Spatial and Information Accessibility of Museums and Places of Historical Interest: A Comparison between London and Thessaloniki

Abstract

Accessibility to the cultural heritage of museums is an inalienable right of all individuals. However, these places appear to be very unfriendly and unsustainable towards individuals with mobility, sensory, and cognitive difficulties, resulting in their exclusion from cultural heritage. The aim of the research was to examine the spatial and information accessibility in certain museums and places of historical interest in two culturally important European cities, London (Great Britain) and Thessaloniki (Greece). Fifteen museums in London and fifteen in Thessaloniki were visited and assessed thoroughly. The tools used were a) an extended checklist of accessibility criteria and standards developed in the context of the present research and b) a semi-structured interview. The results showed that the London museums are slightly more accessible than the museums in Thessaloniki, especially with reference to spatial accessibility. All participant museums should focus more on individuals with impairments other than physical/mobility since their main accessibility features appear to serve only mobility and navigation needs. Moreover, while the buildings of the recent past are more accessible, buildings that are listed or are themselves of historical interest are difficult to adjust. The results present which specific categories need to be urgently targeted and, thus, in which direction any corrective action towards accessibility should be placed. These findings are of great interest for all stakeholders in cultural accessibility and social inclusion.