Date of Visit
26 March 2011
The needs apply to:
Myself, a manual wheelchair user with good upper body strength
Particular Needs Satisfaction Rating
| Automatic doors | Fully Satisfied |
| Disabled/Parent & Child parking bays with transfer areas | Fully Satisfied |
| Doors and aisles wider than 70cm (28in) | Fully Satisfied |
| Enough disabled parking near entrance to ensure at least one vacant space | Fully Satisfied |
| Level or ramped access into and throughout the building | Fully Satisfied |
| Drier or towels adjacent to wash basin | Fully Satisfied |
| Outward opening door in toilet cubicle | Fully Satisfied |
| Space for assistant in toilet cubicle | Fully Satisfied |
| Space to turn wheelchair around in toilet cubicle | Fully Satisfied |
| Wheelchair accessible toilet facilities | Fully Satisfied |
| Low level counters | Partially Satisfied |
| Under table clearance over 70cm (28in) | Fully Satisfied |
Additional Comments
One of the most accessible and enjoyable leisure attractions I have visited in the UK for a long time. The museum is housed in 4 large hangars and other buildings spread out over this airfield, which dates back to the days of World War One. However, every entrance was accessible with an appropriate ramp and several had automatic doors.
There was a road train which carried passengers between the hangars, which had a ramped-access carriage to carry a wheelchair user. I didn’t use it as the weather was fine and the tarmac and paved routes between the exhibit locations was flat enough for me to push myself around. In addition to this, there were several disabled parking bays outside each main hangar.
Within each hangar, there were accessible toilet facilities, and it was possible to get up close to all aircraft including the highlight, Concorde, although sadly, it wasn’t possible to to get into that aircraft which was only accessible via steps.
I strongly recommend this museum for a visit.
