Access Statement
Our vision is to provide a warm welcome and the highest level of
service possible to ensure an enjoyable experience for ALL our
customers. The facilities we provide should enable you to have a worryfree experience throughout your visit, and we constantly monitor the site
to identify possible improvements.
Should you have any specific requests, or suggestions, please contact
us directly and we will be happy to help.
Please ask at reception or visit www.snibston.com for details of our
facilities.
Public Transport
 There is no train station in Coalville
 The nearest train stations are: Loughborough, Leicester and
Burton-upon-Trent (all managed by East Midlands Trains - 08457
125 678 or www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk)
 Bus operators within the Coalville area are:
o Arriva Midlands (0116 253 9534 or www.arrivabus.co.uk)
o Roberts Coaches (01530 816 425 or
www.robertsholidays.co.uk)
 Please contact train and bus operators directly to enquire about
accessible vehicles on routes.
 For detailed route information and planning go to Traveline - 0871
200 2233 or www.travelineeastmidlands.co.uk
Taxis
 Local taxi firms with accessible transport:
o Coalville Yellow Cabs – 01530 441 209
o KTS Taxis (Coalville) – 01530 833 095
o Yellow Cabs Taxi & Courier Service (Coalville) – 01530 833
800
o A1 Taxis (Coalville) – 01530 838 383
o A Zoom Taxis (Leicester) – 0116 251 2513
o Ashley David Taxis (Loughborough) – 01509 260 000
Updated July 2012
 Please note that these services have not be individually checked
or tested. When making a booking you should make your specific
requirements clear.
Parking
 There are 10 accessible parking bays in the car park at the front of
the main entrance.
 Doors into the main foyer entrance are automatic.
Admissions Desk
 Our admission desk is staffed at all times with Welcome Host
trained staff who will be able to assist you and also arrange free
wheelchair hire.
 Throughout the day announcements will be made over the tannoy
system informing visitors of relevant information from colliery tour
times to serving afternoon tea.
 Up to date admission prices are available on our website, or
alternatively ring the Sales and Enquiry team on 01530 278 444
who will be able to assist you further.
Staff
 Some of the staff are trained in British Sign Language.
 We are able to offer a sensory version of our public colliery tour at
normal charges.
 Due to staff rotas please ring prior to your visit and we will do our
best to accommodate you.
Wheelchair hire
 We have 3 wheelchairs available to hire free of charge for use
within the museum
 Wheelchairs can be booked upon arrival at the admissions desk.
Assistance dogs
 Assistance dogs are welcomed to Snibston. We kindly ask that
they are kept on a lead at all times.
 Drinking water for assistance dogs is available on request.
Updated July 2012
Induction loop
 There is a portable induction loop available from the museum’s
main admissions desk.
Toilets
 We have several accessible toilets at Snibston, all fitted with
assistance alarms that can be activated by a pull cord. The
locations are:
o Main Foyer next to the First Aid room, with transfer from
wheelchair from either side of the toilet, or head on.
o Main Foyer next to the Baby Changing room, with transfer
from wheelchair from either side of the toilet, or head on.
o Rear Gallery near the Colliery Tour departure point, with
transfer from wheelchair from right hand side of the toilet, or
head on. This toilet also has an automatic light sensor.
o Century Theatre, with transfer from wheelchair from head on
only. This toilet also has an automatic light sensor.
o Education Unit, with transfer from wheelchair from left hand
side of the toilet, or head on.
The Galleries (Undercover spaces)
 All the galleries are located on the ground floor with good flat easy
access for all. The Galleries are made up of:
o Community Gallery – Artwork and temporary displays
(admission free of charge).
o Extra Ordinary, Light Fantastic & Science Showcase –
Interactive galleries.
o Toy Box – Looking back at vintage toys with a focus on
Palitoy of Coalville.
o Fashion Gallery – Award winning collection and the largest
collection of clothing outside the Victoria and Albert Museum.
o Transport, Engineering and Extractive Industries Gallery –
Examples of local industry and transport.
o Temporary Exhibitions Gallery (rear gallery, near to the
colliery tour departure point) – temporary displays.
Updated July 2012
Mezzanine Gallery (Undercover space)
 First floor seating area and sometimes used as an exhibition area.
 There is a fully equipped lift, suitable for wheelchairs to give
access to this area along with 2 separate stairways (details of
number of steps given in ‘Moving around Snibston’ section below).
 The lift is 142cm x 111cm and has a maximum loading capacity of
500kg. The roughly equates to 6 people standing, or 1 wheelchair
user accompanied by 1 person standing.
 In case of emergency we have ‘dragmats’ located on this floor, as
well as fully trained staff on hand to assist in an emergency.
Science and Adventure Play (Outdoor play areas)
 The Science play area, incorporating Wild Water, is a flat Astroturf
type floor surface and easy access for all.
 The Adventure play area has a surface of bark and sand, so is not
suitable for wheelchairs.
Colliery Tours
 The regular colliery tour is 45 minutes long and available most
days.
 As a former working colliery, there are slightly uneven surfaces
and some stepped areas.
 Friendly and helpful tour guides are on hand to assist
 We are pleased to offer special tours adapted to suit the needs of
disabled groups. Pre-booking is essential
 An indication of the number of footsteps and stairs on the tour can
be found in the ‘Moving around Snibston’ section.
Train Rides
 The heritage railway at Snibston runs on specific dates during the
year, normally associated with school holidays and some special
events. Please call in advance for dates. All train dates are
subject to serviceability.
 We have a sloped platform here at Snibston Station with tactile
flooring.
Updated July 2012
 The train carriage in use on the railway can take up to 3 standard
size wheelchairs, or up to 2 larger motorised wheelchairs or
scooters.
 A helpful train crew is always on hand to assist.
 A ramp is available to ease getting on and off the train for
wheelchair users and those with pushchairs.
Retail
 The shop is easily accessible on the ground floor.
 Should you require any assistance a member of staff will be on
hand from the admission desk to help you.
Café
 The café is located in the foyer on ground level.
 A large format copy of the menu is available on our website, or on
request at the café
 Seating can be easily moved to suit your requirements.
 Staff are on hand to assist you in any way such as carrying your
tray to your table and reading the daily menu out to you.
 If you have special dietary requirement please do not hesitate to
ask the café staff.
 Picnic benches are also available outside on the Science Play
area.
Conference rooms
 We have 2 conference rooms located in the foyer on the ground
floor. Both rooms have induction loops.
Education Unit
 Our education unit has a sloped main entrance allowing easy
access to the building.
 It is equipped with an accessible toilet.
Updated July 2012
Century Theatre
 An induction loop is installed in our auditorium.
 There is an electric lift located at the front of the theatre to ease
access to the main foyer.
 The lift is 144cm x 96cm and has a maximum loading capacity of
500kg. The roughly equates to 6 people standing, or 1 wheelchair
user accompanied by 1 person standing.
 Indoor ramps create easy access around the theatre.
 1 wheelchair is available free of charge within the theatre, for those
who have difficulty using stairs.
 There are 2 priority seats for wheelchair users, one on either side
of the front row.
 In case of emergency we have ‘dragmats’ located on this floor, as
well as fully trained staff on hand to assist in an emergency.
Moving around Snibston
 The details below will help give you an idea of the size of our site,
with approximate distances in footsteps:
o Events arena (in front of the museum’s main entrance) to the
main entrance doors – 110 footsteps
o Furthest accessible carpark space to the main entrance doors
– 55 footsteps
o Front doors to the Admission Desk – 40 footsteps
o Front doors to the café – 24 footsteps
o Admissions Desk to the rear doors – 108 footsteps
o From the rear doors (colliery tour departure point) to:
 Train ride departure point – 37 footsteps
 Picnic railway carriage – 55 footsteps
 Century Theatre – 55 footsteps
 Wild Water (interactive area) – 75 footsteps
 Compost Corner – 90 footsteps
 Colliery Tour Arches – 130 footsteps
 Colliery Tour Medical Centre – 277 footsteps
Updated July 2012
 The details below provide information about the location and
number of steps at certain points:
o Mezzanine stairs nearest the main entrance doors – 12 steps,
then 2 steps, then 7 steps – 21 steps in total
o Mezzanine stairs nearest the lift – 9 steps, then 12 steps – 21
steps in total
o Century Theatre entrance stairs to the first floor – 9 steps
o Century Theatre stairs between first and second floor – 8
steps
o Century Theatre auditorium fire exit (Education Unit side) – 5
steps
o Century Theatre auditorium fire exit (Chiswell Drive side) – 6
steps
o Century Theatre bar fire exit – 8 steps
o Picnic railway carriage – 5 steps, then 5 steps – 10 steps in
total
o Colliery tour Winder House – 3 steps, then 14 steps, then 5
steps – 22 steps in total
o Colliery tour Pit Top – 3 steps, then 14 steps – 17 steps in
total
o Wild Water (interactive area) stairs to the locks – 5 steps,
then 4 steps – 9 steps in total
o Wild water stairs to the wheels – 4 steps each side
Other points of note
 Mobile phone network coverage varies throughout the museum
and is dependent on your mobile service provider. In some areas
coverage may be non-existent for some providers.
Updated July 2012