Access information

Proud to be accessible for ALL visitors

If you or a member of your family has a disability, here’s lots of information to help you plan and prepare for your visit.

Read our full Accessibility Guide on the AccessAble website

  • Visit our online sensory guide to help you prepare for your visit!

  • Download The Eureka! Story (PDF) to help prepare for your visit.

  • Subscribe for SEN events and updates

    Eureka! will use your email address to provide updates and information about forthcoming events for disabled families.

     

We don’t charge admission for essential carers

Just choose the essential carer option when you pre-book your visit so we know you’re coming. This way we can limit the number of visitors in the museum to a safe level. Choose the Essential Carer option when you pre-book on the booking system, and remember to bring proof of your Carer status with you on the day.

Free admission with a Max Card

Max Card holders are entitled to free admission for 1 adult and 1 child per card issued!

Quieter times to visit

Quieter times to visit

Eureka! is generally quieter when the weather is good so if you want to visit during quieter periods, we suggest sunny weekends and the warmer school holidays such as Easter and May half term.

On term-time week days, we recommend visiting after 2pm as we are much quieter after schools groups have left. We’re open until 4pm, so you’ll still have two hours to explore.

Plus, of course, we limit visitor numbers for our SENdays.

Sunflower Lanyard Scheme 🌻

Sunflower Lanyard Scheme 🌻

We are part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme for people with hidden disabilities. Not all disabilities can be seen, so the scheme offers people with conditions such as autism, dementia or sensory impairment a way to be discreetly identifiable, just by wearing the lanyards...

Need some quiet time?

Need some quiet time?

Need some quiet time away from other visitors? Our Chill Out room is available for any disabled visitors who need some time away from the rest of our (sometimes busy) museum. Ask any member of our team for access...

Sensory conditions – Planning your visit

We know that many visitors with autism and other sensory conditions find it beneficial to prepare for their visit and have prior insight into the sensory input involved in a visit to Eureka!, that’s why we’ve created an online Sensory Guide – a practical guide for parents, teachers and children to read before visiting.

We know that it can get a bit overwhelming visiting Eureka!, especially when it’s really busy, so we’ve tried to come up with ways to help if it’s all getting a bit too much and you need some quiet time, including:

  • Ear defenders available to borrow – ask at the Information Desk
  • We have a Chill Out space available – ask any Enabler if you’d like to use it.

Download our PECS cards

Download our PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) cards to help prepare for and plan your visit. This document is in PDF format.

Eureka! PECS

Toilets and Changing Places

We have a Changing Places toilet on our ground floor and all access toilets on both floors.

  • Changing Places toilet on the Ground Floor: A changing facility with toilet, Robin tracking hoist with a maximum load of 200 kg, height adjustable changing bed and washbasin, privacy screens and enough space for two carers and a wheelchair user.
  • All-access toilets on both floors:
    • Ground Floor: Left-hand transfer space with vertical rails at the side of the toilet, a changing mat, low-level light switches, hook on back of door, lever taps and hand drier. This toilet has a RoomMate audio system for Blind and Visually Impaired visitors.
    • First Floor: Left-hand transfer space with vertical rails at the side of the toilet and low-level light switches, dual-level hooks, lever taps and paper towels.

 

Assistance Dogs

Assistance Dogs

Eureka! is Assistance Dog friendly! Just ask any member of the team if you’d like some water for your dog or to know where the nearest spend area is. Find out more on the Assistance Dogs UK website.... Read more

BlueAssist

BlueAssist

We support BlueAssist – designed to support visitors with communication problems. Our team have been trained in using the system so please show your BlueAssist cards or the BlueAssist App to any member of the team.... Read more

Info for visitors with…

  • Autism and other sensory conditions

    We’ve got a quiet space called our “chill out room” available for your use. It’s a calm, relaxed room with big cushions and other things to help you take some time out from the museum. Just ask any member of the team if you’d like to use the room. On the rare occasion that the chill out room is in use, we’ll find another quiet room for you to use.
    We also have ear defenders available for loan, sensory bags which contain a variety of different items to help support the experience of visitors with sensory needs, and PEC symbols.

  • Visual impairments

    Eureka! is full of multi-sensory exhibits, and our information leaflets and flyers are available in large print if required – just ask at the Info desk. The main entrance area is well lit with natural light, and there is level access with a lift between floors. RoomMate audio system available in our downstairs accessible toilet.

  • D/deaf & hard of hearing

    Induction loops – can be found at our admissions tills, shop, café, information desk, and throughout our galleries. We also have BSL interpreted & subtitles videos around the museum. We welcome phone calls from Relay UK.

  • Wheelchair users or with mobility difficulties

    There are dedicated parking spaces for disabled visitors about 50m from our main entrance. If you’d like some assistance on arrival, please ask any member of the team by calling 01422 330069.
    We’ve got a number of wheelchairs available to borrow while you visit – just ask when you arrive or call ahead on the number provided above. Access at the main entrance to the museum is completely level, we have a low-level counter at our admissions desk, and a lift between floors. We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

Relaxed SENDays

Relaxed SENDays

We run 'relaxed' SENDays on various dates throughout the year for disabled visitors and their families.

We heavily restrict ticket availability on these days, so our galleries will be much less busy than usual.

We want these days to work around you! Which is why - although we do ask you to select an arrival time - we are flexible if you happen to get here a little earlier or later than your slot.

Our whole team are trained in disability awareness, and we really want you all to have a great day out. Upcoming Relaxed SENDay: Sunday 18th May... Read more

Sensory Bags

Sensory Bags

Eureka! have 4 sensory bags available to use during visits to the museum. The bags contain a variety of different items to help support the experience of visitors with sensory needs.

They are available for family or school visitors to use. Each backpack contains: Ear defenders, Fidget toys, Storybook, Emotions fan, 10 & 5 minute sand timers, Puppet to show around the museum, Magnifying glass, Map of the museum with key access areas highlighted & PECS museum guide, ‘Today I will visit’ PECS planning board.

The bags are free to borrow on a first come first served basis and you can sign them out at the museums information desk. To reserve a bag, please email bookings@eureka.org.uk or call 01422 330012 a minimum of 48 hours before...

If there is any way that we can support your visit, please don’t hesitate to ask any member of our team.

Eureka! The National Children’s Museum
Discovery Road, Halifax HX1 2NE. Map