Bath’s Beckford Tower is a two-century-old, Grade I listed building that is a landmark of Bath’s historic heritage and features prominently on the Bath Skyline. The tower is an impressive architectural structure, standing at around 40 meters tall. It has a square base and tapers as it rises, featuring several levels with large windows providing panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, including the city of Bath.  

The Tower presents challenges in accessibility to individuals with reduced mobility or visual impairments, primarily due to its original architectural structure.    

Recognising the importance of inclusivity and ensuring everyone can enjoy this historical site, efforts have been made to enhance accessibility. As part of a major restoration project The Bath Preservation Trust, who manage the site, commissioned The Centre for Print Research, UWE Bristol (CFPR) to help improve the level of accessibility for people with visual impairments.  
  

The CFPR are designing and producing a series of replicas and tactile models of ornate architectural details to facilitate understanding of the architecture and to provide a better visiting experience for people with visual impairments. These models will be housed in a dedicated room with full accessibility and a museum will be created inside the building as part of the refurbishment.   

The tower will re-open to the public in spring 2024.