Chiltern Open Air Museum is working
towards improving access and facilities |
We recognise that some visitors with individual needs may find access to our site and traditional buildings difficult. Concessionary rates are available for registered disabled visitors and carers can come in free.
The following information provides guidance on facilities and the best routes around the Museum. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Chiltern Conservation Board in awarding a grant to the Museum to improve access for all to our wonderful historic buildings and site. This grant has enabled the Museum to purchase new equipment and carry out some adaptations to existing facilities to enable visitors with individual needs to have better access to our exhibits. Full details are available at the Museum's Ticket Office or in advance by contacting the Museum Office on 01494 871117. |
Parking |
There are designated disabled parking spaces close to the Museum entrance. |
Vehicles |
Chiltern Open Air Musem operates a 'no vehicles on site' policy. However mobility aids, e.g. electric mobility scooters, are exempt from this policy. |
Wheelchair Loan / Electric Scotter Hire |
Adult manual wheelchairs are available for use by visitors on the Museum site. Users of this facility must have a carer to assist them. Pre-booking of this facility is advisable. The Museum now owns an electric scooter for hire by one visitor per day by prior arrangement. The facility is free of charge, although donations to the Museum are welcome. A security deposit is required while the scotter is on loan.Please ring the Museum Office on 01494 871117 for further details and to book the use of the scooter. |
Loop Systems |
Small portable loop systems are now installed at the Ticket Office, the Shop and the Cafe for use by visitors with hearing aids. On request, the Museum can provide a portable loop for use on guided tours around the Museum for one user with a hearing aid. Pre-booking of this latter facility is essential. |
Toilet Facilities |
Our historic toilet cubicles have been adapted as far as possible for use by disabled visitors in Caversham Public Convenience near the entrance to the site. Other toilet facilities are available in Haversham Granary at the far end of the site and a newly constructed toilet facility with disabled facilities in the Village Green area, midway through the site. |
Site Paths/Woodland Walk |
Chiltern Open Air Museum has a map with most suitable routes for wheelchair users, avoiding the steepest gradients. We regret that the Woodland Walk is not suitable for wheelchair use. The Museum has regraded and resurfaced some paths around the Iron Age House and the High Wycombe Furniture Factory to enable better wheel chair access. Our compact gravel paths are not ideal for wheelchairs and some paths can become very muddy in inclement weather. We repair our roads during the winter using traditional road stone and over the winter in 2008 some extensive repairs were carried out. However, it takes a few months for the larger stones to settle into the road and become compact. The site roads are regularly rolled to try to alleviate this problem. As a result of this, for the first few months of the year, regretably, the paths are very difficult for manual wheelchair to use in many places. Please ring the Museum for advice. |
Access Guides |
A portable Visitor's Folder providing text and picture information on buildings with limited access is available at the Ticket Office in clear or large print. This loan service is free of charge. The Museum also has six audio guides and three braille guides for visitors who find accessing the written word difficult. These guides offer short descriptions of all of the Museum buildings on show to the public and the landscape features on site. These guides are free of charge to use during your visit but we do require a deposit. We would advise you to pre-book this service. Further details and bookings can be obtained from the Museum Office on 01494 871117. |
Buildings |
Some of the Museum's historic buildings have limited access to visitors with mobility problems. However, the Museum has new temporary ramps for selected buildings to enable wheel chair access. These ramps will be available for use on request. Please ask at the ticket office on arrival and staff will ensure the ramps are put out ready for use. |
