Accessible Museums: Bringing Exhibits to Life

AUDIO VERSION

For many blind and low vision travellers, museums and historic sites can offer much more than traditional visual displays. Around the world, more cultural attractions are creating accessible experiences that include touch, audio description, and interactive exploration.

Recently, AEBC members shared some memorable travel experiences in London and beyond that showed how meaningful accessibility can be.

Discovering Accessibility at Historic Sites

One member described visiting Windsor Castle and using a special audio guide designed for blind visitors. As they entered each room, the device provided detailed descriptions that helped bring the space to life. Staff also offered tactile experiences, including samples of chandelier crystals that visitors could touch.

Another member recommended Stonehenge, noting that its audio description system reportedly helps visitors navigate the site more independently while learning about its history and layout.

The British Museum also stood out for its tactile accessibility. While visiting the Elgin Marbles exhibit, one traveller unexpectedly discovered a side room with 3D replicas designed for touch exploration. The experience added another layer to understanding the artwork and history behind the display.

Others recalled positive experiences at attractions such as the Tower of London and Madame Tussauds wax museum, where touching costumes, displays, and figures helped make visits more interactive and engaging.

Accessible Museum Experiences in Canada

Accessible and tactile museum experiences are growing in Canada as well. Several museums and galleries now offer audio description, tactile exhibits, multisensory tours, and touch-friendly programming.

The Bank of Canada Museum in Ottawa offers tactile experiences upon request, sensory bags, Braille materials, assistive listening systems, and captioned videos in both English and French. You can also request in advance additional supports such as customized tours and sign language interpretation.

In Toronto, the Royal Ontario Museum offers tactile tours, Braille materials, descriptive audio guides, tactile maps, captioned videos, and American Sign Language tours.

The Art Gallery of Ontario has developed multisensory programs that encourage visitors to experience artwork through touch, sound, smell, and audio description. The gallery also offers customized experiences led by Deaf art educators.

In Quebec City, the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec offers descriptive tours and adapted guided experiences.

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg offers a Braille guide, including tactile maps, as well as descriptive audio, and videos interpreted via ASL and LSQ. The museum also has an accessible self‐guided museum tour with their free app, and tactile floor markers to support independent exploration.

Because accessibility programs can change over time, and some adapted tours must be booked in advance, it is always a good idea to contact museums directly before visiting.

Share Your Recommendations

Have you visited a museum, gallery, historic site, or attraction that offered a particularly interesting, accessible experience?

We’d love to hear about tactile exhibits, audio description, guided tours, or other accessibility features that helped make your visit enjoyable and inclusive. Your recommendations may help other members discover new places to explore.