Accessibility at Life
Life Science Centre is a fully accessible venue providing access friendly facilities for all visitors. We are proud to hold the Equality Standard Gold Award along with our friends in the Newcastle Gateshead Cultural Venues consortium.
If you have any special access requirements please get in touch before you visit by calling (0191) 243 8210 (Monday to Friday), so that we can meet your needs. Carers of disabled visitors are admitted free of charge (one carer per disabled visitor, including when the disabled visitor is aged 4 or under); the normal admission fee applies to the disabled visitor. Please bring some proof of entitlement such as a letter showing that you receive support, or a Companion card, a Children and Young People's Network Card, or similar.
- Designated area for under-7s - Young Explorers' Zone.
- Sensory bags, ear defenders and sunglasses available to hire for adults and children who may have sensory needs. Please ask at reception for details.
- Baby change facilities on all floors (kits are available from dispensers for a cost of £1).*
- Lockers.**
- Pushchair and wheelchair friendly cafés.
- High chairs.
- Free bottle and food warming facilities.
- Children's meals (freshly made on the premises where possible).
- Packed lunch area where visitors can enjoy their own food.
*The baby changing facilities located by the Life Cafe on the ground floor are designed for baby changing and to provide privacy for nursing mothers should they require it (there is no toilet). The baby changing facilities located near the entrance and on the upper floor combine a disabled toilet and baby change facilities.
**A £5 deposit is required, £4 of which is returnable in exchange for the key.
- Free admission for carer (one carer per disabled visitor). Free carer tickets can be added to your online ticket basket. Please bring some proof of entitlement such as a letter showing that you receive support, or a Companion card, a Children and Young People's Network Card, or similar.
- Level access, with lifts to all floors.
- Onsite parking for blue badge holders is available on request (subject to availability). Call our control room on (0191) 243 8260 to arrange.
- Drop-off points for minibuses and coaches (must be pre-arranged before visit).
- Fully accessible car park located close by.
- Disabled toilet facilities on all floors.*
- Wheelchair spaces available in the planetarium and Science Theatre.
- Wheelchairs can be loaned for the duration of your visit. This is a free service** but subject to availability. Please ring on the day of your visit to check availability - (0191) 243 8210.
* Our reception level toilet is fully compliant with Changing Places' standards and provides extra features suitable for those with profound and multiple learning disabilities.
**£10 deposit required which will be refunded once the wheelchair has been returned.
**£10 deposit required which will be refunded once the wheelchair has been returned.
- Free admission for a dedicated assistant. Please add a note in 'additional comments' when booking tickets online if a free assistant ticket is required.
- Induction loop at reception and inside the planetarium and Science Theatre.
- Scripts are available on request for all of our planetarium and Science Theatre shows.
- Free admission for a dedicated sighted assistant (a sighted assistant is recommended for your visit). Please add a note in 'additional comments' when booking tickets online if a free assistant ticket is required.
- Guide and assistance dogs are welcome.
- All Life print can be made available in large print formats. Call (0191) 243 8208 with your request.
- Sensory bags, ear defenders and sunglasses available to hire (subject to availability).
- Downloadable visual story and sensory map to prepare for your visit.
- Monthly dedicated quiet hours on a Sunday morning.
- Visitors are able to leave the centre if they need a break and return on the same day. We'll stamp your hand so you don't need to pay twice.
Sensory-friendly Sundays
Join us for our monthly Sensory-friendy Sundays, dedicated quiet hours in the science centre on the first Sunday of the month.Find out more >>
Familiarise yourself with Life before your visit by downloading our visual story. It's full of useful information and images, and is designed for visitors who may need a little additional support. The visual story will let you know what to expect on a visit to Life, and help you make the most of your time here.
Download Life's visual story >
Download Life's SENSORY MAP >
Download Life's visual story >
Download Life's SENSORY MAP >
You can also view Life Science Centre's Access Guide, which gives useful information about nearby accessible car parking, hearing loops, large print text and accessible facilities once you're inside the science centre.
