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Planning your visit: accessibility

We pride ourselves on giving a warm welcome to all our visitors, but acknowledge that due to being an historical listed building the physical layout of the museum might be challenging for some.  

On this page we have included as much information as possible to enable you to prepare for your visit.

Click the button to download our accessibility statement

Find out details about our facilities here

Parking: There is no on-site public parking but there is a drop-off and pick-up point immediately outside our garden entrance gates.

Grafton Street multi-storey car park is next door to the Museum (access via Nelson Street), with accessible parking spaces available and step-free access from the car park to the Museum. Click here for a map of nearby accessible NHS car parks. The Pankhurst Centre is shown on the map, just off Grafton Street.

Cycling is a fantastic way to reach us as the Oxford Road corridor has designated cycle lanes. We have a bike rack on site in our garden space.

Steps to the front door of the Pankhurst Centre

Access to the Museum: The Museum is the former home of the Pankhurst Family and is a listed Georgian building.

There is a low step leading from the pavement to the entrance path and two steps from the entrance path to the front door. There is no handrail, but we are happy to provide assistance up the steps.  

We do have step-free access through our garden door for wheelchair users and for visitors with pushchairs (see details below) – please do alert one of our volunteers who will be happy to guide you through the building to the Museum entrance hallway.

Steps up to the front door of the Pankhurst Centre >>>

Moving around the museum: the Museum Galleries and Exhibition Space are on the ground floor and the doorways are a standard household width (80cm) which means, unfortunately, some wheelchairs cannot currently be accommodated.

After passing through Galleries 1 and 2, there are 3 steps leading down to the Parlour. There is a handrail down the stairs and we are happy to provide assistance if needed. We may be able to provide ground level entrance to the parlour through the French doors leading from the garden, but visitors should be aware of the gravel path outside. There is a slight lip at the entrance to the French doors.

Lights and noise: our AV display in Gallery Two has flashing images and sound effects, which might affect some visitors. The gallery can be viewed with the AV switched off. Please ask the volunteer guides if you’d like to view the gallery without the AV feature playing.

Our volunteers will strive to make entrance to and through the gallery and exhibition spaces as easy and enjoyable as possible for all our visitors.

Refreshments are available in our tiny Tearoom during opening hours.

Registered assistance dogs, or registered assistance dogs in training, are welcome at the Museum. Other dogs are not allowed in the Museum, shop or garden.

Toilets: Two toilets, one of which is accessible, are available on the ground floor for visitors.

Trained first-aiders are on hand in the Pankhurst Centre at all times should visitors require assistance.

For any further information regarding access needs please email us at hello@pankhursttrust.org or call us on 0161 273 5673.

Gravel paths in the garden

Our suffragette garden…a space for quiet contemplation, fun and exploration and a picturesque place

to capture wonderful memories.

The gravel paths in the garden are designed to accommodate wheelchairs and buggies.

Families are very welcome and our exhibition is aimed at a family audience with games and interactive exhibits designed to be touched. Put on a sash and take a family suffragette selfie at the parlour table!

Our garden is perfect for spending time outside and making memories during your visit. The gravel paths have been designed to accommodate wheelchairs and buggies. Some visitors, however, might find the paths more difficult to navigate due to the gravel surface.

Buggy storage: we have a small space on the ground floor where buggies can be stored. Just ask a volunteer for help.

Nearby: Whitworth Park and Swinton Grove Park are nearby, and are fantastic places to play, explore and let off steam. And if you want to make a day of it, you could visit our neighbours at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, Whitworth Art Gallery, Victoria Baths or Manchester Museum. Please check with these places for opening hours and availability.

Translations: Our Pankhurst Centre Fact File is available in Mandarin (汉语), Italian (IT), Spanish (ES), and German (DE). You can download each translation here.

You can download our accessibility statement by clicking on the button below:

Preventing the spread of COVID-19

If you or anyone in your household has experienced COVID-19 symptoms - or you have been notified that you have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 - in the 10 days preceding your visit, please cancel your tickets and do not come to the Museum. This will help us to play our part in preventing the spread of coronavirus.

You can find out more about the Government rules and guidance regarding symptoms, testing and self-isolation here:

Coronavirus: how to stay safe and help prevent the spread - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Tickets

Entrance to the Museum and Exhibition Space is by pre-booked ticket. The Pankhurst Centre is an historic building and our galleries are situated in a series of small household rooms so, in order to facilitate social distancing and maintain a steady of flow of visitors through the space, we operate a ticketing system with timed entry slots. We have limited the number of tickets available for each timed slot.

You can book your ticket and timed entry slot here, by clicking the button below:

NHS Test and Trace

The Government has ceased its Test and Trace system so our museum no longer asks for or keeps visitor details for this purpose.

Face coverings It is no longer a legal requirement for visitors to wear a face covering whilst in the museum, exhibition space, shop or cafe. The wearing of face coverings is therefore a matter of personal choice for Museum visitors, volunteers and staff members.

Hand Sanitiser There is a contact-free hand sanitiser station available at the entrance to the Museum and visitors are asked to use it before entering the Galleries and Exhibition Space and during their visit.

Navigation and social distancing To enable you to get the most out of your visit, and to maintain an easy flow of visitors through the space, we operate a one-way trail which volunteers (and the map available at the entrance) will help guide you through. Please be aware that some visitors may not be able to keep to the one-way system due to steps and tight turn spaces for wheelchairs and pushchairs in some areas.

Cleaning Surfaces are cleaned at regular intervals throughout the day, especially frequent touch points such as door handles, stair rails, and items that can be handled in the Museum. We ask visitors to our Museum Shop to only handle those items intended for purchase.

Toilets We have two toilets available on the ground floor for visitors, one of which is accessible. They are located near the exit to the garden and are clearly signposted. Toilets are inspected throughout the day with frequent touch points cleaned at regular intervals.

Personal belongings We do not have any storage space for personal belongings or luggage.

Many thanks to all our visitors for your continued support, understanding and cooperation. We look forward to giving you a warm, and safe, welcome.

To continue with your booking please click below.