Getting to St Neots Museum

Location & Surroundings

The museum is located in the centre of St Neots on flat land. All surrounding streets, including New Street, have level pavements throughout.

By Car

Pay and display car parks are available at:

• Tebbutts Road
• Waitrose car park
• Riverside Park (0.5 miles/10 minutes walk from the museum)

All car parks have Blue Badge parking spaces. While these are some distance from the museum, you may park briefly at the front of the museum to drop off or pick up passengers (please display your Blue Badge clearly). The route from parking to the museum entrance uses pavement and block paving, which is slightly uneven. Staff can assist with access if booked in advance. Street lighting is available outside the museum.

By Public Transport

Train: St Neots station is on the East Coast main line, approximately one mile from the town centre. A well-used taxi rank is available at the station.

Bus: The nearest bus stop is on the Market Square, a short walk from the museum. Regular services run from local villages and major towns including Cambridge and Oxford.

Taxi: A taxi rank is located at the southeast corner of the Market Square.

Entering the Museum

The museum entrance is level from the pavement. A small raised metal bar crosses the front door threshold but does not prevent wheelchair access.

• Front door: Manual, opens inward, clear opening width 790mm
• Short shallow ramp inside (no handrails)
• Doorbell available—ring for assistance with entry
• Disabled doorbell on inner front door—ring for assistance on arrival

Reception

The reception area is on ground level with:

• Level, carpeted floor
• Seating available on request
• LED lighting
• Low counter area
• Hearing loop system at the front desk
• Friendly, approachable volunteer receptionists ready to assist

Admission

Free entry for local residents* and their carers

Standard admission:

• Adults: £5
• Seniors: £4
• Children (5-16) and concessions: £2
• Friends of the Museum: Free

*Free entry applies to residents of parishes that contribute to the museum: St Neots (including Eynesbury and the Eatons), Buckden, Chawston with Colesden and Wyboston, Eltisley, Great Paxton, Great Staughton, Hail Weston, Kimbolton, Little Gransden, Little Paxton, Offord Darcy and Offord Cluny, Roxton, Southoe and Midloe, Toseland, Waresley and Tetworth.

Carer policy: Carers receive free entry to the museum.

Moving Around the Museum

Floor Surfaces

• Main exhibition areas: Short-pile carpet tiles
• Police Cells Corridor: Smooth concrete
• Old Court Room and disabled toilet: Lino
• Upstairs Village Life Gallery: Lino with carpet bar at joins

Doors

Most doors are kept open during opening hours for easy movement. Fire doors are closed but easily accessible:

• Police Cells Corridor to Early History Gallery: 760mm wide, opens toward Cells Corridor
• Upstairs galleries (in Early History Gallery): 770mm wide, accessed via short ramp with handrail
• Temporary Exhibition Gallery to Reception: 750mm wide
• Reception to Museum shop: 870mm wide with short shallow ramp

Access to Upper Floor

The first floor is accessible via stairlift. There is a manual wheelchair available at the top of the stairs. We’re committed to making the museum welcoming to all visitors.

Seating

Seats are provided in all exhibition areas.

Museum Shop

The shop is located in the reception area with level access from multiple points:

• Front door (via 870mm door with short shallow ramp)
• Cells corridor
• Temporary Exhibition Gallery
• Old Court Room

The shop is one compact room with wall-mounted cupboards and shelves. The central space is open with no freestanding units. A low counter is available, and our volunteer receptionists are friendly and approachable.

Facilities

Toilets

Accessible unisex toilet (in Early History Gallery, short walk from Reception):

• Level entry
• Door width: 820mm
• Toilet area: 1900mm x 1500mm
• Standard height toilet seat (420mm from floor)
• Pull-down grab rail next to toilet
• Left wall 900mm from toilet (800mm from grab rail)
• Non-slip lino flooring
• Small hand basin with traditional tap
• Electric hand dryer
• No emergency call system

One additional public toilet is located in the Old Court Room with baby change facilities, grab rail, and plastic chair (no emergency call system).

Assistance Dogs

Guide dogs and hearing dogs are welcome throughout the museum.

Exhibition Information

Visual Information

• Most exhibits described with text panels
• Some digital displays with audio and large text formats

Alternative Formats

Information in alternative formats is available from reception volunteers, who can provide verbal descriptions to visitors.

Audio Elements

Background sounds are used in the following areas:

• Police Cell Corridor
• Early History Gallery
• Home Life Gallery
• Village Hall Gallery
• Train carriage display

We also occasionally have music playing in the Temporary Exhibition Gallery.

Lighting

• No displays use flashing lights
• Spotlights used throughout permanent exhibitions
• Small spotlights illuminate objects within cases

Safety

The fire alarm system uses both flashing lights and a siren to alert visitors. Fire escapes are all clearly signposted and there is emergency lighting near each one.

Opening Times

Tuesday to Saturday: 11.00 AM – 4.00 PM

Closed: Sundays and Mondays (except for pre-booked groups)

Annual closure: January (for spring cleaning), reopening first Tuesday in February

Please telephone 01480 214163 before visiting, especially during Easter and Christmas periods, to confirm we are open.

Contact

For further accessibility information, please contact reception:

Telephone: 01480 214163