Accessibility

Visitors who are wheelchair users or whose mobility is limited

• There is step free access throughout the museum - there are some ramps or slopes
• Wheelchairs are available to borrow for your visit, please ask at the front desk
• Lifts are available to floors 1, 2, and 3 of the Town Hall
• Seating is available throughout the Museum. There is portable seating available to take around with you as well.
• There is a Changing Places available on the ground floor, and Accessible toilets throughout the building. A radar key is required to access the Changing Places - this can be collected from the main Town Hall reception, at the entrance to the Old George cafe Monday - Friday, and from the gift shop at Experience Barnsley Museum on Saturdays during opening times (10.00 - 3.30). The Town Hall building is closed on Sundays so there is no access to the Changing Places then.
• There are alternative Changing Places nearby in the Glass Works shopping centre and in Library @ The Lightbox.
• Assistance dogs are welcome in all areas of the building.

Visitors who are D/deaf or have hearing loss

• Portable hearing loops are available on the front desk on request
• All films are subtitled
• Assistance dogs are welcome in all areas of the building.

Visitors who are blind or partially sighted

• Assistance dogs are welcome in all areas of the building

Audio Descriptions

We have audio descriptions of a selection objects from our collections. 

Autistic visitors, visitors with learning disabilities and neurodivergent visitors

• We have visual stories for each of Barnsley Museums' five sites.
• We have a sensory backpack available to borrow for the course of your visit containing ear defenders, fidget toys, torches, coloured filters and magnifying glasses - please ask at the front desk if you wish to borrow this and return it at the end of your visit. There is no charge. We also have sunflower lanyards available to borrow free of charge for the duration of your visit.
• The museum is free to enter for all and you can leave and come back as many times as you want during the day.
• Our SENsational sessions run during the school holidays, for children and young people with PMLD, ASD or who are neurodivergent and their families. Please check our website for details of the next session.

We are holding relaxed openings at Experience Barnsley and the Cooper Gallery on the following dates in 2025:

• Saturday 17 May
  Saturday 14 June
  Wednesday 23 July (with early 9am opening)
  Tuesday 19 August (with early 9am opening)
  Saturday 20 September
  Tuesday 28 October (with early 9am opening)
  Saturday 15 November
  Saturday 20 December

Audio and sounds will be turned down or off to create a quieter experience for visitors who prefer it. We can never guarantee how quiet or busy the Museum might be on these sessions however we will not book in any groups or school visits on these days.

In the rare event of a security case alarm being triggered, an alarm similar to a fire alarm will go off. We will endevour to turn this off as quickly as possible. Ear defenders are available in our sensory backpacks for your visit. The alarm is less audible in the shop, which will provide a quieter environment.

If you are visiting outside of our relaxed openings, our quieter times are usually at the beginning and end of the day. Experience Barnsley has a number of audio interactives which can be activated by button control, or may start playing automatically. During the week, we often have school groups visit us between 9.30 and 14.00, and during the school holidays we may be busy with family activities during the day.