Eureka! The National Children's Museum

Welcome

Eureka! opened in 1992 in Halifax, right next to the train station. We're not like other museums. In Eureka! nothing is trapped inside a glass cabinet! As the UK's leading fully interactive museum totally dedicated to children aged 0-11 years, we love the weird and wonderful questions they ask and we know how to make learning fun for all.

Our galleries, including Spark, a new digital arts space showcasing art from all over the world, are on two floors accessible by lift. Eureka! is proud to include a Changing Places facility for use by any visitor to Halifax, not just the museum. We've lots of outdoor space to enjoy too, so come and see for yourselves!

Watch the video: Access All Areas at Eureka!

Exterior of the main Eureka! Museum building

Level access

The main entrance has level access.

There is level access from the main entrance to:

Ticket desk Changing Places facility Café Shop Changing Place facility Outside area

There is level access from the car park to:

Eureka! outdoor area

Hearing

We have a hearing loop in Admission Desk Till, Shop, Cafe, Information Desk and throughout the museum. A hearing loop map is available on request..

All staff have disability awareness training. Some staff have BSL training.

Visual

Glass doors have contrast markings.

The walls and the doors have high colour contrast.

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

We have display information in large print.

We have information in large print.

General

We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal assistants.

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors. The toilet is a Changing Places toilet.

All staff have disability awareness training.

We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

Getting here

Eureka! The National Children's Museum

Discovery Road

Halifax

West Yorkshire

HX1 2NE

Travel by public transport

You can get to Eureka! The National Children's Museum by bus and train.

We’re about 5 to 10 minutes' walk from Halifax Bus Station, which is serviced by regular local bus services. For details call Metroline: 0113 245 7676 or visit the Metro Website. The bus stop is 0.5 miles / 0.8 km from Eureka! The National Children's Museum.

The nearest train station is Halifax. The train station is 0.3 miles / 0.5 km from Eureka! The National Children's Museum.

Eureka! is right next door to Halifax railway station, served by regular trains from Bradford, Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester. For train times call National Rail Enquires on 08457 48 49 50 or visit the National Rail Website.

Travel by taxi

You can get a taxi with Premier Taxis by calling 01422 32 32 32. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

There is a taxi rank outside Halifax railway station.

Parking

We have a car park. There are accessible parking spaces. The parking is less than 50 metres from the main entrance. Parking is not free.

There is a drop-off point at the main entrance. The drop-off point has a dropped kerb.

From the car park to the entrance, there is level access. The route is 1920mm wide, or more.

If assistance is required on arrival at Eureka! please call us on 01422 330069 and one of our Enablers will help.

Watch the video: Accessibility at Eureka!

Our staff, called Enablers, are identifiable by their black uniforms and green name badges.

Arrival

Path to main entrance

From the street to the main entrance, there is level access.

The path is 1920mm wide, or more.

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.

The door is 770mm wide.

The main door is side hung and manual.

As a children's museum, we don't want to make our doors too easy for small children to open and escape! There is always an Enabler on hand at the entrance to give assistance where required.

Enablers are always on hand to open the doors if required.

The yellow brick road is level all the way to the main entrance.

Getting around inside

Visual Impairment - General Information

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

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

Lower lighting levels in our Spark Gallery (depending on current exhibition)

Lift

We have 1 lift.

You can get a lift to all floors.

Lift to first floor

The lift door is 1000mm wide.

The lift is 2000mm wide. The lift is 2320mm deep.

The lift buttons have raised numbers or letters.

The lift shows the floor number, at each floor.

Eureka! is on two floors, with a lift from ground to first floor level.

Ticket/ information desk

Ticket desk

From the main entrance to the desk, there is level access. The route is 6000mm wide, or more.

The desk has a low section.

Things to See and Do

We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal assistants.

We have performances with: British Sign Language interpreted and relaxed.

We have display information in: large print.

We have a designated quiet space.

Eureka!'s galleries are accessible for visitors with physical mobility difficulties, as well as sensory impairments. Light and sound levels vary throughout the museum. Ear defenders and a chill out room are available on request. Many exhibits have BSL interpretation and there is a hearing loop system in operation throughout the museum.

Public toilet

Changing Places facility

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

The toilet is a Changing Places toilet.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The route is 1520mm wide, or more.

The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the left and right.

The toilets have handrails.

Shop

From the main entrance to the shop, there is level access. The route is 1500mm wide, or more. The route through the shop is 800mm wide, or more.

Place to eat and drink

Café

From the main entrance to the dining area, there is level access. The route is 4000mm wide, or more. The door is 1710mm wide.

To get to a table, there are no steps.

If you need table service, staff can help you.

The route through the dining area is 800mm wide, or more.

There is no background music.

We cater for vegetarian, gluten free (celiacs), lactose free (dairy free), nut free and vegan specific diets.

If you have any allergies or dietary intolerances, please talk to a member of our Café team.

Changing Place facility

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 1710mm wide, or more.

The door is 1200mm wide.

Getting around outside

Outside area

From the main entrance to the gardens, there is level access.

The route is 1920mm wide, or more.

Eureka! has extensive outdoor space where families can play and enjoy their lunch. There is a grassed area, benches and a sandpit, not to mention a train where you can eat your sandwiches!

Picnic Area

Eureka! outdoor area

From the car park to the picnic area, there is level access. The path is 1920mm wide, or more.

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

Customer care support

Accessibility equipment

We provide wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are free.

We have a hearing loop in Admission Desk Till, Shop, Cafe, Information Desk and throughout the museum. A hearing loop map is available on request..

We provide a chill out space to de-escalate .

We provide ear defenders on loan.

For a list of more items, please go to https://www.eureka.org.uk/plan-your-visit/access-information/.

You can hire mobility equipment from Age UK , The Choices Centre 4-6 Woolshops, Halifax ,West Yorkshire HX1 1RJE- email : enquiries@ageukck.org.uk , www.ageuk.org.uk/calderdaleandkirklees by calling Tel : 01422 399 830 .

Emergency evacuation procedures

We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

Customer care support

All staff have disability awareness training.

Some staff have BSL training.

We have information in large print.

We will do our best to accommodate other formats. Just ask!

We have other services for people with accessibility requirements.

We have an online sensory guide to the museum to help visitors know what to expect.

As a children's museum, we provide 20 accessible activity clubs a year, which are free.

We offer an Extra Pair of Hands service - a trained member of staff to help plan a visit and support you for up to 2 hours on the day.

Watch the video: Online Sensory Guide to Eureka!