Access
At Middlesbrough Museums we are committed to providing a welcoming and accessible visit.
We want to enable everyone with the opportunity to enjoy our collections and spaces.
This page provides an overview of the range of resources and facilities our museum has to offer to help you plan make the most of you visit.
Getting inside
The most accessible entrance to Dorman Museum for wheelchair users, people in mobility scooters and push chairs is via Linthorpe Road, here you will find a long gently sloped ramp leading to our entrance doorway.
We have two sets of entry doors at Dorman Museum, on approach to the museum building the doors on the left hand-side is fully automatic and will open on approach. Upon exiting through these doors they can be opened by an accessible push pad.
There are two blue-badge parking bays are available in front of the museum on Linthorpe Road.
Small vehicles, including minibuses, can also use the parking area to drop passengers.
We also have access from our carpark and street parking on Park Road South, this route will take you up a short set of steps to the museum entrance. The steps have handrails and tactile warning paving.
Inside of the museum
Wheelchair and movement access
There is one lift within the museum that can accommodate up to 3 wheelchairs at any one time.
There is level access on each floor with a gentle ramp between the Linthorpe and Dresser galleries, each gallery has ample space to manoeuvre between displays.
We have one wheelchair and a walker that are free to use during your visit, please ask at our welcome desk upon arrival.
Visually impaired visitors may like to know that the ground floor has parquet flooring in several galleries with floor set grills for the under floor heating system. Seating can be found throughout the galleries.
Map of the Museum
A map of the museum is located in the entrance foyer of the museum and by the entrance of the lift on both floors.
The map provides a simple floorplan of the museum to help you navigate during your visit.
We encourage visitors to take a picture of this on arrival to help them navigate around the museum.
Accessible Toilets
There are accessible toilets within the museum and offer right and left hand transfer options, they are also fitted with emergency alarms that alert our welcome desk if emergency assistance is needed.
The closest accessible Changing Place toilet is located in Albert Park Visitor Centre located next to Dorman Museum.
Hearing Loops
There are hearing loops available at our welcome desk, gift shop and learning activity room.
Baby Changing and feeding
There are baby change facilities located within the accessible toilets within the museum.
We welcome our visitors breastfeeding and bottle-feeding their babies, there are a few areas that you may feel more comfortable feeding your baby, such as the tea-room and Dresser Gallery. In some cases, our temporary exhibitions prohibit food and drink in the area, so please check with a member of our team if you are unsure.
Assistance dogs
Trained assistance dogs are welcome at the museum, our team will be happy to provide drinking water for your dog if needed.
Quieter times and areas
The museum is often quieter after 3pm during term time. If you would prefer to visit during a quieter period please get in touch with your visit dates and we check to see if we have any groups during the time you are hoping to visit.
We also schedule run Relaxed Sessions for our temporary exhibitions, please see our What’s On page for our upcoming events.
VR Experience
Our VR ride has stepped access up to the seats, visitors with mobility impairments can sit to the side of the ride and wear a headset if they can't negotiate the steps.
Dressers Tea Room
The tea room is located to the right of the entrance foyer, this has level entry through a single leaf door.
Personal Assistant Tickets
If a visitor requires an accompanying personal assistant, the personal assistant will be admitted to paying exhibitions and events free of charge. We accept the following forms of assistant and career ID.
Please contact our welcome desk team to arrange a personal assistant ticket.