Museum of East Dorset Offers Free Essential Carers Access

For Carers, planning a day out can often come with a long list of questions, worries and extra considerations. Many support someone with additional needs, sensory considerations, mobility challenges or other accessibility needs which can make visiting attractions feel stressful rather than enjoyable.

Thankfully, more venues are recognising the importance of accessibility and are taking practical steps to make visits easier, more inclusive, and welcoming to everyone.

Situated on the High Street in Wimborne Minster, the Museum of East Dorset is a brilliant example of this. Already celebrated as ‘Small Visitor Attraction of the Year 2025/26’, the museum has turned it sites to making its spaces and experiences accessible to all.

Forward Carer’s very own Karen Warr recently visited to find out more.

During her tour, she met Rachel, the museum’s Learning Lead, who shared some of the work the team has been doing to improve accessibility.

“The team have worked to produce a series of resources for visitors with SEND and we now have a lift, making the museum even more accessible to people of all ages and disabilities.”

Here, Karen shares some of the insights she gained on tour, exploring some of the practices which make the museum a perfect destination for Carers and families.

the House

Dating back to the 1500’s, the house has been home to many different people over the centuries. In 1962, Hilda Coles closed the family Ironmongers, and the building became a museum, which is now run as a charity.

Visitors can discover the fascinating stories of people who lived and worked there, while exploring a wide range of collections and themed exhibitions. What makes the experience stand out even more is the museum’s clear focus on accessibility:

  • Braile books in each room of the Museum 
  • Interactive displays 
  • A new lift installed through fund raising 
  • Blue Dementia friendly toilet seat and soap in the toilet and a red cord alarm 
  • Part of the ‘Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme’ 
  • ‘Wheelchair Users guide’ available on their website 

the gardens

The museum’s gardens stretch for 100 metres and offer a calm, welcoming space to relax, and explore. Developed largely by Blanche Coles and her daughter Hilda, the gardens are another part of the visitor experience that has been made easier to enjoy with:

  • Clear signage throughout

the tea room

Set within the garden, the tea-room also includes a thoughtful accessible feature to support a wider range of visitors, including:

  • Accessible Crockery, soup bowls, double handed mugs and teapots, and easy grip cutlery 
  • A visual menu 
  • A braille menu

the sensory shed

One particularly valuable feature is the sensory shed – a relaxed sensory safe space designed to help visitors take a break if they need time away from a situation.

  • Weighed blankets
  • Sensory toys
  • Sensory lighting

superhero sensory sack

Visitors can also borrow a Superhero Sensory Sack to support them during their journey around the museum. These can be personalised by choosing the items most helpful for each individual visit. Contents include:

Ear defenders 

  • A magnifier 
  • ‘Today I will visit’ PECS style planning board 
  • Reins 
  • A character puppet 
  • A torch 
  • 7 x fidget toys 
  • Picture guide to the museum with ‘sensory safe’ zone marked 
  • Photo content list 
  • Museum quiz sheet and pencil

resources to use before you visit

To help visitors prepare in advance, the museum also offers downloadable resources, including:

  • Museum Visual Story 
  • PECS Style Museum cards 
  • Pictorial Museum Guide 

virtual museum

For this who are unable to attend in person, the Museum of East Dorset offers a virtual Museum experience through its website, helping more people more people enjoy what is has to offer in a way that works for them.

The museum is more than just an interesting place to visit. It is a welcoming, inclusive space that has clearly thought about how to reduce barriers and make visits easier for people of all ages and abilities.

For Carers and families, that can make all the difference.