Access information for visiting the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall
Despite the Hall being 665 years old, we are fully accessible to wheelchair users, however access may be difficult for other visitors.
Please find information below which will help when planning your visit to the Hall.
Parking
Cars with a Blue Badge parking permit can park for up to three hours in two separate parking bays on Piccadilly. Both are within a 5 minute journey on foot or in a wheelchair to the Hall.
The nearest car park to the Hall is the Coppergate Centre which has 18 Blue Badge parking bays as well as an additional 10 for Shopmobility. This car park is off Piccadilly, off the inner ring road, most easily reached from the A19 to the south of the city or the A1036 to the south west.
For further information on the Coppergate Centre please click here.
For more information on Blue Badge parking in York please click here.
Admission
Free and reduced admission is available, please click here for our current admission charges.
We do not have a pre-booking system so you pay your admission on arrival. Occasionally due to private functions at the Hall we may close early or be closed all day. Our visit page is updated with any closures.
Physical Access
There are two entrances to the Hall; Piccadilly and Fossgate. The main entrance is via Piccadilly down a set of stairs. The accessible entrance is via Fossgate which is down a passageway. There is ramped access via automatic doors into the building from this entrance.
The Hall is on two floors linked by a platform lift or a set of stairs. The ground floor has a stone flagged surface throughout, the first floor is a combination of wooden floor boards and parquet flooring.
For more detailed information click here:
Visiting
Our Visitor Experience and Retail Assistants are here to help and answer any questions you may have. We do not have a loop system fitted at the Admissions Desk but our staff are there to help.
If you have access difficulties, please do let our team know or get in touch prior to your visit either by email or by telephone. Our contact details are at the bottom of the page.
Lift Access
A platform lift provides access to the first floor. It can take one wheelchair user and one other person or two people. Please note that due to fire evacuation requirements, we can only permit one wheelchair user on the first floor at a time.
Signage, Displays and Audio Guides
All our signage, displays and written guides use a clear font which is at least 16pt. Our English audio guides are of a wand design with large tactile buttons providing ease of use.
Toilets
There is one accessible toilet in the Hall on the ground floor. This is a gender neutral toilet.
Pushchairs and Mobility Aids
Pushchairs and mobility scooters can be taken around the Hall, we do ask that you take care when going through some of the narrower spaces in the building.
Animals
We welcome all assistance dogs to the Hall. We ask that they are appropriately trained, supervised, and kept with you at all times. Water can be provided on request. Where possible, animals should wear the appropriate tabard or harness.
If you wish to bring in other assistance or service animals other than dogs to the Hall, please contact us prior to your visit and we will be happy to answer any questions.
Shop and Merchants’ Coffee House
The shop and Merchants’ Coffee House are both fully accessible. The Coffee House has free standing chairs and our staff can provide menus in a larger font if required. Please ask any staff member if you need help.
First Aid
There is always a trained first aider on duty. Please ask a member of staff if help is required.
At a glance:
Level Access
There is level access from the Fossgate entrance to:
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Admissions Desk and Shop
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Undercroft and Chapel
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Merchants’ Coffee House
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Toilets including accessible toilet
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Lift to first floor
Hearing
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Individual fire alarms have a red flashing light.
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Staff will inform all visitors if a fire alarm is sounding.
Visual
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Glass doors and barriers have contrast markings.
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The Undercroft and ante rooms do have slightly lower lighting.
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We can provide display information and menus in large print.
General
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We have a concessionary rate for disabled visitors
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We can provide a complimentary ticket for personal assistants
Wheelchair Access
There is a ramp made of stone flags which is 112cm wide or there are 3 steps down.
Automatic Door
The door will open inwards automatically and can be opened by pressing the grey button on the red sign to the right of the door.
Accessible Entrance
Level access from the Fossgate entrance leads you into the Reception area via a stone flag ramp.
Piccadilly Entrance
The main visitor entrance is via Piccadilly. To access the Hall there is a set of 17 stairs, the most stairs you have to go down in one go is 12. The stairs have a rail on one side and are made of stone flags. The path to the Hall is also made of stone flags.
Ground Floor Reception Area
There are two steps down into the Reception area from Piccadilly.
Merchants’ Coffee House
The Reception Area includes the Admissions desk, the Hall’s gift shop and the Merchants’ Coffee House. It is all on one level and is fully accessible.
Reception Area and Shop
The Reception Area includes the Admissions desk, the Hall’s gift shop and the Merchants’ Coffee House. It is all on one level and is fully accessible.
Platform Lift
The lift is a platform lift. It is 113cm wide. The maximum weight is 300kg. It can take one wheelchair user and one other person or two people.
Accessible Toilet
There is an accessible toilet on the ground floor. This is a unisex toilet.
Platform Lift on First Floor
The lift is a platform lift. It is 113cm wide. The maximum weight is 300kg. It can take one wheelchair user and one other person or two people.
Ante Rooms from Lift
These areas are on the first floor and are fully accessible. The lift opens to the 3rd ante room. The stairs bring you up to the 1st ante room. There is a narrow doorway leading via a wooden ramp from the 2nd Ante Room to the 1st Ante Room which is 82cm wide.
