Accessibility
We want everyone who comes to our museums to have a safe and enjoyable visit.
On this page you will find information on accessibility and facilities at the National Museum of Rural Life.
Our full access guide can be found on the AccessAble website.
Contact us
If you require any further accessibility information, please contact us:
- Phone: 0131 247 4313
- Email: communities@nms.ac.uk
Deaf BSL (British Sign Language) users can make contact by using the free ContactSCOTLAND-BSL service.
Getting to the museum
Parking
There is ample free parking at the site.
There are disabled parking spaces at the main museum building, and a limited number of disabled parking spaces at the farm. If you require a disabled parking space at the farm please speak to staff when you arrive in the Museum building.
Free entry for carers
Carers accompanying disabled vistors enter the museum for free.
Museum entrance
The museum entrance is accessed via a ramp. The doors are automatic.
Getting to the farm
The farm is approximately half a mile from the main museum building.
Farm Explorer
The Farm Explorer tractor-trailer can transport visitors between the museum building and working farm. The last tractor to the farm departs at 15:00.
Tickets are available at the museum ticket desk on a first-come first-served basis. There is limited ticket availability each day.
There is a lift for wheelchairs and mobility scooters to board the tractor-trailer. There is one designated space at the rear of the trailer where wheelchairs and mobility scooters can be secured.
Please note: Our tractor-trailer does not operate during some of our larger events. If you'd like to check a specific date, please check our What's on page.
Outdoor paths
Outdoor paths to the farm have firm, rough gravel surfaces with moderate slopes in some areas. These paths are suitable for pushchairs and electric assisted wheelchairs.
Footwear and clothing appropriate for outdoors and inclement weather is recommended for visiting the farm.
Accessibility around the museum
Information desk
Our information and ticket desk is at the entrance to our museum on the first floor. Here you can access museum maps, wheelchair loans, and sensory backpacks.
Our Visitor Experience staff will be on hand to answer any questions you may have upon arrival.
Hearing induction loops
There are induction loops throughout the museum. They can be found at:
- Information desk at the reception area
- Kiosk at the Museum Shop
- Kiosk in the Shielings Cafe
- Theatre
Loan a wheelchair
Wheelchairs are available for loan at no charge whilst visiting the museum. They cannot be booked in advance. Please ask about availability at one of the information desks on arrival.
Toilets and changing facilities
There are toilets and baby changing facilities in the museum and at the working farm. There are accessible toilets in the museum and at the working farm.
There is no Changing Places toilet on site.
Please check the museum map or ask a member of the Visitor Experience team for directions to the toilets.
Lifts and continuous ramp
In the museum
The museum galleries and displays are accessible via lifts. You can check the museum map or ask a member of staff for the nearest lifts.
Information on lift dimensions is available on the AccessAble website.
A continuous ramp at a gradient of 1:16 leads all the way round the museum building. It can be used to access all galleries and displays in order to bypass the stairs and lifts.
In the farmhouse
Due to the historic nature of the building, there are no lifts in the farmhouse. The ground floor, but not the first floor, of the farmhouse is accessible by wheelchair.
Seating
There is seating throughout the main museum building and at regular intervals on the walk to the farm.
Breastfeeding
You are welcome to breastfeed anywhere in the museum. There is seating on every level. Please ask our staff to show you the nearest seating or dedicated nursing room if you would prefer more privacy.
Quiet spaces
If at any time you or someone you are visiting with finds the visit overwhelming, a member of staff can direct you to quieter areas in the museum.
Assistance dogs
Guide dogs, hearing dogs and other recognised assistance dogs are welcome in the museum buildings and on the outdoor site.
Accessibility resources
Visual stories
The Museum has developed a visual story with pictures of the museum and information about what to expect when you visit. There is a visual story for the museum and another for the farm.
Tours and events
Relaxed Mornings
We hold monthly Relaxed Morning events for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum. Find out more information on our Relaxed Morning event page.