The Bowes Museum

Walked in the grounds on the paths and had lunch in the café. Visited the Stories in Stitches exhibit.

We visit Bowes Museum regularly and are Friends of the Museum. There are many, many interesting rooms full of the collections of John and Josephine Bowes and also a gallery dedicated to different exhibitions. Sometimes a theme, like LEGO exhibition, might be scattered all over the museum to find the models. The cafe is fabulous and the service excellent. There are lifts to each floor and plenty of space to move around. The grounds are beautiful and the whole space has an air of peace. There does appear to be only one disabled toilet and it is quite basic, though big enough for wheelchairs. There is also a disabled car park but it is very rough ground, has a lip from the car onto the road that can be difficult to get over alone. There are very few spaces - I think 4, not marked out clearly among staff spaces, or with allocated spaced bays, and not large - so you may come out of the museum and find you can't get your wheelchair alongside the car because someone else has parked too close. To get into the museum you must go around the side to the service entrance, ring the bell and wait for someone to come and let you in.

I often come here to see exhibitions or meet friends in the cafe