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Welcome

Didcot Railway Centre, situated in over 20 acres beside Didcot Parkway Station, is the living museum of the Great Western Railway. The Centre has developed around the original 1930s Engine Shed complex and houses a collection of locomotives, carriages, wagons, buildings and memorabilia.

There is an unavoidable flight of 18 steps to the entrance.

The Centre is 3/4 mile long and you should allow at least two hours to explore.  Didcot Railway Centre is a working museum so it is not always possible to make all parts and vehicles as accessible as we would like and our aim is to provide as much access as possible within those constraints.

Didcot Railway Centre

Level access

The main entrance has 18 steps and a handrail. There is no lift and no ramp.

There is level access from the main entrance to:

Engine ShedTransfer ShedThe Signalling CentreGWT MuseumAccessible ToiletRefreshment RoomShopPicnic Area
We have a viewing area for wheelchair users.

Access with steps

The main entrance has 18 steps and a handrail. There is no lift and no ramp.

There are steps from the main entrance to:

Carriage DisplayTicket Office

Hearing

We have a hearing loop in In the Shop.
Some staff have disability awareness training.

Visual

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

General

We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal assistants.
There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.
Some staff have disability awareness training.
We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

Getting here

Station Road
Didcot
OX11 7NJ

Travel by public transport

You can get to Didcot Railway Centre by bus and train.
Outside Didcot Parkway Station The bus stop is 0 miles / 0.0 km from Didcot Railway Centre.
The nearest train station is Didcot Parkway. The train station is 0 miles / 0.0 km from Didcot Railway Centre.

The entrance to Didcot Railway Centre is through the ticket hall and subway of Didcot Parkway railway station.

Once in Didcot Parkway Station there are ticket barriers at the entrance to the platforms. If the gates are closed there are always staff on duty who will, when asked, let visitors to and from the Railway Centre through the gates. When the gates are open visitors should walk through. Visitors arriving by train can walk straight to the Railway Centre without going through the ticket barriers.

Travel by taxi

You can get a taxi with Driving Miss Daisy Didcot by calling 07308 475489. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

Parking

There is parking near the venue. There are accessible parking spaces. Parking is not free.
There is a drop-off point at the main entrance. The drop-off point has a dropped kerb.
From the parking to the main entrance, there are 18 steps. There is no ramp and no lift.

The best place to park depends on the day of your visit. At weekends there is a pay & display car park opposite Didcot Parkway Station from which there is level access to the station. On weekdays visitors should use the main station car park (Didcot Foxhall) - see above. Full details are on our website.

In addition there are spaces for Blue Badge holders to the west of Didcot Parkway Station with level access to the station. Blue Badge holders must display their Blue Badge.  Disabled parking is free of charge.

Please note that the road signs direct you to the main multi story station car park, known as Didcot Foxhall. There is a step free route from the second floor of this car park to Didcot Parkway Station.

The main Didcot Parkway Station Car Park (Foxhall) has a ramp to Didcot Parkway Station.  The entrance to Didcot Railway Centre is through the ticket hall and subway of the station.  From the subway there is an unavoidable flight of 18 steps to Didcot Railway Centre's entrance.

Exit from the Foxhall Road car park Pay & Display machines in Foxhall Road Car Park View across the lift lobby to the ramp towards Didcot Parkway Station Looking towards Didcot Parkway Station Across the footbridge towards Didcot Parkway Station Looking down the ramp towards Didcot Parkway Station At the bottom of the ramp looking towards Didcot Parkway Station From the bottom of the ramp to Didcot Parkway Station Ticket barriers at Didcot Parkway Station. Visitors should ask station staff to let them through the barriers Didcot Parkway Station subway looking towards Didcot Railway Centre The subway to Didcot Railway Centre The steps to Didcot Railway Centre Blue Badge parking to the west of Didcot Parkway Station Blue Badge parking to the west of Didcot Parkway Station

Arrival

Path to main entrance

From the street to the main entrance, there are 18 steps. There is no ramp and no lift.

Main entrance

The main entrance has 18 steps.
This entrance has a handrail.
The entrance to Didcot Railway Centre The steps from Didcot Parkway Station The Stairclimber in use

Getting around inside

We have contrast markings on all glass doors and high colour contrast between walls and doorframes.

Ticket/ information desk

Ticket Office

The route is 5000mm wide, or more.
From the main entrance to this desk, there are 18 steps. There is no lift and no ramp.

Things to See and Do

We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal assistants.

Engine Shed

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 1300mm wide, or more. Some display information is low, for wheelchair users.

Didcot Railway Centre is an outdoor attraction and there are level paths to the major buildings - Engine Shed, Museum & Archive, Transfer Shed, The Signalling Centre, Science Learning & Railways Exhibition, Steam Rail Motor Shed, Refreshment Room, Shop and the stations. Most paths are concrete and some are compacted ash.

Carriage Display

The route is 1300mm wide, or more. From the main entrance to this area, there are 6 steps. There is no lift and no ramp.
Some display information is low, for wheelchair users.

Access to the Carriage Shed is through a small door with a step.

Transfer Shed

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 1300mm wide, or more. Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

The Signalling Centre

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 1300mm wide, or more. The door is 1650mm wide.
Some display information is low, for wheelchair users.

GWT Museum

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 800mm wide, or more. The door is 1200mm wide.
Some display information is low, for wheelchair users.

Spectator/ Audience viewing areas

We have a viewing area for wheelchair users.

Visitors can watch the trains from the Picnic Area

From the main entrance to the viewing area, there is level access. The route is 1300 wide, or more.

Public toilet

Accessible Toilet

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.
From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The route is 980mm wide, or more.
The toilet door is 980mm wide.
The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the right.
There is 770mm at the side of the toilet. There is 2300mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 450mm high. The toilets have handrails.
Accessible toilet

Shop

Shop

From the main entrance to the shop, there is level access. The route is 1000mm wide, or more. The door is 710mm wide.
The route through the shop is 800mm wide, or more.

Place to eat and drink

Refreshment Room

From the main entrance to the dining area, there is level access. The route is 1000mm wide, or more. The door is 1570mm wide.
To get to a table, there are no steps.
The dining area is self-service. The route through the dining area is 800mm wide, or more.
There is no background music.
The table and plates have high colour contrast.
We cater for sugar free (diabetic), vegetarian, gluten free (celiacs), lactose free (dairy free), nut free, low fat and vegan specific diets.

Picnic Area

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access.

The Picnic Area is situated inside the museum.

Some tables have space for wheelchair users. You can bring your own food to the Picnic Area.

There is also a children's Play Park in the Picnic Area. 

Getting around outside

Picnic Area

Some tables have space for wheelchair users. You can bring your own food to the picnic area.

There is level access to the Picnic Area once inside the Centre

Customer care support

We provide wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are free.
We have a hearing loop in In the Shop.

Emergency evacuation procedures

We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

Didcot Railway Centre is an outdoor site and there are two emergency evacuation areas within the Centre that are accessible to all users.

Customer care support

Some staff have disability awareness training.
We have other services for people with accessibility requirements.

We can provide guidesd tours to groups if booked in advance.

Guide info
Any information, comments and views made available to users via this Accessibility Guide are provided directly from third party business operators. VisitEngland and VisitScotland do not endorse or validate this information. Any reliance on this Accessibility Guide is at your own risk. This guide is not intended to be a substitute for users making their own checks, inquiries and investigations directly with the business operators prior to making any booking or visiting the venue.