Accessibility
At DIG we want to make sure that we deliver a welcoming and enjoyable environment for all visitors. Learn more about what accessibility options are available for your visit.
Accessibility
DIG is a hands-on archaeological adventure giving kids the chance to become trainee archaeologists and discover the most exciting artefacts from 2000 years of York’s history! With four special in-door excavation pits, all based on real-life archaeological digs in the city. Filled with replica Roman, Viking, Medieval and Victorian finds, children can grab a trowel and explore how people lived in these times. DIG is a very adaptable, tactile learning environment and warmly welcomes all disabled visitors. Tours run every half an hour and last for about an hour.
For any adults wanting to visit DIG, we offer DIG Deeper – a tour created especially for adults offering an in-depth look at the archaeological process. Please book on the last tour of the day.
At A Glance
There is level access to the entrance and throughout the building. There is a lift to the first floor and an accessible toilet. All staff have disability awareness and Autism Awareness.
Glass doors have contrast markings. We have interpretation available in level 1 Braille translation and in large print. Visual stories are available at our front desk.
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. Seating is available throughout the building, and we have sensory packs for you to use at our front desk.
Sensory information
Due to the nature of the building, DIG can get very loud. We are in a converted medieval church with lots of open space and hard surfaces so noise travels and echoes a lot, especially if we have multiple school groups. We do have a small number of ear defenders available and subject to availability, we also have a quiet space if you get overwhelmed. Our garden is always available for you to take a breather too. Inside of term time, afternoons after 3pm tend to be quieter as well as most weekends, especially in the morning. Outside of term time, Sunday mornings tend to be our quietest time. If you want to schedule a visit for a quieter time, contact our reservations team at [email protected] and they’ll be able to find a time that suits you.
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.
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. 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
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 have a rocking chair in our Little Diggers area available for breastfeeding parents.
Accessibility equipment
We provide the following accessibility equipment free of charge to visitors:
- A folding wheelchair
- Folding chairs
- Ear defenders
- Large print guides
- Visual stories
- Sensory packs containing various tactile and visual items, including fidget/fiddle objects
There is an area to charge mobility scooters and battery powered wheelchairs.
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.
All DIG tours are fully guided by a staff member and therefore are naturally tailored to suit the needs of the group. Our tour guides are incredibly knowledgeable in accessibility and are working constantly on making DIG as inclusive and accessible as possible.
DIG is a designated safe space
Emergency Evacuation Procedures
DIG is located inside a Grade II* listed medieval church and has a very open floor plan. 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
DIG is a very hands-on experience with an emphasis on tactile learning.
Due to the nature of the building, the sensory environment of DIG can vary widely depending on how busy we are. We are in a converted medieval church with lots of open space and hard surfaces, so noise travels and echoes a lot. If we have multiple school groups in or it is during school holidays, the building can be very loud and overwhelming.
During school holidays, the classroom is available as a quiet space if you need it. We also have a small number of ear defenders. Our garden is always available for you to take a breather too.
Our quietest times are Sundays, especially during the morning, and most afternoons during the week after 3pm. You can always contact our Reservations team at [email protected] or 01904 615505 to determine the best time for your visit.
All tickets are valid for 12 months, so you can also leave and return at another time if you need to at no additional cost.