Accessibility IWM North

We are committed to ensuring IWM North is accessible to all visitors, and hope the facilities we have introduced enhance your visit.

If you have any queries or need any assistance on site, please ask. We will be more than happy to help you.

General information

16 designated parking bays for people with disabilities. Please note charges apply to all parking.
Accessible toilets and baby changing facilities are on the ground floor.
Seating is available throughout the building.
Please be aware that the building has been designed to encourage visitors to consider the confusion experienced during conflict. As a result, the floor of the main exhibition area has a gentle slope and visitors with mobility issues may wish to take extra care in this area. There are also different lighting levels over two floors.
On the hour, every hour our 360 degree Big Picture Show is projected onto the walls of our Main Exhibition Space. Please be aware that at this time the exhibition space will go dark and there will be loud noises and flashing images. The shows last for 10 minutes.

For wheelchair users and people with impaired mobility

IWM North is fully accessible by wheelchair. Six manual wheelchairs are available for loan on a first come first served basis. These are provided free of charge (subject to availability).
Lifts to all floors.

For blind and partially sighted visitors

Large print transcripts of exhibition interpretation for the Main Exhibitions Space can be found next to the display cases and at the entrance of the Special Exhibitions Gallery.

For deaf and hearing impaired visitors

Subtitles are shown on all audio-visual presentations, including the Big Picture Show.
Induction loop systems are in place at the Information Desk, Shop counter, and Libeskind Rooms.

If you have any queries or would like to discuss any access issues please contact us.

Assistance animals

Assistance dogs

We welcome assistance dogs onto our sites.

Where possible please bring a relevant identification books for their assistance dogs when arriving on site. Identification types include - Assistance Dogs International (ADI), Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK) or the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF).

Owing to the nature of our sites, if you have multiple assistance dogs within your group please contact us via 020 7091 3067 or contact us to let us know in advance of your visit.

Owners are expected to take responsibility for their assistance dog throughout their visit. Whilst onsite your assistance dog should remain under your care and control, remaining on a lead or within an appropriate carrier. We also ask that all assistance dogs are visibly identifiable with a harness or badge, where possible.

Water bowls can be provided at the café.

Assistance animals other than dogs

Owing to the nature of our different sites, we need to assess the needs and health and safety of the visitor and their assistance animal. We also need to take into consideration other visitors on site and the actual collections being exhibited in our museums, before assistance animals (other than dogs) can be admitted.

Please contact us via 020 7091 3067 or contact us in advance of your visit so we can make this assessment in preparation of your visit. Otherwise, you may be required to wait while an assessment is made.

Owners are expected to take responsibility for their assistance animal throughout their visit. Whilst onsite your assistance animal should remain under your care and control throughout your visit, remaining on a lead or within an appropriate carrier. We also ask that all assistance animals are visibly identifiable with a harness or badge, where possible.