Wakefield Museums and Castles

You can download our visual story for Pontefract Museum before you visit. We also have a version of the visual story with alt text.

You can download a floor plan of the museum.

You can download a sensory map of the main galleries before you visit.

Copies of our sensory maps are available in the Pick and Mix station in the entrance foyer.

Some of our exhibition spaces have low light levels to protect the delicate objects on display. 

There are lots of tactile tools and resources available to support your visit in the Pick and Mix station. This is just inside the entrance to the museum.

There are lots of hands-on elements in Pontefract Museum.

There is a dressing up box near the Civil Wars display.

There is a raised impression of a Civil War coin from the Ackworth Hoard that you can touch and make a rubbing of.

There is a rocking horse that you can touch and ride if you are able.

There is also a toy market stall.

There are audio elements in parts of the exhibition spaces. These are not connected to headphones.

Main gallery: There is a film about the Hermitage in the medieval display. There is a screen with 5 short films in the ‘No place like home’ section.

Glass room: There is an AV screen with 3 films. All of these films are operated by push buttons. There are no headphones and audio plays out into the gallery. All films subtitled and there are handheld transcription sheets.

The fire alarm at Pontefract Museum is tested at 10:30am on Tuesdays.

Generally, the site is quieter during weekdays and school opening hours.

It can be louder at weekends, the late afternoons and in the school holidays.

We have weekly Relaxed Opening sessions every Tuesday afternoon, 2pm to 4pm.

You can contact us in advance to find out when might be the best time for you to visit.