Access at South Kensington

A child sits in Hintze Hall doing an activity with a Visitor assistant

We aim to provide a friendly, accessible environment for all our visitors and the widest possible access to our buildings, exhibitions and collections.

Last updated 31 August

Visitors with access requirements and their accompanying family members and personal carers can skip the queues to enter the Museum. When you arrive please approach a member of staff at an entrance for assistance.

For more information about accessing the Museum:

call us on +44 (0)20 7942 5000
email us

Companion tickets

We offer free companion tickets to paid exhibitions. Find out what's on.

Getting here and entrances

Central Entrance on Cromwell Road what3words: ///chose.wonderfully.star

East Entrance on Exhibition Road what3words: ///limit.take.admits

West Entrance on Queen’s Gate what3words: ///plenty.voter.late

Security notice

Your bags may be searched when you arrive at the Museum. Please do not bring any sharp objects, including knives and scissors, as they may be confiscated.

Find out more about the security and safety measures we have in place.

Smoke free

Smoking (including the use of electronic cigarettes and vaping products) is not permitted in our buildings or gardens.

Getting here

Entrances

You can enter the Museum through any of our three main entrances.

Central Entrance: This entrance is open and is accessible via the East Gate (what3words: ///thus.public.case), on the corner of Cromwell Road and Exhibition Road. It’s step free with a ramp. what3words: ///chose.wonderfully.star
East Entrance: This entrance is on Exhibition Road and is open. It’s not step free but there’s a lift from the entrance lobby to the galleries. Sometimes we may need to close this gate to manage crowds during busy periods. what3words: ///limit.take.admits
West Entrance: This entrance is open daily until 16.00 and is accessible via our Upper West Gate on Queen’s Gate. It’s not step free but there’s a lift from the entrance lobby to the galleries. what3words: ///plenty.voter.late

Transportation

By Tube

The nearest Tube station is South Kensington. It’s about a five-minute walk from both our Central Entrance via our East Gate and our East Entrance. Piccadilly, District and Circle line trains stop at South Kensington. This station is not step free but there’s a lift from the platforms to the station. From the station use the subway tunnel for step-free access to our Central Entrance via our Subway Gate.

Gloucester Road station is about a 12-minute walk from our Central Entrance and a seven-minute walk from our West Entrance. Piccadilly, District and Circle line trains stop at Gloucester Road. This station is not step free but has a lift.

Find the quickest route to visit us by using Transport for London's Journey Planner.

By bus

Several bus routes stop near the Museum. Visit Transport for London's website for details.

By bicycle

There are cycle racks on Exhibition Road. The nearest Santander Cycles docking stations are on Exhibition Road and on Thurloe Place, near South Kensington Tube station.

By coach

For groups travelling by coach, the drop-off point is outside the main entrance on Cromwell Road.

By car

We do not have parking facilities on-site and parking around the Museum is limited.

Disabled parking

We have a very limited number of parking spaces on site for Blue Badge holders. Availability cannot be guaranteed. Please book in advance by calling us on +44 (0)20 7942 5000. You can access these spaces via Queen's Gate, SW7 5HD, to the west of the Museum.

There are also twelve Blue Badge parking spaces on Exhibition Road. These spaces 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 and 18.30. Find out more on the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's website.

Luggage, cloakroom, parking and photography

Luggage and cloakroom

Both cloakrooms are open for the full range of services, including coats.

The cloakroom at the main entrance on Cromwell Road is available for large bags and suitcases only.

Large and wheeled suitcases that cannot be carried must be left in the cloakrooms (see prices below). This is subject to availability of space, so we recommend to avoid bringing such items if possible.

Luggage is charged according to weight.

Prices per item:

Umbrellas: £2
Coats: £3
Folded pushchairs: £4
Folded bike: £4
Bags weighing less than 4kg: £4
Bags weighing more than 4kg: £5

Museum Members can use the cloakrooms free of charge. The same restrictions apply.  

Parking

We do not have parking facilities on-site and parking around the Museum is limited. Find out other ways to get to the Museum.

Disabled parking

We have a very limited number of parking spaces on site for Blue Badge holders. Availability cannot be guaranteed. 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.

Photography

Photography for personal use is permitted in the Museum with hand-held cameras only.

Find out more about our commercial filming and photography opportunities.

Toilets, lifts, wheelchair hire and assistance dogs

Toilets

All toilets are open. The restrooms are cleaned regularly.

Accessible toilets

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

Lifts

Lifts are marked on the Museum map.  Please use the stairs where possible to ensure lifts are available for those who need them.

The upper floors of the Red Zone are currently only accessible by stairs, as the lift is out of order.

Wheelchair hire

You can borrow wheelchairs for free from the cloakrooms just inside the main entrance on Cromwell Road and the Exhibition Road entrance.

Assistance dogs

Assistance dogs and guide dogs are welcome at the Museum and in our gardens. Please leave non-assistance dogs and other animals at home. If you have any questions around assistance animals please contact us in advance of your visit.

Neurodiversity

We have resources and events to support children and families with neurodiverse conditions.

Quiet spaces at the Museum

These spaces usually have lower noise levels and fewer people than the rest of the Museum. They all provide seating and are marked on the Museum map.

Lasting Impressions (Red Zone): an uncluttered space with specimens to touch
Minerals gallery (Green Zone): an airy space with natural light
Images of Nature (Blue Zone): a quiet space with low lighting
Contemplation Room (Blue Zone): a quiet, naturally lit room used for prayer and reflection
Cocoon (Orange Zone): a quiet, open space with a wide spiral bath leading down two levels
Zoology spirit building (Orange Zone): a quiet, tucked-away space for reflection. It's also home to a range of specimens stored in alcohol in the spirit collection.

Read more about these spaces in our quiet spaces and galleries guide. Pick up a hard copy of the guide from the information desks when you arrive.

Dawnosaurs: Relaxed Morning Visit

Enjoy an early morning visit to the Museum, free from the hustle and bustle of the general public. Visitors have access to a wide range of galleries and activities, supported by experienced, autism-aware facilitators.

Free, ticket required

Audio guides

Audio descriptions

Take an audio-described tour of Hintze Hall, narrated by Sir David Attenborough. There are 24 guides to choose from.

Audio-described guides are available for: Hintze Hall, our Gardens, Human Evolution and Volcanoes and Earthquakes.

Hintze Hall ground floor

Ground floor audio description and orientation. The information desk is no longer in the space.

41:16, MP3 (37.8MB)

Hintze Hall first floor

First floor audio description and orientation. The information desk is no longer in the space.

40:28, MP3 (37.1MB)

Our gardens

Described navigation of our new gardens alongside information and stories from scientists, Museum staff and other experts.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Listen to audio descriptions of a selection of images from the sixtieth Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.

Human Evolution

Gallery audio description. Some changes have been made to the gallery, which aren't reflected in this guide.

33:18, MP3 (72.6MB)

Human Evolution - with orientation

Gallery audio description and orientation. Some changes have been made to the orientation and displays, which aren't reflected in this guide.

33:18, MP3 (72.6MB)

Volcanoes and Earthquakes

Gallery audio description and orientation. Some changes have been made to the orientation and displays, which aren't reflected in this guide.

42:30, MP3 (43MB)

Visually impaired visitors

Large print gallery guides

Tactile and Braille books and large-print gallery guides are available for some of our temporary exhibitions and can be collected in-gallery.

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, however, 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.

D/deaf and hard of hearing

Hearing loops

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

John Wilson signs in BSL to people visiting the Spirit Collection and taking pictures of the squid

Deaf-led tours

The Museum runs British Sign Language deaf-led tours around the fascinating spirit collection.

You'll see Archie, the 8.62-metre-long giant squid, view specimens collected by Charles Darwin and learn more about how the collections are used for our scientific research.

Adult: £35, Child: £35, Members: £28

Deaf Messaging Service (DMS)

The Museum has Deaf Messaging Services (DMS) installed. The DMS are linked to the Museum’s fire alarm system and can notify DMS subscribers to a fire alarm activation via their mobile phone. Three DMS zones cover the Museum’s public buildings.

How to sign up

Smart phone users:

Text NHMBLUEGREEN to 0748 048 6966.
You will receive a text message from Fireco confirming you are registered to the NHMBLUEGREEN zone and containing a link to connect to your dashboard.
Click on the link in the text message and from the dashboard, ensure the following three DMS zones are selected: NHMBLUEGREEN, NHMORANGE and NHMRED. Once selected click ‘Save my settings’
To customise notifications, select how you would like to be notified from the dashboard - by text, voice, WhatsApp and/or email. Once selected click ‘Save my settings’.

Please be aware that you will not receive DMS texts and calls if your phone has no signal. You will need internet connection to receive WhatsApp messages or emails.

You will now be signed up to the DMS for each zone in the Museum.
We recommend that you save the DMS number 0748 048 6966 in your contact list under DMS to assist with recognition of calls from the system.

How to unsubscribe

From your dashboard, deselect the DMS location(s) you want to unsubscribe from.
Click ‘Save my settings’.

For non-smart phone users:

In three separate messages, text NHMBLUEGREEN and NHMORANGE and NHMRED to 0748 048 6966.
You will be automatically registered to receive text messages from the each DMS.

Please be aware you will not receive DMS texts if you have no phone signal.

How to unsubscribe

Text STOP to 07480 486 966. You will receive a text confirming you have been unsubscribed.

Gallery closures and maintenance works

Sometimes we need to close galleries and spaces around the Museum to allow for essential maintenance or events.

Last updated 19 February 2025

Closed spaces include:

Investigate Centre is currently closed.
There will be scaffolding across the front of the Museum until March 2025 while we restore and care for the building's façade. It will be noisy at times and we apologise for the disruption.
There is scaffolding and hoarding in the Earth Hall while we repair the escalator. You can still get up to the first and second floors of the Red Zone via the stairs.

Lifts:

The upper floors of the Red Zone are currently only accessible by stairs, as the lift is out of order.
A number of lifts in the Darwin Centre are out of order. Please speak to a member of staff at the Museum for more information on which lifts are available.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Dawnosaurs: Relaxed Morning Visit

Enjoy an early morning visit free from the hustle and bustle of the public. With access to a wide range of galleries and activities, supported by experienced, autism-aware facilitators.

Various dates

08.00–10.00

Free, tickets required