Accessibility

General access

The Science Museum is committed to being open and accessible for everyone. On this page you can find out about accessible facilities and resources across the site.

Museum maps are located throughout the museum, along with digital displays that show times and details of events taking place throughout the day. You can download a map in advance on our Visit page.

Museum staff are on hand to offer assistance, and can also provide help with the lifts for groups of visitors.

We offer free carer tickets for some paid activities and exhibitions. These are currently unavailable to book via the website so you can either book online without carers’ tickets and then email the Contact Centre at info@ScienceMuseumGroup.ac.uk with your order number, and the team will be able to add free carer tickets onto the order. Alternatively, you can call the Contact Centre on 033 0058 0058 and they’ll be able to book the complete order over the phone.

To help plan your visit, further information can be obtained by calling the following numbers:

Enquiry line: +44 (0)33 0058 0058—(available 09.00–17.00 seven days a week)
Minicom line: +44 (0)20 7942 4445—(available 09.30–17.00 Mondays to Fridays)

Please be aware that there is currently no step-free access to the mezzanine level in Making the Modern World and Flight galleries. This is due to an ongoing technical fault and we are working hard to rectify the issue. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Quiet times and pre-visit information

Please note: We're currently building new galleries in the museum so there may be some additional noise during your visit.

The museum is quieter from mid-afternoon on week days in term time.

Queues may form at the entrance to the museum. If this presents a barrier, please approach a member of staff who will be able to grant you priority entry.

To help familiarise yourself with the museum and galleries ahead of your visit, you can find a series of Gallery Introduction videos on our Learning page.  You can also explore our museum collection online or view a 360 tour of our galleries.

We have also created a visual story and sensory map to help you plan your visit to the museum. 

Our multi-faith room, located on Level 2 next to our Information Age gallery, will also be open should you require a quiet space. Please ask a member for staff for more information during your visit.

Ear defenders are available at the Information and Tickets desk(Level 0), IMAX Box Office (Level 0) and Wonderlab ticket desk (Level 3).

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme

We welcome and support visitors who choose to wear a Sunflower item as part of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme.  Please note that we do not provide Sunflower items.

Find out more about the scheme on the Hidden Disabilities website.

Accessible parking

A small number of accessible parking spaces are available on Exhibition Road. Blue Badge holders may park in these spaces for four hours between 08.30 and 18.30. These spaces are controlled by the council rather than the museum and cannot be booked in advance.

For more information, please see the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s website.

Getting around the museum

Lifts

The majority of lifts in the museum are wheelchair accessible, have audio announcements and Braille labelling on the buttons. Please refer to the museum map or ask a member of staff for locations.

Toilets and baby changing

Changing places toilet

The Changing Places toilet will be closed on Friday 6 September from 12.00 – 15.00 for essential maintenance.

Changing Places Toilet is equipped with hoist, changing bench and centrally located toilet between the Energy Hall and Exploring Space gallery. The toilet is accessible with a RADAR key. If you have forgotten your key please ask a member of staff for access. Full details can be found on the Changing Places Toilet Map.

Accessible toilets

Accessible toilets are available on all levels of the museum and on all levels of the West Hall. Please refer to the museum map or ask a member of staff for locations.

Accessible baby changing facilities

Accessible baby changing facilities are available in the following areas:

• Level -1: access via Lift A
• Level -1: access via Lift D
• Level 1: Medicine Galleries Near Staircase D

We offer male and female toilets throughout the museum, in addition to all-gender toilets, which are available in the following areas:

• Level 3, opposite the Wonderlab ticket desk 
• Level 1, next to the Exploring Medicine Gallery
• Level 1, in the Technicians Gallery

Borrow a wheelchair or folding stool

A limited number of wheelchairs are available.

You can book a manual wheelchair in advance by calling 033 0058 0058. You can also borrow a wheelchair or folding stool on the day by asking a member of staff at the Information Desk.

Guide and assistant animals

Working guide and assistance animals are welcome at the museum. They should be appropriately trained, supervised and kept with you at all times, ideally on a leash. Where possible, dog owners should bring their Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK) identification book and animals should wear the appropriate tabards or harness, but this is not a requirement for entry.

If you plan to visit with an assistance animal other than an assistance dog, please get in touch with the Contact Centre via email at info@sciencemuseumgroup.ac.uk or by phone at 033 0058 0058, so we can pass your details onto colleagues working on the day of your visit.

Please provide the following information: 

• Museum location (we are a group of five museums)
• Visit date
• Visit time
• Contact details (mobile/email)

Unfortunately, we cannot admit pets to our museums.

Acccessible resources

Hearing Loops

Hearing loops are fitted at all ticket and information desks. They can also be found in the Hans Rausing Lecture Theatre on Level 0 and in the show space of Wonderlab on Level 3. 

Hearing loops are incorporated into most audio exhibits. Please note hearing loops are not working in the Information Age Story Boxes. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

British Sign Language, Subtitles and Transcripts

British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation is incorporated into selected films. It is also a primary communication method within the Exchange network zone of the Information Age gallery.

Many gallery-based films have subtitles, and some in Information Age and Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries have transcripts available digitally. You can download these where you see links.

Large Print Books

Large print books are available across a number of galleries and temporary exhibitions.

You can pick up a large print book in Information Age, Mathematics: The Winton Gallery, Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries and Science City 1550–1800: The Linbury Gallery.

You can also download from our website ahead of a visit or in galleries where you see the download information. The Science Museum offers free WiFi if you wish to download the texts during your visit.

Tactile Maps

A Tactile Map of the Museum is available at the Information Desk in Energy Hall, level 0. Tactile Maps are also available for Information Age and Medicine Galleries.

Touch Objects

Touchable objects are located in three galleries: Information Age, Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries and Science City 1550–1800: The Linbury Gallery. They are accompanied by large print and Braille labels. For your health and safety, button access to audio descriptions is temporarily unavailable. 

Tactile cane detector markers are incorporated into the floor to help highlight hazards.

Audio Eyes App

For Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries and Information Age, audio description can be accessed through the Audio Eyes app, free to download for iOS. It provides audio-only descriptions for key objects and tactile displays and enables you to roam freely through the gallery.

AudioEyes handsets are currently unavailable.

Accessible events

• Early Birds: On Early Birds dates, the museum opens at 08.00 so that families with children who need a quieter environment can enjoy the Museum free of the hustle and bustle of the general public. Find out more about Early Birds
• Night Owls: The museum opens from 18.30–21.30 on Night Owls evenings, which are for those 16 years and over to have a relaxed environment to explore the Museum. Find out more about Night Owls
• SENsory Astronights: SENsory Astronights is a relaxed, after-dark exploration of the Science Museum for children with special educational needs and disabilities. From science shows to camping in one of our iconic galleries, it will be a night that you and your child will never forget. Find out more about SENsory Astronights

If you have any questions about these events, please email scmcommunity@sciencemuseum.ac.uk.