Visiting Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
- Rarars adventures
- Apr 1, 2022
- 4 min read
Advertisement
Here is the link to check out the film https://youtu.be/QoDlTU2i74E
Hello, and welcome back I hope you are all well, the weather is getting better and more visits are coming! This month we have been to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, to share what they offer for people with visible and invisible disabilities.
This is a place that I have been to many years ago, so didn't really remember it that well so was nice to go back.
They have put a lot of things in place for people with visible and invisible disabilities.
(We did also do a film on this that I will leave a link for at the end!)
We weren't sure what to expect at the start as we first thought that we were just visiting the Mary Rose Museum but to our surprise, we got a ticket to see and do everything!
Reading their website there are a lot of things put in place for people with visible and invisible disabilities that we will be sharing but from their website they have the following.
(quoted from the website)
"For Visually impaired visitors they have information guides in large print formats, they also offer sensory resources including tactile plans and painting of the ship. Visitors are also welcome to handle certain artefacts, both historical objects and replicas.
Parking.
There are fifteen disabled spaces available in the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard car park, located on the admiralty road approximately 400 metres from the dockyard entrance. Unfortunately, there is no onsite parking for the Mary Rose Museum.
There is a Mary Rose buggy service, the Mary Rose Museum is located 500m (550yards) from the entrance to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
If you are visiting the Mary Rose and unable to walk up to the site, we can come and pick you up from the entrance gate in our buggy, provided by Motorculture Ltd, with a grant from the Boshier-Hinton Foundation.
This buggy runs most days. If you would like to use this service, please ask when you arrive at the visitor centre. Booking in advance is not necessary.
The Museum has a fully accessible toilet with adult changing facilities, including a hoist and adjustable table.
Learning Difficulties
They offer hands-on experiences for visitors given by members of their team who are fully experienced and trained. They can also provide a short introductory guide in symbol guide to the Mary Rose.
The light levels in the museum are kept low for conservation purposes, so if you have any issues you can talk to a member of their staff and they will help you with your journey.
Hearing-impaired visitors.
There is an audio loop system in the exhibition spaces. They also provide transcripts and subtitles for the audiovisual content in most areas. All guide and assistance dogs are most welcome.
I'll be leaving all their links in the description down below if you would like to check them out!
we are now going to go in and take a look around sharing a little history and some of the interactions."
Accessibility to Harbour tours & water bus
Out to Sea (quoted from the website)
"You can combine your visit on land, with a trip at sea by hopping on one of our harbour tours, or taking a waterbus to our Gosport sites. Two manual wheelchairs are available on the Harbour Tours service (depending on the vessel) and electric wheelchair users can switch to a manual wheelchair, which they can collect at our visitor centre. Pre-booking of those spaces can be arranged by calling 02392839766 or Solent and Wight line Cruises on 01983564602.
Unfortunately, the waterbus service to the Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower and the Submarine Museum is not accessible for wheelchairs. Depending on the demand for spaces onboard the vessel, it may be possible to take a folded manual wheelchair onto the vessel. There are a couple of large steps onto and off the waterbus. However, you can access those sites by car."
We were lucky enough to go on both the water bus and the Harbour tour, the harbour tour was really good, they also have toilets on the tour, in case you need to go and a little drinks and food bar if you get a bit peckish.
They have put a lot of different things in place to make it as accessible as possible, and the staff are very friendly if you need help or advice.
They have so much to see and do and many interactions to keep all kids and adults happy.
(Even I had a go at a couple of things)
We had a lovely day visiting Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, As I said at the start we weren't expecting an all-access ticket so a big thank you, we were there all day but we were filming, so wasn't able to see everything but would love to go back one day to have a look, I loved the visit but I will admit that It did wipe me out for nearly a week, it was such a brilliant visit if I went again I would take my wheelchair or mobility scooter next time.
I think if you are going there you would have enough time to see it all, but if you are a little slower and you can maybe visit over two days.
I would love to hear if you have visited or thinking of going now, and what your thoughts were about your visit.
Here are all the links for the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Here is the link to check out the film https://youtu.be/QoDlTU2i74E
