Accessibility

The REME Museum strives to be as accessible as possible for everyone. Find information about accessible facilities and resources across the site to help you plan your visit.

You can also download a full Accessibility Guide Document (docx, 2.4 MB), produced using VisitEngland’s template.

The video below is a virtual walk-through of the museum with an audio-descriptive narration.

General Information

Tickets

We offer concessionary entry for disabled visitors, priced at £7.50. Carers or companions are entitled to entry free of charge. For more ticket prices, please see our Admissions page.

Getting here

You can get to the museum on foot, by car or via public transport. Find full information, map and directions on our Getting Here page.

We have a large, free car park immediately adjacent to the museum with accessible Blue Badge spaces close to the entrance (approx. 10 metres), as well as dedicated minibus and coach parking. There is also a drop-off point at the main entrance with a dropped kerb.

The bus stop closest to the museum is MOD Lyneham Main Gate, located on the A3102, less than 350 meters from the Museum’s entrance. There are paved paths and marked road crossings all the way to the museum entrance. We recommend contacting the bus company (Stagecoach) if you have questions regarding accessibility on the bus route.

Level access

All museum facilities are on one level with the main entrance providing no-step entry.

All our public areas are on one level and there's plenty of space to manoeuvre in our display areas.

Please be aware, however, that our 'Dig for Victory' Garden does not currently have step-free access. The route to the garden passes through the café and is level until the threshold of the café door to the outside area - this is navigable by wheelchair users but may require some assistance. The double doors can be opened fully on request to make enough space. On event days an additional entrance is usually open via the Education Suite which has full level access. Please let us know if you experience any issues and we will do our best to assist you.

Accessible toilets

The museum has two accessible public toilets, available to any visitor who needs to use the facilities. One is located by the galleries exit and another near the café. You do not need to ask a staff member if you need to use the facilities, but we're always happy to help if you need us.

Visiting with a young family? Please take a look at our family facilities, which are located in several of our toilet spaces including accessible toilets.

Borrow a wheelchair

A non-motorised wheelchair can be borrowed for the duration of your visit. We ask that you please contact us to reserve this during your trip, free of charge, to ensure it will be available.

Seating

Seating is available in each of the museum’s galleries. Look out for the red and grey or navy blue benches dotted throughout, as well as interactive seats like the Volkswagen Beetle bench in our World War Two Gallery.

Volunteers

We have a number of volunteers who are on hand in our galleries, many veterans of REME or other British Army units. They are more than happy to explain interpretive panels, add more information or simply answer any questions you have during your visit.

Though our volunteer programme is growing, volunteers are not guaranteed to be available. If you would like to ensure a volunteer is onsite during your visit, please contact us and we will try our best to arrange this.

First Aid

Our staff are trained in First Aid and have access to several First Aid kits around the museum building.

A defibrillator in a white box mounted on the wall in a corridor.

We also have a defibrillator, located in the main corridor between the Reception and Crown's Cafe, which is available for use by any member of the public whether you are visiting us or not.

Our First Aid kits include First Responder Communication Fans which include both drawings/symbols and descriptive words for emergency situations. These can be used by our staff with non-verbal individuals and small children to help them to express either how they are feeling emotionally or how their sensory environment is affecting them.

If you require First Aid for any reason during your visit, please find a member of staff who will be happy to assist you.

Our staff will be able to dial 999 for you in the case of an emergency, but if you need to locate your position to emergency respondents, the main entrance to the museum is located at ///cake.shifters.hypocrite on what3words.

Cafe

Crown's Café has level access to most tables, although there is one raised seating area that does not have ramp access.

The café is counter service, but a member of staff will be happy to provide table service if you require. We cater for vegetarian, gluten free (celiac), lactose free (dairy free), nut free, low sodium and no gastric content specific diets. All specific diets can be catered for, we ask that you please notify us at least 48 hours prior to the day of your visit.

There is usually no background music at any time in the café.

Sensory Information

Our galleries were designed with the aim of creating an atmosphere where audio-visual features add to the overall experience, however we are aware that some visitors may find loud noises, bright lights or unexpected sensory input to be overwhelming.

You may wish to prepare for your visit by taking a look at our Sensory Map (pdf, 3.3MB).

You are welcome to bring any sensory items with you during your visit, including but not limited to ear defenders, magnifying glass, book, fidget toys etc.

Soundscape

Some parts of the museum’s displays feature a soundscape played over speakers, including voices, engines and the sound of engineering work.

If you have concerns about noises playing through speakers, please contact us prior to your visit or let one of our Reception staff know on arrival. We can help to turn the volume down and/or provide information on where to expect louder noises.

Audio-visual interactives

We have a number of interactives that play audio through a handheld device attached physically to the interactive. Most play in combination with a visual element, including films on televisions and imagery on tablets.

Unfortunately, we do not yet have audio description for these films.

Some films include subtitles, but not all. We are working to improve this.

Hearing loop

An assistive hearing loop is installed throughout the eight main exhibition galleries, servicing the interactive, audio-visual elements of the display. The temporary exhibition does not currently have a hearing loop installed.

A yellow and blue hearing loop sticker on a wall next to a tv screen with subtitles showing at the bottom.

The hearing loop is clearly marked out where you can use it for each audio-visual interactive.

Lighting and visual environment

Some parts of the museum’s displays have low 'mood' lighting, please be careful and take your time in these areas. Contact us if you would like to arrange a 'lights on' visit.

Glass doors have contrast markings and walls and doors have high colour contrast.

Mannequins

The museum uses a small number of static mannequins/mannequin parts to visualise uniforms and concepts within the gallery spaces. None of the mannequins in our galleries have facial features, though some may have contours to represent the facial form. This includes two torsos in the Trades Gallery, two heads in different cases in the Around the World Gallery, and three full-height mannequins and three torsos in the REME Relaxed Gallery. Our Reserves display case in the Soldier First Gallery and our Temporary Exhibition space may both from time-to-time feature a torso and/or full height mannequin dependent on the subject. In addition, a further mannequin is regularly displayed near to our Reception area with life-like facial features, dressed as a World War Two soldier.

Please get in touch if you have any concerns.

How can we help?

If you have any questions, concerns or recommendations regarding accessibility, please do contact us:

Call us: 01249 894869

Email us: [email protected]

Please call during our opening hours, you will reach a member of Reception staff. All Reception staff have been briefed on our accessibility information. If they are unable to answer your question directly, they will forward your call to a member of staff who can, or take your details and arrange to contact you at an agreed time. The above email address directly reaches our Operations Manager, who will get back to you as soon as possible.

Full contact details can be found on our Contact Us page.

Customer Care

We are more than happy to help and are always looking to improve where we can.

Some staff have disability awareness training. We are looking to train Reception Staff in British Sign Language. In the meantime, we have a greetings sheet to ensure our staff are able to offer d/Deaf visitors a friendly welcome into the museum.

Let us know if there are any other ways we can accommodate your needs!