Accessibility at Norwich Castle

Due to high temperatures, the battlements (the roof) at Norwich Castle is currently closed to visitors. We will review hourly, but we expect the battlements will remain closed until and including Saturday 27 June.

You can check our service disruptions website before you visit, to check if there are any access issues or partial closures to be aware of.

Check temporary access closures

You can also call or email us.

Contact Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery

Visitors with additional access needs can bring a companion into Norwich Castle free of charge. Assistance dogs are welcome in Norwich Museums.

Wheelchair access in the Keep

We can accommodate up to five wheelchair users above ground floor level at any one time. This is due to the historic structure of the building and our current evacuation plans.

If someone in your party is a wheelchair user, please contact us when booking so we can help your visit run smoothly. We recommend booking online in advance to avoid queuing at the ticket desks.

Getting to Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery

The main entrance to Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery is at the top of the Castle mound.

There is an external lift in Castle Gardens for step-free access. It is 110cm by 195cm. The lift takes you to outside the main entrance. If you do not want to use the lift, there is alternative step-free access to the castle. This is via Farmers Avenue or by the slopes in Castle Gardens. Further information on how to get to Norwich Castle.

Our text map shows detailed information and descriptions of the entrance area. 

Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery text map

Parking

There are two Blue Badge parking spaces outside the main entrance. You can also drive up and drop off visitors with access needs at the museum entrance.

The closest car park is in Castle Quarter shopping centre. Levels K-N have the shortest route to Norwich Castle. Find information on city car parks on the Visit Norwich website.

Getting around Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery

Wheelchairs are available to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis. Please ask a staff member at the entrance when you arrive.

The Norman Castle Keep

There is step-free access into the Norman Castle Keep via an internal lift and level walkway. This leads into the Great Hall. Once inside, there is step-free access to all five floors of the Norman Castle Keep. This includes the battlements.

• An internal lift provides step-free access between all five floors. It is 90cm by 135cm.
• There is a platform lift on the battlements. This provides step-free access between two roof levels. It is 95cm by 150cm.

As Norwich Castle is a historic building, there are some restrictions on wheelchair access:

• To keep everyone safe, we can accommodate up to five wheelchair-users in the Norman Castle Keep at any one time. This is to ensure that we can safely evacuate the building in an emergency.
• If you use the lift as a wheelchair-user, you must be able to transfer into an evac chair in an emergency
• The garderobes (medieval toilets) are in a narrow space. This is not accessible by wheelchair.

Museum and Art Galleries

The museum and art galleries are across two floors. There is step-free access to the first floor via two internal lifts. The first lift, located to the right of our entrance hall, takes you to the Castle Café, the Town Close Auditorium, first floor museum galleries, and the Norman Palace Great Hall via an internal bridge. This lift is 160cm by 150cm. 

The second lift is located in the museum's central Rotunda. From this lift, you can access the Castle Café, the Town Close Auditorium, first floor museum galleries, and The Gallery of Medieval Life: A British Museum Partnership. This lift is 102cm by 150cm. 

Only one wheelchair-user at a time is allowed at first-floor level. This is to ensure that we can safely evacuate the building in an emergency. If you are a wheelchair-user visiting the first floor, you must be able to transfer into an evac chair in an emergency. 

We keep doors to all exhibition areas closed. This to maintain the right environment for the artworks. If you need help opening the doors, please ask a member of staff who will be happy to help you. 

Our text map has detailed information and descriptions of the gallery spaces. Information on the new Gallery of Medieval Life will be included as soon as possible.

Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery text map

The Castle Café and shop

The shop is on the ground floor, next to the main entrance and reception.

The Castle Café is on the first floor. There are two internal lifts offering step-free access to the café. One from the reception area and one from inside the museum.

Facilities

Toilet facilities

Changing Places toilet

There is a Changing Places toilet on the ground floor off the Rotunda.

Accessible toilets

There are gender-neutral accessible toilets off the Rotunda. One on the ground floor and one on the first floor.

There is a gender-neutral accessible toilet on the second floor in the Percival wing. This is above the café.

There are male and female accessible toilets in the Victorian toilets at either end of the Special Exhibition Gallery.

You can find detailed information on the facilities in each toilet in our text map.

Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery text map

Family facilities

Toys and other packs for using around the museum are available to borrow free of charge. Children's books are also available to read in several galleries.

There are baby change facilities throughout the museum. Visitors are welcome to breastfeed on the premises.

There are regular baby/toddler and family activities and events throughout the year.

More information and resources when visiting with under 5's.

Accessible information and on-site support

Portable hearing loop

There is a portable hearing loop available in the museum. Please ask at the front desk if you need assistance.

Wheelchairs

Wheelchairs are available to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis. Please ask a staff member at the entrance when you arrive.

Print and text size

There are large-print labels in many galleries. You can get large-print information on the Colman Galleries at the Rotunda information desk.

A printed visual story is available to see at the Rotunda information desk.

Light levels

Light levels are low in certain galleries and displays to protect the exhibits.

The Norman Castle Keep

• The film presentations in the Norman Castle Keep have open captions
• There is a tactile model of the keep in the vestibule leading into the Great Hall
• There are low-level atmospheric soundscapes around the Norman Palace. These include crackling fires and voices.
• We show immersive projections, with music and sound effects, on the inside walls of the Great Hall. This happens at regular intervals and we make an announcement before each show. Please speak to a member of staff for exact timings if you would prefer to avoid these projections. Please note: The projections include flashing lights which may trigger seizures in individuals with photosensitive epilepsy.

Museum and Art Galleries

The Arts of Living (Decorative Arts) Gallery

• Braille-labelled raised tiles
• Braille-labelled 'tactile jewels'
• Braille-labelled art motifs

Colman: British Masters Gallery (Cotman)

• Norwich School video with audio track
• Cotman's Trunk - a tactile painter's box
• Companion notes with visual descriptions of key works, for visually impaired visitors, are available at the ticket desk

Colman: Landscape and Nature Gallery (Crome)

• Norwich School video with audio track
• Brass plates on colouring table showing typical Norwich School scenes
• Companion notes with visual descriptions of key works, for visually impaired visitors, are available at the ticket desk

Ted Ellis Gallery

• Braille-labelled bird sounds

Norfolk Regiment displays

• Sound shower