Access
At JORVIK Viking Centre we want to make sure that we deliver a welcoming and enjoyable environment for all visitors. Learn more about what access options are available for your visit.
Welcome
At JORVIK Viking Centre you are standing on the site of one of the most famous and astounding discoveries of modern archaeology. Between the years 1976-81 archaeologists from York Archaeological Trust, an independent educational charity, revealed the houses, workshops and backyards of the Viking-age city of Jorvik as it stood nearly 1,000 years ago.
These incredible discoveries enabled us to build JORVIK Viking Centre on the very site where the excavations had taken place, creating a groundbreaking visitor experience where you take a journey through the reconstruction of Viking-age streets and experience life as it would have been in 10th century York.
Watch our JORVIK Viking Centre Overview Video
You can view our Access guide here (PDF, 2MB) or view the AccessAble guide below
Recite Me
Recite Me is a web accessibility toolbar that allows website visitors to customise a site in a way that works best for them.
The toolbar can be used to provide text to speech functionality, fully customisable styling features, reading support aids and a translation tool with over 100 languages, including 35 text to speech voices.
You may find the Recite Me toolbar useful if you have dyslexia, visual impairments, autism, ADHD, epilepsy or hyperlexia.
The toolbar can be activated using the button labelled Accessibility and Language Tools in the top left of the page.
At a Glance
There is step-free access to the entrance and throughout the building. There is a lift between floors and an accessible toilet. All staff have disability awareness and Autism Awareness training.
Glass doors have contrast markings. We have interpretation available in level 1 translation and in large print. Some parts of the building have low lighting, though you can borrow a handheld lamp.
Visual stories are available to download on our website as a Visual Stories PDF (3 MB) or as a Visual Stories Word Document (11 MB) and we have paper copies at our front desk.
We have a hearing loop on all our ride capsules and at our “pod” area.
Please be aware that the portal in the ‘Discover Coppergate’ area may include moving imagery that could trigger photosensitive migraine or epilepsy
We have a complimentary ticket policy for carers and personal assistants, and all tickets are valid for one year, allowing as many returns and re-entries as you like. You can book your return visit here.
Seating is available throughout the building, and we have sensory packs for you to use at our front desk.
Accessibility equipment
We provide the following accessibility equipment free of charge to visitors:
- A folding wheelchair
- Folding chairs & backless benches
- Ear defenders
- Braille guide
- Large print guides
- Visual stories (along with a Smell Map) PDF Version (3 MB).
- Hand held lanterns
- Booster seats
- Sensory packs containing various tactile and visual items, including fidget/fiddle objects
Our ride capsules and pod area have a hearing loop.
We also operate a traffic light sticker system at all our attractions:
- Red sticker = please do not approach me
- Yellow sticker = please answer my questions but let me approach first
- Green sticker = please approach and speak to me
You can pick up the sticker colour of your choice at the front desk.
Service Animals
At York Archaeology, we’re committed to making our sites welcoming and accessible for everyone. We warmly welcome service, assistance, and emotional support dogs—including those in training—at all our attractions. If you’re visiting with a different type of assistance animal, please get in touch with our Reservations Team in advance so we can ensure the best possible experience for you and your companion.
To help keep everyone safe and comfortable, assistance animals should be clearly identifiable and well-behaved. At JORVIK Viking Centre, a harness is recommended for animals using the ride, though it’s not essential for visiting the rest of the site. We’re happy to provide water bowls on request, and outdoor toileting areas are available at all locations. If you have any questions about accessibility or would like to give feedback on your visit, we’d love to hear from you.
You can read our full Service Animal Guidelines here (PDF. 49KB)
Customer Care Support
We work to welcome all disabled people to our sites through a variety of training, feedback, and sector-led research. We are always keen to improve our offer, so if you have any suggestions, please email us at [email protected]
Breastfeeding is welcome at all our sites, and we can provide a private space if you would like.
Emergency Evacuation Procedures
In case of an emergency, staff are trained to help everyone evacuate quickly and efficiently, and have been given specific training to help disabled visitors evacuate.
Sensory Information
JORVIK Viking Centre is a highly interactive experience through Viking York where visitors get to see, hear, and smell what life was like 1,000 years ago. By using multiple senses, we strive to make JORVIK an experience that everyone can enjoy, and are constantly working to improve our accessibility. For further information, feel free to email [email protected] or call (01904 615505) or even stop in and speak to a member of staff.
Because we are an underground museum, JORVIK can feel somewhat claustrophobic when it gets crowded. Noise levels are generally never very high, but if the museum starts to become overwhelming, you are welcome to leave and come back at any point. All our tickets are valid for a full 12 months, so you can return at any time in those 12 months – and as many times as you like!
Our quietest periods are during the Winter months, and most days after 2pm. You can always contact our reservations team at [email protected] or on 01904 615505 to determine the best time for your visit.
Additional Information for Wheelchair Users
Wheelchair and mobility scooter users must pre-book via phone on 01904 615505 or via email at [email protected]. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer online bookings for wheelchair or mobility scooters at this time. Since most of the attraction is underground, fire regulations dictate that only one wheel chair user may be inside JORVIK at any one time.
Mobility scooters cannot be used within the centre due to the limited space of our galleries and some large electric wheelchairs can sometimes struggle to get on the ride. In these cases, we do have a manual wheelchair you can use if you are able to transfer yourself. If you are able to walk there is a lift to use to get into the centre and all of our galleries are flat and wheelchair accessible.
Our Admissions and Shop areas are both accessed from street level and our admissions doors are always open to allow for easy access for wheelchair users and pushchairs. The Admissions area is a flat smooth surface with a lower desk area to the right as you enter. There is a lift that will take you to the start of your visit.
One of the capsules is fitted with a modified space for wheelchair users to enjoy the ride without having to leave your wheelchair. Once you are inside the attraction, a member of our Technical team will come and talk to you about experiencing the ride and will escort you to the boarding point to provide assistance.
To access our Shop at the end of your visit, you will need to go back up in the lift then leave through our Admissions doors, re-entering the shop through the external door to the right as you exit the Admissions area.