Accessible Britain

Families are particularly well served here, with five excellent “family trails” available
to help younger visitors explore the different galleries and engage with their contents,
(check the website for regular family events). Along the way, kids can build an igloo or
visit the Arctic Story Corner, crawl through a tunnel beneath a replica of an old oak
tree, see a full-size woolly rhinoceros, watch bees at work in their hive, look out for the
recreated butcher’s shop, create their own music, and much more besides. There’s plenty
to command adults’ attention, too, from Anglo-Saxon burial offerings to World War II
relics from Sheffield. Perhaps the most evocative exhibits are the personal stories and
mementos in the Sheffield Life and Times gallery.
For tips on getting to Weston Park, check the helpful website in advance. There are
six Blue Badge spaces and regular street parking on Mushroom Lane, to the side of the
museum, around twenty or thirty yards from the entrance, though be prepared for a
fairly steep gradient and a poor surface. The beautiful listed building that houses the
museum is now fully accessible. The galleries and the café are all on the ground floor
(along with three accessible toilets), and there’s lift access up to the first-floor activity
rooms and picnic area (where there’s another accessible toilet). In addition, many of
the interactive exhibits are at a low level, within easy reach of children and wheelchair
users, and there are wheelchairs available to borrow. A number of the exhibits have
audio displays, and some one-off talks and events are BSL-interpreted. Some of the
signage is in Braille (phone in advance to request information in Braille) and there are
large-print information folders in each gallery. Outside, the pretty grounds are served
by smooth-surfaced paths and plenty of benches.
FOOD & DRINK aa The on-site café is spacious, light and airy, with moveable seating, and
provides a wide range of light meals, including plenty of children’s options. There’s
also an indoor picnic area on the first floor (available at weekends and during school
holidays), or you can picnic in the grounds.
Museums Sheffield: Weston Park
THE NORTHEAST AND YORKSHIRE
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