Facilities and access

Wheelchairs

You can borrow wheelchairs for free from the cloakrooms just inside the Exhibition Road entrance.

Lifts

All floors in the Blue, Green and Red zones, and the Darwin Centre, are accessible by lift. 

Accessible toilets

Wheelchair-accessible toilets and baby-changing facilities are clearly marked on the Museum map and floor plans.

Parking

We have a small number of parking spaces on site for Blue Badge holders. Book in advance by calling +44 (0)20 7942 5000 and asking to speak to the Security Reception team. You can access these spaces via Queen’s Gate to the west of the Museum.

There are also 12 Blue Badge parking spaces on Exhibition Road, which are managed by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and cannot be booked in advance. You can park there for four hours between 8.30 - 18.30. More information on the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's website.

Cloakroom

You can leave coats and luggage in our cloakrooms in Hintze Hall (just inside the Cromwell Road entrance) and by the Exhibition Road entrance. 

Luggage is charged according to weight. Folded pushchairs can be left for free.

Please note that large and wheeled suitcases that cannot be carried must be left in the cloakrooms and paid for at the appropriate cost. This is subject to availability of space, so it is recommended that visitors avoid bringing such items if possible.

Prices per item:

Umbrellas: £1
Coats: £2
Bags weighing up to 4kg: £2.50
Bags weighing more than 4kg: £5

Museum Members can use the cloakrooms free of charge. 

Audio descriptions

There are audio descriptive guides available for Hintze Hall, Images of Nature, the Human Evolution gallery, and the Volcanoes and Earthquakes gallery.

Download the Volcanoes and Earthquakes gallery audio description MP3 (43MB)

Download the Images of Nature gallery audio descrption MP3 (41MB)

Download the Human Evolution gallery audio description MP3 (72.6MB)

Download the Human Evolution gallery audio description with orientation MP3 (94.3MB)

Download the Hintze Hall ground floor audio description with orientation MP3 (37.8MB)

Download the Hintze Hall first floor audio description with orientation MP3 (37.1MB)

Large-print gallery guides

Tactile and Braille books and large-print gallery guides are also available at the entrance to many of the Museum's galleries.

If you need any other assistance during your visit to the Museum our staff will be happy to help you.

Guide dogs

We welcome guide dogs at the Museum. There are grass areas for them outside and water is available on request. You can leave your guide dog with the attendants at either of our cloakrooms if you wish.

Please note that guide dogs are not allowed on our Spirit Collection Tours. If you need help with access talk to staff at the information desks, or call us on +44 (0)207 942 5000.

Induction loops are built in at our information desks and ticket desks, and at various points in the Darwin Centre and Images of Nature gallery.

British Sign Language events

The Museum will book British Sign Language interpreters on request, where reasonable with two or more weeks' notice. To arrange an interpreter, please contact [email protected].

Wheelchairs

You can borrow wheelchairs for free from the cloakrooms inside the Exhibition Road entrance, or in the Darwin Centre atrium inside the Queen’s Gate entrance. 

Lifts

All floors in the Blue, Green and Red zones, and the Darwin Centre, are accessible by lift. 

Accessible toilets

Wheelchair-accessible toilets and baby-changing facilities are clearly marked on the Museum map and floor plans.

Parking

We have a small number of parking spaces on site for Blue Badge holders. Book in advance by calling +44 (0)20 7942 5000 and asking to speak to the Security Reception team. You can access these spaces via Queen's Gate to the west of the Museum.

There are also 12 Blue Badge parking spaces on Exhibition Road, which are managed by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and cannot be booked in advance. You can park there for four hours between 8.30 - 18.30. More information on the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's website.

Dawnosaurs

Dawnosaurs runs four times a year for children on the autistic spectrum. The free event lets autistic children enjoy the Museum with their families and siblings, free from the hustle and bustle of the general public.

The events include a wide-ranging programme of activities, including a chance to see, meet and even touch live animals. All activities are supported by experienced and autism-aware facilitators.

Find out more about Dawnosaurs.