Accessibility
If you’re planning to visit or need help while you’re here, our team is ready to support visitors with accessibility needs.
The Archive is free to visit. Our usual opening hours are Monday to Friday 10am-4pm, and the second Saturday of every month for our Sparky Saturdays free family activities. We’re closed on Bank Holidays.
The Archive is on the Western Campus of the University of Leeds, in the Michael Marks Building. You can get to us on foot or by car, bus and bike, there’s detailed information about how to get here on our Plan Your Visit page.
Getting Here and Arrival
The postcode for navigation is LS2 9LP, what3words blunt.bravo.flows. There are two Blue Badge parking spaces outside the Archive entrance. There is a step-free route from the nearest bus stop, please see the Getting Here by Bus information on our Plan Your Visit page for details.
The Archive is just over a mile from Leeds city centre. The area surrounding the Archive is flat, however, the approach to the University’s Western Campus from the city centre is uphill.
The main entrance is on the ground floor and has step free, level access throughout. All public areas of the Archive are on the ground floor. Our entrance is an automatic door that’s wide enough for a wheelchair or mobility scooter. The floor surfaces are tiled and carpeted. Public areas are evenly and well-lit by overhead fluorescent LED lights and halogen LED spotlights.
There is a hearing loop at the Reception desk.
Around the Exhibition
The Archive exhibition is wheelchair accessible with level access, including a unisex accessible toilet with hand dryers and baby change.
We have large-print guides available from Reception.
Assistance dogs are very welcome.
Our cinema space has low lighting levels, and plays films with soundtracks which all have subtitles. There are two other screens in the exhibition with both music and spoken soundtracks which also have subtitles.
Let us know in advance of your visit and we can adjust light and sound levels so that everyone is comfortable – see our sensory map for more details.
There are seating areas throughout the exhibition. There are lots of opportunities to handle real and replica objects, and we have an oral history listening post with seating.
Using the Reading Room
The Reading Room has level access, a height-adjustable desk for wheelchair users, task lighting and a range of support aids to help researchers when working with archives of different formats.
We also have a Visual Story to help you prepare for your visit to the Reading Room.
Access Resources
Free large-print guides are available at Reception. You can also explore the exhibition from wherever you are with our Virtual Tour.
We have free sensory backpacks for visitors with additional sensory needs to use during their visit – just pick one up from the shelves at Reception when you arrive. The backpacks contain soft-touch fruit and veg shapes, textured fabric squares, smell cubes, a fidget toy, a soft Percy Pig toy, ear defenders, a round colour-viewer, a magnifying glass, old pennies, a PECS board and symbols.
You may find the following resources useful too.
Facilities
We don’t have a cafe on site, we do have a refreshment area where we provide everything you need to make yourself a hot drink and where you can eat your own food. There are several cafes nearby on the University of Leeds campus.
Public toilets are located on the ground floor with level access from the main entrance. We have a unisex accessible toilet with baby changing facilities. The nearest Changing Places toilet is in the Esther Simpson building, a two minute walk from the Archive.
A wheelchair is available for visitors to borrow from Reception. There is always a member of staff on hand in the exhibition if you need any assistance.
The Archive has a set of evacuation procedures. In an emergency, our team will assist visitors either out of the building or to a refuge.
We try to make sure that the Archive is accessible to all and that everyone enjoys their visit. If you have any questions about accessibility please get in touch. You can find out how to reach us on our Contact page.
