Museum accessibility

General Access

A large print accessibility map is available on entry to the Museum from the Information and Ticket Desks. The map provides information about the location of stairs, lifts, ramps, eating areas and toilets, as well as information on accessible resources.

Accessibility map [PDF 1MB]

Map with info on parking, wheelchair access, lifts, baby changing facilities, assistance dogs & more

Museum floor plans are also available on the network of touchscreen terminals located throughout the museum. Museum staff are on hand to give assistance and can also provide help with the lifts for groups of visitors.

To help plan your visit further information can be obtained by telephoning the following numbers (available Mondays to Fridays 09.30 to 17.00):

Enquiry Line: +44 (0)20 7942 4000
Educational group visits: +44 (0)20 7942 4777
Minicom line: +44 (0)20 7942 4445

Wheelchairs

The Museum is fully wheelchair accessible. A limited number of adult and child wheelchairs are available and may either be booked in advance by telephoning 0870 870 4868 or borrowed 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.

Lifts

All lifts in the Museum are wheelchair accessible and have audio announcements. The majority of Museum lifts have Braille labelling on the buttons.

Toilets

Wheelchair-accessible toilets are available in the Basement and on the Ground, First, Second and Third floors. They are also available on all floors of the Wellcome Wing. Please refer to the Museum map or the touchscreen information terminals for positions.

Baby changing facilities

Wheelchair-accessible baby changing facilities are available on the Lower Ground floor, in the Basement, on the Ground floor by the Exploring Space gallery and on the Second floor by the Ships gallery.

Early Birds

The Science Museum presents a new and exciting experience called Early Birds for families with members who have an Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC). The Museum will be open from 8:30am for families to come along and enjoy the Museum free of the general public. There will be four Early Bird sessions throughout 2013.

The Early Birds sessions will see our interactive gallery Launchpad open exclusively to booked Early Bird guests until 11:15am with bubble workshops, the opportunity to use the gallery and witness some thrilling demonstrations.

There will also be lots of other activities on offer such as a sensory room, a storytelling workshop, a photo booth and the Flight Lounge (Flight Gallery) where you can dress up as a pilot, play with model aeroplanes, and much more.

All of these events are completely free and suitable for families with children under the age of 14.

For information, dates, questions or to express your interest please email Emma Sareen on: emma.sareen@sciencemuseum.org.uk to find out when events are taking place.

We also run Deaf-led tours of our popular Museum galleries at our adults-only Lates evening on the last Wednesday of every month. Please check the Lates page for more details.

Induction loops and infrared systems

Induction loops are fitted at the Ticket Desk in the Energy Hall on the Ground floor, at the IMAX 3D Cinema entrance in the Wellcome Wing, in The Theatre, and at the Information Desk and in the show space in Launchpad. The IMAX 3D Cinema is equipped with an infrared system. Headsets are available on request.

Braille resources

Braille information books are available for use in Launchpad and can be requested at the Launchpad Information Desk. Braille labels have been installed in the Who Am I? gallery, to accompany the touch objects.

Large print gallery books

A selection of large print gallery books for some of our popular exhibits are available in PDF format to download and print prior to your visit to the Museum.

Audio Description

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

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

Cloakroom

There is a cloakroom located on the Lower Ground floor which can be accessed via the stairway and glass lifts at the front of the building.

Prices
Coats, jackets, other clothing, umbrellas, folded prams/buggies, scooters: £1 per item
Small bags: £2 per item
Suitcases, unfolded prams/buggies: £4 per item.

Places to eat

The Revolution Café is located in the Energy Hall on the ground floor and is a self-service café with moveable seating, some of which have backs and arms.

The Deep Blue Café is located on the ground floor of the Wellcome Wing and provides a waiter service. If you have specific dietary requirements, please call the Enquiry Line in advance of your visit so that we can help to cater for your visit (this service is only available at the Deep Blue Café).

If you would like to book a table in either the Revolution Café or the Deep Blue Café please call the Enquiry Line in advance of your visit.

The Eat Drink Shop is located in the basement and provides hot and cold snacks.

Allergy information is provided on food packaging and on menus.

Picnic areas are located in the Basement and on the Third floor.

Temporary Exhibitions

There is a rolling programme of temporary exhibitions, if you require further information please contact the Enquiry Line.

Hands-on galleries

The Science Museum has a number of interactive galleries where visitors are encouraged to interact with the exhibits through vision, sound and cognitive ability. These galleries include The Garden in the Basement, Pattern Pod on the Ground floor, Energy on the Second floor and Launchpad on the Third floor. Most of these areas are staffed by Explainers - our professional science communicators who provide personal guidance, explanations and demonstrations on gallery. These galleries can sometimes become very crowded and visitors with additional needs are advised to contact our Enquiry Line or our Education Bookings before their visit. All interactive galleries are marked by a hands-on symbol on the map.

IMAX 3D Cinema

Disabled visitors receive concessionary prices for IMAX 3D Cinema and an enabler/support person is eligible for free entry.

Lift access is available to both the front and the rear of the IMAX 3D Cinema. For access to the IMAX visitors should make their way to the IMAX Ticket Desk on the Ground floor of the Wellcome Wing, where staff will be happy to assist. An accessible toilet is provided at the rear of the cinema.

There are 4 permanent wheelchair spaces in the cinema which are located in two areas. However, the seating can be adjusted to accommodate further wheelchairs. This requires 48 hours notice, so if you are planning to visit in a group/party please contact the Enquiry Line in advance to book seating. Guide dogs are welcome in the cinema.

Please note that the IMAX experience is immersive and can be overwhelming as it contains loud sounds, high visual stimulation and sudden perceived movements.

Fly Zone and simulators

Disabled visitors receive concessionary pricing on all simulators and an enabler/support person is eligible for free entry.

Within the Fly Zone gallery Red Arrows 3D is fully accessible. All other simulators are accessed via steps and do not accommodate wheelchairs, due to manufacturer design.

Please note that the experiences within Fly Zone are immersive and can be overwhelming as they contain loud sounds, high visual stimulation and sudden movements. In addition, there are specific restrictions which apply to each simulator, if you require more information please contact the Enquiry Line.