Science Museum Science Museum, Exhibition Rd, Kensington, London SW7 2DD, UK

Welcome to the home of human ingenuity. We curate a world-renowned collection and organise exhibitions, events and IMAX films for 3 million visitors each year. The Science Museum is a major museum on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, London. It was founded in 1857 and today is one of the city's major tourist attractions, attracting 3.3 million visitors annually.

To help you plan your visit, here you can find information about all our facilities and who to contact if you need to know more

GENERAL ACCESS

Museum floor plans are located throughout the museum, along with digital displays that show times and details of events taking place throughout the day. Museum staff are on hand to offer assistance, and can also provide help with the lifts for groups of visitors.

DISABLED PARKING

A small number of disabled parking spaces are available outside the museum 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.

WHEELCHAIR USERS

LIFTS

All lifts in the museum are wheelchair accessible.

TOILETS AND BABY CHANGING

Wheelchair-accessible toilets are available on all levels of the museum and on all levels of the Wellcome Wing. Please refer to the museum map or the touchscreen information terminals for positions.

Wheelchair-accessible baby changing facilities are available in the following areas:

• Level -1: access via Lift A
• Level -1, next to the Garden gallery: access via Lift D
• Level 0, next to the Exploring Space gallery
• Level 2, next to Mathematics: The Winton Gallery and next to the Energy gallery

BORROW A WHEELCHAIR

A limited number of adult and child wheelchairs are available. You can book a wheelchair in advance by calling 0870 870 4868. You can also borrow a wheelchair on the day by asking a member of staff at the Information Desk.

The Science Museum would like to thank Goldman Sachs for its support of the innovative Trekinetic wheelchairs.

D/DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING VISITORS

The majority of videos throughout the museum have subtitles.

BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE EVENTS

In the coming months our SIGNtific programme will be entering an exciting new phase of development, incorporating new technologies and creating even more inclusive events for families with members who are d/Deaf, hard of hearing or who use cochlear implants.

On the last Wednesday of each month adults are welcome into the museum for an evening of fun. We always have BSL events—see our Lates page for details.

INDUCTION LOOPS

Induction 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 showspace of Wonderlab: The Statoil Gallery on Level 3.

The IMAX 3D theatre is equipped with an infrared system. Headsets are available on request. Induction loops are fitted throughout the galleries at specific exhibits and are clearly signed.

INFORMATION AGE GALLERY

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

Induction loops are incorporated into most audio exhibits in Information Age, including all zone art installation rooms. All audio exhibits in Information Age have subtitles or accompanying transcripts available.

BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED VISITORS

All lifts in the museum have audio announcements. The majority of lifts also have Braille labelling on the buttons.

Large print gallery books are available at the entrances of the Information Agegallery, Mathematics: The Winton Gallery and Who Am I?

Audio descriptions of a selection of objects are available to listen to on the Audio Description page. 

GUIDE DOGS

Guide dogs are welcome to the museum and the IMAX 3D theatre.

ACCESSIBLE EVENTS FOR VISITORS WHO ARE BLIND OR PARTIALLY SIGHTED

The next VIscovery event for visitors who are partially sighted or blind will be taking place on 20 January 2018. Booking is not yet open.

If you have any questions about these events, or you would like to subscribe to the mailing list to be notified when booking opens please email familyprogrammes@sciencemuseum.org.uk.

You can take an audio-described tour, led by one of our Volunteer Tour Guides, of the Information Age gallery on Level 2. This tour is recommended for blind and partially sighted adults. To book a place or for more information, please contact our call centre on 020 7942 4000.

Find out about upcoming audio-described object handling sessions in the Information Age gallery.

INFORMATION AGE GALLERY

Seven touchable objects are located around the Information Age gallery, one in each zone. They are accompanied by large print and Braille labels. Tactile cane detector markers are incorporated into the floor to help highlight hazards.

Tactile maps are available at the entrances of the gallery. If you would like to be sent a copy of the tactile map and an accompanying audio description for the gallery in advance, please contact our enquiry line on 020 7942 4000.

Our Audio-Eyes app is available for free download for iOS. It provides audio-only descriptions of more than 60 exhibits, including key objects and tactile displays, and enables you to roam freely through the gallery.

Throughout the gallery there is a selection of audio-based exhibits accessed via speakers and headphones.

FAMILIES WITH MEMBERS WITH AUTISTIC SPECTRUM CONDITIONS

The Science Museum presents Early Birds and Night Owls, special events designed for families with members who have an Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) and for young adults who have an ASC.

On Early Birds dates, the museum opens at 08.30 so that families can come along and enjoy the museum free from the hustle and bustle of the general public.

The museum also opens from 18.30–21.30 on Night Owls evenings, which are exclusively for young adults with an ASC.