Great North Museum: Hancock Great North Museum: Hancock, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4PT, UK

The Living Planet gallery spans the ground and first floor of the museum and tells the story of wildlife and habitats. It also features live animal tanks and aquaria. Also on the ground floor, the Hadrian’s Wall gallery enables visitors to discover the detailed history of the World Heritage Site as well as finding out about all the forts, milecastles and associated museums that can be visited today. The gallery includes a wealth of archaeological finds from across the 73 mile stretch of Hadrian’s Wall.

The Mouse House, near the entrance of the Museum, is especially for Under 5s and there are regular activities for younger visitors in this space.

Also on the ground floor is Fossil Stories, which uses fossils show major changes to the landscape and the animals and plants that were around millions of years ago. It also features a T. rex replica skeleton.

On the first floor of the Museum visitors can discover the world of the Ancient Egyptians - including two mummies - and marvel at important collections of Greek and Etruscan art and archaeology. Natural Northumbria uncovers what is special about the North East of England’s animals and plants exploring woodlands, uplands, lowlands, and coastal areas.

World Cultures showcases objects in the Museum collections from across the world including the Islands of the Pacific, the great land masses of Africa and Asia, the plains of North America, as well some parts of Europe (including Newcastle, of course).

Accessibility information

Entrances

The approach to the main front entrance from Claremont Road is tarmac, paving and resin bonded gravel on paths. Visitors can access the front entrance doorways in three ways:

• The accessible ramp on the Claremont road side of the building, which has two accessible routes: one from Claremont Road and one at the front corner of the museum. These routes provide level access to the front entrance with power assisted doors. Here you will also find the Reception Desk and shop area.
• There is also an external platform lift on the other side of the entrance (nearest to the Central Motorway). This also provides level access through power assisted doors to the entrance of the museum.
• The third route is the stepped route up the stairs to the central door which is not power assisted.

The Reception Desk for the museum can be found at the main (front) entrance.

There is also a fourth entrance to the museum which can be found at the rear, leading directly to the Street Café and to the rear area of the museum. This is level access with a power assisted door.

Blue Badge parking

There are four accessible parking bays at the front of the museum for use by disabled visitors who hold a Blue Badge. If these are occupied please ask at the front Reception Desk or call (0191) 208 6765 and we will try to find you a space in the private staff car park.

You can also drop off at the front entrance plaza at the bottom of the main external stairs, or at the lay-by on Claremont Road. There is no other public parking at the museum. The nearest public car parking is approx 300m away up Claremont Road. Go past the museum towards Exhibition Park (north), over the roundabout and parking can be found on the right. There are also numerous parking spaces in the city centre car parks.

Getting around

Inside the museum there are lifts and stairs providing access to all floors. All lifts have voice announcers and Braille indicators. The museum is spread out across the ground floor and first floor. The Great North Museum library can be found on the 2nd floor in the rear part of the building. This also has lift access.

All floors have level access. Stairs have raised tactile indicators on the underside of the handrails. Stairs also have contrasting nosings.

Large print orientations maps for the museum are available on request at the Reception Desk. These can also be requested in advance of your visit.

Accessible toilets

Accessible toilets are available on the ground, first and second floors of the museum. The accessible toilet at the rear of the museum on the ground floor has a shower with a seat.

Seating

Bench seating can be found in the main entrance, and within a number of galleries around the museum (Living Planet, Greeks, Fossil Stories, Ice Age to Iron Age, Egypt, Mouse House). Café seating has a combination of chairs with and without arms. There are some external benches in the gardens and spaces for people who use wheelchairs. The museum also has portable folding seats which visitors can carry with them during their visit.

Borrowing a wheelchair

One wheelchair is available for visitor use. It can be found at the main entrance. Please ask at the Reception Desk.

Assistance dogs

We welcome assistance dogs. The Reception Desk can provide a bowl of water.