Accessibility

Information About the Museum’s Accessibility

The Weald & Downland Living Museum is a large 40 acre site that showcases its historic buildings in-keeping with the time periods they represent. Some of the historic buildings are not fully accessible to all visitors.

To create an authentic atmosphere at the Museum, the paths around the site vary in materials and are uneven by nature. The centre of the Museum site is mainly flat with parts set on sloping ground, which is steep in places.

Access around the site is on rural surfaces; mainly rolled or loose chippings, which are in keeping with the nature of the site and buildings. Some paths are cobbled and their surfaces may cause difficulty for visitors who use a wheelchair or have impaired mobility.

Download or view a Museum map (PDF, 1.5Mb) – the red line marks our accessible route.

Accessible Parking

There is limited waiting space immediately outside our main visitor entrance, at which people with accessibility needs may depart or enter vehicles. Vehicles must then be moved to the main car park where disabled parking is available.

Our disabled parking spaces in our main car park are marked with boards to highlight spaces. We do not have lines marking bays to help allow accessibility to vehicles parked in this area.

We also have disabled parking bays in our lower grass car park field, which are located in the area closest to the entrance kiosk. Please note these are on a grass surface, so not as suitable for wheelchair access. We would recommend the main car park for visitors who need wheelchair or mobility scooter access to the Museum.

Level Access

From the main car park disabled parking area, there is a zebra crossing areas to take you across to the flat resin footpath that takes you to the visitor centre entrance.

The Museum café, admissions desk, gift shop and visitor centre are modern buildings with level access thresholds and automatic doors. There is an accessible toilet situated in the café building.

Beyond the visitor centre there are unmade paths around the Museum site, which are steep in places. From the Market Square, there is level access through our crafts and industries area, and beyond to many of the buildings and houses in our collection. Please refer to the Museum map for the red accessible route – you will be given a copy of the map upon arrival at the ticket office.

Disabled and Carer Admission Ticket

As a rural open air museum that showcases its historic buildings in-keeping with the time periods they represent, we understand that historical authenticity and access for all can be difficult. As some visitors may find they can only visit 50% of the Museum site, we provide a discounted disabled and carer ticket, which offers an approximate 50% discount on our standard entry ticket along with a free carer. This ticket is available to our visitors who feel their disability will affect their ability to explore the whole site during their visit.

Accessible Information

We have a wonderful team of volunteers who support the Museum by providing information to visitors in and around our historic buildings. They are happy to chat with our visitors and answer any questions about the exhibits. We also have folders available in our buildings which are not fully accessible so that our visitors can read information and see pictures of inside buildings with limited accessibility.

Wheelchair Users

As wheelchairs are not always practical at the Museum, we do not offer a wheelchair hire service.

We suggest that, if possible, visitors use wheelchairs with wide tyres as this makes access around the Museum easier and smoother. The use of a powered wheelchair or four-wheeled mobility scooter will enable access to the majority of the open areas of the site.

Assistance Dogs

The Museum welcomes assistance dogs around the Museum. As a dog friendly attraction we make provisions for dogs when visiting the Museum, including water bowls around the 40 acre site for them to take a well-deserved drink.

Accessible Toilets

The Museum has accessible toilets located at:

• The Museum café (A3)
• Next to Reigate House Extension (M8)
• Behind Longport Farmhouse (D3)

Baby Changing

The Museum has baby changing facilities at:

• The Museum café (A3)
• Next to Reigate House Extension (M8)

We appreciate that finding a balance between historical authenticity and access for all can be testing. We welcome your feedback on how your visit went, as this can help us to further improve our Museum for all to explore. Contact us at office@wealddown.co.uk