy to help if you need assistance during your visit
• Maps of the museum, including large print versions, are available at the entrance
• Seating is available throughout Great Hall, Station Hall and South Yard
• Our busiest times are at weekends and during school holidays—see full opening times and dates
• For detailed information about accessibility before you visit, please see our AccessAble pages for Great Hall and Station Hall

Accessible parking

Accessible parking for blue badge holders is available free of charge outside our main entrance (nearest the railway station).

Find out more about getting here and parking.

Toilets, baby changing and accessible changing

Toilets are located in Station Hall, Great Hall, the Works balcony and the entrance by our car park.

Baby changing facilities are available—find out more about visiting with babies and small children. 

Limited accessible changing facilities are available. If possible, please contact us in advance to arrange access or, alternatively, please speak to a member of staff on the day.

Wheelchair access

Wheelchairs are available free of charge at the entrance. We have both ‘big wheel’ user-operable wheelchairs and small-wheeled push chairs. If you require a wheelchair we will ask you to leave a form of identification with us which we will return to you at the end of your visit.

Accessible toilets are available in Station Hall and Great Hall.

All areas of the museum have step-free access by lifts or ramps. Station Hall has some level changes which are connected by ramps.

Hidden disabilities

We welcome and support visitors who choose to wear a Sunflower item as part of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme. Please note that we do not provide Sunflower items. Find out more about the scheme on the Hidden Disabilities website.

Access to locomotive cabs

Locomotive cabs are only accessible by a short set of steps. Shinkansen and the Chinese Locomotive can be viewed close-up via a wheelchair-accessible ramp.

There is no step-free access to any carriage. The Pullman carriage in Station Hall is accessed by one step approximately 15cm in height.

Find out more about vehicles and cabs you can access.

Assistance dogs

Assistance dogs are welcome at the museum, but pet dogs are not allowed.

Blind and partially sighted visitors

Large-print and braille versions of our map are available from the reception desk at the entrance.

Deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors

A fixed hearing loop is available at the reception desk at the entrance.

Bag storage

A limited number of lockers are available at the entrance to Station Hall for use during your visit to the museum.

Small lockers

• Dimensions: 45cm wide, 45cm deep, 58cm tall
• Cost: £3 (non-refundable)

Please note these lockers only take one £2 coin and one £1 coin.

Large lockers

• Dimensions: 95cm deep, 45cm wide, 100cm tall (ideal for suitcases)
• Cost: £4 (non-refundable)

Please note these lockers require two £2 coins to operate.

If you need change, our staff at the nearby reception desks will be happy to help.