Introduction

Tullie is a museum with collections covering Fine & Decorative Art, Archaeology, Natural Science and Social History as well as subjects that cross these disciplines. 

The museum is located in northwest England in the historic city of Carlisle, close to the Scottish border. 

We have as standard admission charge for adults (£16 annual ticket, £8.50 day ticket) and under 18s are free of charge. We also offer free admission for accompanying carers. 

The museum is set over three floors: 

Lower Ground Floor – The Roman Frontier Gallery: A British Museum Partnership Gallery 

Ground Floor – museum entrance, shop, Café Tullie, Exhibitions Gallery and Carlisle Gallery. 

First Floor -The Border Galleries and The Costume Collection.  Please note that these galleries are currently inaccessible due to redevelopment work taking place.

All spaces inside the main museum are either level access or are accessible via lifts and/or ramps. 

Old Tullie House – is a Grade I listed building that showcases part of Tullie’s Fine and Decorative Art Collection. It can be accessed through the Tullie Gardens or from the first floor of the Border Galleries. The ground floor offers level access. However, due to the building’s listed status, the staircase displays and the Panelled Room on the first floor are not accessible to visitors who are unable to use stairs. 

Our Visitor Experience team and Gallery Engagers are on hand throughout the museum should you require any assistance. 

We look forward to welcoming you to the museum, if you have any queries or require any assistance prior to your visit please phone 01228 618718 or email enquiries@tullie.org.uk

Getting Here

Directions 

For directions to the museum, you can use the ‘Plan Your Visit‘ section of our website. 

Alternatively, you can plan your journey by car or public transport using www.traveline.info ; simply enter your postcode and ours (CA3 8TP) to get directions.

If travelling via train:

The nearest train station is Carlisle station. This is a 15-minute walk or journey or 5–10-minute taxi ride. There is a taxi rank located outside the train station and a number of local companies offer accessible services. The local taxi number is 01228 515818 or you can download the Tap a Taxi app here https://www.tapataxi.co.uk/

If travelling via bus: 

The closest bus stops to the museum are outside Sainsburys or the Market Hall which are each within a 10-minute walk or journey. 

Information about local bus service can be found here https://www.stagecoachbus.com/ 

Car Parking and Drop-off Points

There is no onsite car parking available at Tullie, however the streets surrounding the museum entrances have 1-hour disc zone parking (please note: one hour is not enough time to experience the whole museum). 

Disabled street parking is available on Castle Street CA3 8TP.  

The closest designated Blue Badge parking bays are available on Castle Street, CA3 8TP. Should this be full, you can find other designated Blue Badge parking bays via this site, Blue Badge Parking, or on the Council’s website: Cumberland Council Car Parks (Filter Blue Badge Parking Spaces), 

For drop-offs you may use Castle Street, Abbey Street or Annetwell Street. Castle Street is the closest road to the main entrance. 

Our Abbey Street garden entrance can also be used to access Old Tullie House, the Auditorium and the main entrance. 

You can no longer access the museum opposite the Castle on Annetwell street. 

The streets surrounding the museum are main routes into/out of the city centre and are relatively level and in good condition. 

Apart from the street leading from the railway station to the city centre, and the street the museum is located on, all the streets are pedestrianised. The following roads have cobbled surfacing: 

• Fisher Street 
• Paternoster Row
• Abbey Street 

Main Entrance, Reception and Ticketing Area

Main Entrance 

The main entrance to our Welcome Desk is via the Tullie Gatehouse, which is the building located on Castle Street with the clock tower. It is level access from the street to the main entrance. 

To find the Welcome Desk, come through the archway of the Gatehouse and turn right into the automatic doors just before the big T. There are two sets of automatic doors with a lobby in between them. The Welcome Desk is to your left after passing through the second set of doors. 

Welcome Desk 

This is where you can buy your tickets or where you can report to if attending an event or meeting a member of staff. 

Our friendly team are all trained in disability awareness and are happy to provide additional information and assistance. 

If you would like to borrow a wheelchair, this is where you can ask for one (these are provided on a first come first served basis – you may request one in advance of your visit). 

The welcome desk is 860mm high.  

Sensory Backpacks 

There are a small number of sensory backpacks available and these are in a basket to the left of the Welcome Desk. The backpacks include sensory gadgets, fidgets and concentration tools that may support you during your visit.  

You can reserve a sensory backpack in advance of your visit by calling 01228 618718 or by emailing enquiries@tullie.org.uk

Seating, Shop and Toilets  

There are benches located around the welcome space.  

The shop is directly opposite the welcome desk and is level access.  

The toilets are on the left-hand side of the new Carlisle Gallery, which is directly opposite the entrance. There are male and female toilets and an accessible toilet. 

There are steps and a ramp leading to Café Tullie from the welcome space. Both the ramp and steps have handrails. 

There is signage throughout the museum for orientation.  

Toilets

Welcome Area toilets 

These toilets are our main public toilets. They are located in the ground floor Welcome Area, next to the Carlisle Gallery.  

Here, there is a single cubicle accessible toilet for all genders. Its floor measurements are 221cm by 144cm. 

It also has: 

• Handrails 

• Slip resistant flooring  

• Emergency Alarm 

• Baby-changing facilities 

 Here, there are also separate gendered toilet units with single cubicles, urinals, communal hand washing facilities and baby-changing facilities (accessible and ladies toilets only).  

Toilets on Galleries 

Roman Frontier Gallery  

There is one accessible single cubicle toilet located on Border Galleries by the lift lobby entrance / exit that’s for all genders. 

Its floor measurements are 230cm by 208cm. 

It also has: 

• Handrails 

• Slip resistant flooring  

• Emergency Alarm 

• Baby-changing facilities  

 Old Tullie House 

The toilets in Old Tullie House are only accessible via a staircase with 18 steps and a handrail. 

For groups using our classrooms – there is a single cubicle toilet that’s accessible via platform lift. 

The lift measurements are:  126cm long & 83cm wide.

The toilet cubicle measurements are: 237cm by 158cm. 

This toilet has: 

• Handrails 

• Slip resistant flooring  

• Emergency Alarm 

This toilet can be used by the public when there are no school groups using the space in the School Holidays. Please speak to a Volunteer Gallery Engager if you require use of this facility. 

There are automatic hand dryers in all toilets. Please see a member of staff if you require the hand dryers to be turned off.  

We do not currently have a Changing Place facility, changing bed or shower. The closest changing place facility is in the Lanes shopping centre (CA3 8NX)  https://www.lanescarlisle.co.uk/customer-services/accessibility/  

Attractions (Displays, Exhibitions and Events)

There are three permanent galleries and one gallery with changing exhibitions. We have gallery engagers in all gallery spaces who are happy to assist with any access questions or needs and to read information to visitor

Carlisle Gallery – ground floor, level access. 

A soundscape plays within the gallery area – this is mostly contained within a curved wall section of the gallery but can be heard quietly outside of this. 

Printed instructions and transcriptions are available in booklet form.  

Full audio guide is available via a QR code.  

The full access guide for the gallery can be found here.

Exhibition Gallery – ground floor, level access.

This is a changing space and we are committed to making our exhibitions as welcoming and accessible as possible for all visitors. 

Entrance & Doors: The main entrance has a power-assisted door with a push button to open it. Please take your time when entering — staff are available to assist if needed. 

The full access guide for the current exhibitions can be found here.

Roman Frontier Gallery – lower ground floor, accessible via lift. 

The soundscape begins as you go down the stairs to approach the gallery and continues into the main gallery.  

Lighting is lower in the first section of the gallery. 

Object labels and panels have been kept short. ‘Curator Cuts’ with more detailed information are available for some of the displays.  The Curator Cuts are approximately 15pt, with the introductory paragraph at 20pt.

Old Tullie House Galleries – ground floor with level access, first floor accessed via stairs only.

The first floor room has low lighting to protect artworks. 

City Hall Studio 

City Hall Studio is our new multi-use community space. It is located above the Shop on the first floor. It is accessible by 22 steps or a lift which measures 147cm x 107cm wide.  

The space is light and spacious, and the tables measure 70cm high. 

Café Tullie

Open 9.30am-4.30pm Monday-Saturday and 10.30am-4pm Sunday.  

Café Tullie is accessed via the welcome space, either up a short set of stairs or a ramp. The nearest toilets are also in the welcome space, next to the Carlisle Gallery also accessed via stairs or ramp. 

Café Tullie offers a variety of gluten free and dairy free options, but please tell the staff if you have any allergies or dietary requirements. 

You can view the menu here.

The Shop

The shop is located in the welcome space with a range of quality items. This is level access. 

There is a mixture of high and low level shelving throughout the retail area. 

Staff are always on hand to assist in getting items from higher shelves. 

The shop counter is 840mm high. There is an induction loop. 

The Gardens

Our gardens can be accessed from either Castle Street (through the gatehouse arch) or Abbey Street through a set of large iron gates. 

The museum gardens have a paved path running throughout which is accessible for wheelchairs. There is a gravelled area at the back of Old Tullie House which has benches to sit on. This area is also accessible for wheelchair users and prams / pushchairs. 

There is a step onto some of the grassed areas, with one point of level access. 

The Secret Garden

• The Secret Garden is accessed via Abbey Street and is used for booked / supervised sessions only.
• Access to the Secret Garden is via a hallway or ramp, both of which are flat ground and wheelchair accessible. 

Additional Information

Dogs are not allowed in the museum, though we do welcome trained assistance dogs. 

All of our staff receive regular training that includes disability and LGBTQ+ awareness training. 

If you have any questions or require something that will improve your experience at the museum, we encourage you to contact us and tell us how we can help. 

Contact Information 

Address: Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Castle Street, Carlisle CA3 8TP Telephone: 01228 618718
Email: enquiries@tulliehouse.org 

Emergencies 

In case of an emergency, our team will ensure that all visitors are safely evacuated from the building. Both audio and visual alerts are provided in the event of a fire. Evacuation chairs are also provided.