We passionately believe that science and technology is for everyone, and we are committed to enabling access to our stories and facilities.
To enhance the experience for all visitors, our staff are actively prioritising accessible routes throughout our buildings and exhibits, with a focus on wide entrances, step-free access, and clear pathways. Our secure site is a working laboratory that has been involved in scientific research for over 70 years, and is not normally open the public: unfortunately there are some spaces that are not fully accessible to everyone, either because of the legacy of a historic estate or because of unavoidable safety restrictions (such as areas of high magnetic fields, or high noise levels etc). These spaces are all clearly indicated and our team are doing their best to arrange alternative ways of experiencing these spaces, with photos, videos and live links. Our site is also very large, and can take a significant amount of time to journey between locations – we are planning regular resting areas throughout.
Accessibility information about all of our spaces will be available in advance, as well as signposted on the day. Many of our staff will be wearing badges to show which languages other than English they speak. We will also provide information about our quiet spaces, sensory bags, accessible toilets and facilities, baby change, prayer rooms etc. If you do have any questions, concerns or requests, however, please do get in touch with us at [email protected].
Blue badge parking and registration points
There is dedicated disabled parking and registration – you will be able to request this when you register to attend the event.
The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory is a large site. In order to help you plan your day, please use the map to familiarise yourself with areas that you may need to help you get the most out of your visit.
The majority of the site routes will be accessible by wheelchairs and walkers, but there are just a few places that we cannot make accessible due to the building infrastructure. These areas will be shown on the map with a stair icon.
You can download or print a copy of the map, but copies will also be available on arrival.
Accessibility
Toilets
We have a large number of toilet facilities available around the site. These are all marked on the map so you can plan your routes accordingly.
We have baby changing facilities available, plus changing places toilets for those with additional needs.
Lifts, wheelchairs and mobility aids
Lifts will be marked on the map in areas where activities are on more than one floor. The majority of the site routes will be accessible by wheelchairs and mobility aids, but there are just a few places that we cannot make accessible due to the building infrastructure. These areas will be shown on the map with a stair icon.
Getting around site
We are a very large site and so there is a lot of walking involved. We will be placing rest benches where possible, and will be putting indicative walking time between locations on this page as we get closer to the event.
Assistance dogs
Registered assistance dogs are welcome at Harwell Open Week. There are a small number of areas on site that will not be accessible to assistance dogs (for the health and safety of the dogs – e.g. in areas with high noise levels) – these will be clearly marked on the map.
Unfortunately, due to safety risks, this only applies to officially registered assistance dogs. While we recognise the value of emotional support animals, we are unable to welcome them to site for this event.
Hearing impaired / deaf visitors
All of our staff have been asked to face people when speaking to them, but if you encounter anyone who has forgotten to do this, please do ask them to face you if you need to lip read.
Any member of staff who is able to sign will have a language badge showing that they can sign for you if you would like them to.
For all talks taking place in the lecture theatre, there is a hearing loop installed. If you need to use this function, please set your hearing aid to T. In some of our noisier areas, there will be portable individual ‘personal listeners’ that can be borrowed, which can link up with hearing aids: please do ask when you arrive at an area displaying the loop sign if this would be helpful.
Languages
We have many staff who can speak in languages other than English. Any staff member who speaks another language will have a badge to show which other languages they speak.
Neurodiversity
We understand that big events can be daunting and overwhelming to some people. We hope that we can provide enough information here for you to plan your day and help you to prepare.
We have a couple of videos to introduce you to our site and from our previous open day as it will be very similar.
The map shows you where different topics will be displayed, so you can plan your day based on any particular interests you may have.
Quiet spaces
We know that it can be crowded and noisy, so we ask that you prepare yourselves for that, but we do have quiet spaces around the site for you to use to take a break.
These rooms will have some quiet activities to keep you occupied. If you need help finding your nearest one, please ask any member of staff in the area that you’re in.
Quiet spaces will be marked with the sunflower logo on the map.
Sensory bags
To assist with focus for the day, we have a limited amount of sensory bags that can be used to enhance your child’s visit. These can be hired out from a couple of different locations. The items will have a range of things to complement the activities going on around the site and to give your child some extra input – things to touch and feel as well as things to look out for.
The bags are free to borrow, but we have limited availability, so please be aware that we may run out at times, until some are returned. We ask that you take care of the bags whilst they are in your possession and return them at the end of your session.
Restricted areas
There are a few areas on site that are not accessible to everyone, due to safety and / or operational reasons. These will all be clearly signposted and, where possible, we have tried to include other ways for people to enjoy these spaces.
Age-restricted areas
Our computing machine rooms have a high ambient noise level, and are therefore only accessible for those aged ten and over, so that effective hearing protection can be provided.
The ring of one of our particle accelerators, Diamond Light Source, is only accessible to those aged six years old and over.
Areas of high magnetic field
There are areas of high magnetic field on site, which is necessary to run many of our experiments. These areas are not on the main visitor routes and are all clearly sign-posted, but are not suitable for those with pacemakers, cochlear implants or other similar implanted medical devices.
High noise level
Our computing machine rooms have a high ambient noise level: hearing protection is provided and is mandatory to wear within the rooms. Only those aged ten and over are permitted in this area, to ensure the hearing protection is effective.
High-level walkways
There are some high-level walkways on site. There are appropriate barriers in place, but these may not be suitable for those with extreme vertigo.
Flashing lights
There are some areas on site with flashing lights. These are all clearly marked, but may be unsuitable for those with photosensitive conditions.
Multi-faith room
It is recognised that prayer and meditation may be performed in different ways within the different faith and non-faith traditions. We have a dedicated multi-faith room on the site which you are welcome to use for your prayer and meditation whilst you are at this event.
The location will be marked on the map.
Please be considerate to other users. Users are asked to ensure the multi-faith room is left in a clean and tidy condition after use.
- Footwear – please remove your shoes and place them on the racks provided
- Keep noise to a minimum
- No eating or drinking
- No mobile phone calls or use of other devices
- No leafleting
- No meetings
- Take all personal items with you
- All rubbish must be disposed of by the user
- No candles, incense or naked flames of any kind
Further help
We appreciate that there may be things that we cannot predict, but all our staff will be happy to help you wherever possible. If there is anything we can do to help make your day easier, please do ask by emailing us at [email protected].