We welcome you to come and explore the Classical world at the Museum at our relaxed opening. This special event is designed exclusively for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and or Neurodivergence, and their families. 

This is a self-guided session but there will be sensory activities, symbol trails and fidget toys you can borrow if you like and our friendly staff will be available to help.

What to expect

• Fewer visitors than usual (maximum 25, instead of 80), so the Museum will be quieter than usual, with minimal queuing outside
• Lighting will be adjusted for a calm experience
• Noise will be adjusted where possible, with hand driers in the toilets switched off and hand towels available instead
• A selection of tactile materials related to the Museum will be available to touch
• A chill out space will be available – just ask one of our friendly staff
• The Visual story and a SEND family trail can be downloaded in advance from below, and printed versions will be available to guests on the day
• Please note that the Museum is closed to the general public on this day and open only to pre-booked guests for the Relaxed Opening

Visiting & access information

We are in a Grade I listed, 19th-century building, so access to the Museum isn’t always straightforward. When planning your visit, it might be useful to know the following:

• Please get in touch before your visit and we’ll do everything we can to make sure you have a positive experience. Morag, our Learning Manager, will be in touch with everyone who books in advance of the session
• Due to the historic nature of the space, we are only able to accommodate one wheelchair user per Relaxed Opening slot
• Everything in the Museum is on open display, and we ask visitors not to touch anything
• There is historic furniture throughout the Museum – please don’t sit on the chairs. Please ask our friendly staff if you need to sit down
• The Museum has some uneven flooring, with grilles in some places, through which you can see the floor below
• The walls are covered with objects, some of which are extremely fragile
• Some areas are dark and narrow
• Tickets are free, with limited spaces available, and pre-booking is required. We are very sorry we will not be able to welcome anyone who has not pre-booked a ticket

For more information on accessibility, please visit our dedicated access page by clicking here.