Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre is set in a 36 acre site in the South Downs National Park.
Dedicated to the industrial heritage of the South East, exhibits include a narrow-gauge railway and bus service (both provide free nostalgic travel around the site), Connected Earth Telecommunications Hall, Milne Electricity Hall, Printing Workshop and much more.
Location
Amberley Museum is located next to Amberley Railway Station. We have a large open outdoor parking area, with a compacted gravel surface. There is a height restriction of 2.25 metres (7.3ft) in our main car park. Should you wish to visit in a vehicle higher than this, in advance so that we can either book you a space in our coach park or arrange for the height barrier to be opened for you.The car park does not have painted bays only guidelines, so there is plenty of space for larger vehicles for disabled access, or for parents needing room for toddlers and pushchairs. We have six designated disabled bays at the front of the car park.
Access from the car park to the Museum is through an open gateway, down a sloping tarmac path. This takes you to the Museum entrance and shop. The gates are open just before the museum opens at 10am, and will close at 5pm, with last entrance being permitted at 4pm. The entrance to the museum is via the museum shop, where there is a ramp with a push button activated door. On busier days, the side entrance might be open, which is all on one level and fully accessible.
Site accessibility
The 36 acre site is mostly flat, with some slopes in places. There is a nature trail around the site, but this is inaccessible to wheelchairs, and possibly pushchairs depending on their design. Most of the site has either concrete or tarmac surfaces. Around the buildings the surface varies from paving slabs to brickwork, compact gravel or wood chippings. Most of the buildings that permit access to the public have a ramp on entrance or exit for access.
We suggest that, if possible, visitors using wheelchairs should use those with wider tyres as this would make it an easier and a smoother visit. We do have a small selection of wheelchairs available on loan for visitors who might find this useful when visiting. Please enquire before you visit if you would like to reserve one.
Most of our exhibitions are on ground level. There are a few viewing platforms around the site which are accessible via steps, but most of the buildings themselves are all fully accessible via ramps.
Toilets:
We have toilets at various locations around the site. There are disabled and baby changing facilities located in our Limeburners café, and below the museum office, accessed opposite the stationary engine shed.
Trains and buses:
Due to the age of our buses, we do not currently have any that offer wheelchair access. There is the option of folding up smaller pushchairs to take on board. However, we do have a special wheelchair accessible carriage for our trains. This may not be in use every day, so please contact the museum to see if we can arrange it for you on your day of visit.
Dogs:
We are a dog friendly museum, and welcome your pets and assistance dogs. We have water bowls located around the site, especially outside our two cafes. Dogs however are not permitted within the cafés/restaurant, but there is plenty of seating available outside. Dogs need to be kept on a lead within the Museum.
Seating:
We have lots of picnic benches and seating around the museum, so there are plenty of rest stops. Within the exhibition buildings, we have many chairs arranged for visitors to sit and rest.
