Accessibility and inclusion

Poole Museum is located at the end of the High Street, close to Poole Quay. Visitors  can arrive at the museum entrance via a few steps, by level pathway, or via a ramp, all within the public realm outside the museum.

The main entrance into Poole Museum is via level access. 

Scaplen's Court is situated on the lower high-street near Poole Quay. The main entrance is on Sarum Street and provides step free access.

Heads up - we don't have our own parking, but there are a number of disabled bays just along Poole Quay near the Customs House and by the marina. They’re reserved for Blue Badge holders and you can park for up to three hours, plenty of time for a wander and a cuppa.

Inside Poole Museum, you'll find that the entire ground floor is fully accessible with level flooring throughout - a key improvement made possible through our recent redevelopment.

When you arrive, head to the Welcome Desk and our friendly Visitor Experience team and volunteers will be there to greet you with a warm welcome. Look out for their blue aprons and easy-to-spot lanyards - they're always happy to help get you started.

Over at Scaplen's Court, the shiny new entrance leads into a spacious welcome area and our new new cafe. This entrance also offers level access, and you'll find our friendly Visitor Experience team here as well, ready with a warm smile and a chat - they love meeting new people!

In the cafe there is an induction loop if you need it. We’re here to make your visit smooth, relaxed, and full of discovery. 

Assistant animals are welcome at both Poole Museum and Scaplen's Court.

While dogs in general are not permitted inside the main museum, they are more than welcome at Scaplen's Court! We just ask that your furry friend stays by your side and under your care during your visit.

Feeling thirsty? We’ve got that covered - just ask one of our lovely Visitor Experience team or the lovely cafe team and they’ll fetch a water bowl for your companion in no time!

Poole Museum has a brand-new lift with more turning space than ever before!

The lift can carry up to 100kg - perfect for the whole family to squeeze in, buggies and all!

Scaplen’s Court now has a shiny new platform lift to help you explore more of the building. It stops at two levels on the first floor - because, well, that’s old buildings for you!

The lift can carry up to 400kg – perfect for wheelchairs and buggies.

We’re keen to make history more accessible, one quirky floor at a time.

All our toilets are gender neutral toilets and can be found on the ground floor of Poole Museum as well as on Level 3.

On the ground floor of the museum, there are three toilets. Two are accessible toilets and one has baby changing facilities. 

On Level 3 of the museum, there are three toilets. One is an accessible toilet. 

In Scaplen's Court there are three toilets. Two are accessible toilets and one has baby changing facilities. 

Wheelchairs and mobility scooters are welcome throughout Poole Museum and Scaplen's Court. Please bear in mind that the building is old and some of our doorways are narrower than others, so you may have to wait while people come through the doors.

On Level 3 of Poole Museum, in our Poole Creates! studio you will notice some white markings on the floor, either side of the entrance door. These indicate a slope, so please use caution when moving into this rooms, especially if you have a manual mobility wheelchair.

On Level 1 of Scaplen's Court, you will notice two contrast strips of white paint on the slope from the Rear Chamber to the Upper Garden Room. Please use caution when moving through these rooms, especially if you have a manual mobility wheelchair.

Our beautiful herb and physic garden is open for all to enjoy. Please note that the cobbled surfaces in the garden can be uneven, which may present challenges for some visitors.

If you're visiting Poole for the day and wish to hire a scooter or other mobility or accessibility equipment in advance, local company Rapid Mobility may be able to help you.

There are seating areas throughout Poole Museum and in Scaplen's Court, the cafe has plenty of seating, and there are additional chairs in some of the rooms in Scaplen's Court.

Our Visitor Experience Assistants and volunteers will be on hand to help you navigate your way round the museum.

It's worth noting that the entire museum estate is inside historic buildings and some of the doorways may be quite narrow. You may occasionally need to wait for others to pass, but our team will be happy to advise on the best route through the building.

In Scaplen's Court, areas with particularly narrow doorways or steps include:

• From the Garden Room to the Courtyard (includes a step)
• From the Upper Hall to the Upper Chamber
• From the Upper Chamber to the Rear Chamber
• From the Long Chamber to the Upper Hall (includes a step)

We appreciate your patience as you explore our unique and atmospheric space.

Our beautiful herb and physic garden is open for all to enjoy. Please note that the cobbled surfaces in the garden can be uneven, which may present challenges for some visitors.