Access

The Long Shop Museum is largely housed in 19th century buildings that are Grade II and Grade II* listed. While this presents some challenges to the provision of equitable access, we are determined to continue to improve in this regard.

The information provided below will hopefully help you to plan for your visit, and to help to make it more enjoyable. This page will be updated as we continue to make improvements.

The museum can be approached over well-made roads and walkways (Main Street) and is accessed via large double gates.

If arriving by car, the car park is reached by following the gravel driveway up and to the right, once you're through the gates. Once parked, walk back down the slope to the entrance to the Community Hub, on your left.
If on foot, walk through the gates, up the driveway and follow it round to the right, the entrance will be on your right.

Access to the Community Hub is via steps and a curved ramp that is suitable for pushchairs, wheelchairs and mobility scooters, etc. The Reception desk, Museum Shop, and refreshments facilities are all housed in the Community Hub

All of the ground floor areas of the museum are accessible via step-free thresholds and, in the main, the floors are firm, even and smooth. The exception to this is the centre of the floor of the Long Shop. This retains a historical feature - a floor made of end grain wooden blocks. These are smoother than cobbles, for example, but can feel slightly uneven underfoot.

The Long Shop Gallery can only be reached by a steep wooden staircase with higher risers than are normal in modern flights of stairs. We are working on a number of ways to make the Gallery exhibits more accessible to those for whom the stairs are a barrier.

The museum currently has three lavatories available - all are on the ground floor and offer step-free access.
All are individual cubicle, gender-neutral, toilets with hand-wash facilities.
All cubicles have sufficient space for at least two people (accommodating a parent or carer), and one has full wheelchair access rails with transfer from the right as you face the toilet.
Two of the toilets have secure surfaces that can be used for baby changing, or for other requirements where a visitor may need to place items on a clean flat surface (anti-bacterial wipes are provided).
These facilities are clearly indicated on the doors of each of the three toilets.
All toilets have sanitary disposal bags and bins, and a supply of products to help cope with the odd leak.