Accessible V&A Museum London
Accessibility :
Step-Free Access,
Wheelchair Accessible Throughout,
Ramps & Wheelchair Accessible Lifts,
Wheelchair Accessible Toilets,
Wheelchair Accessible Cafés
More....
For details of other wheelchair accessible attractions, accessible events, and wheelchair-friendly eating and drinking options throughout the UK, see The Access Map 2023
Accessible V&A Museum in London
General admission to the V&A in London is free – seven days a week, with no booking required.
Some special exhibitions and events are pay-to-enter though. But when they are, V&A Members can visit them for free too – you too can become a V&A member here.
The V&A Museum in London includes over seven miles of awe-inspiring galleries (with over 60,000 objects on display). The “V&A 20” guide, available at the Information Desk on Level 0, highlights the most precious, famous or intriguing highlights in the collection.
There is 100% wheelchair access throughout the V&A London museum (via ramps when there is a level change, or via wheelchair accessible lifts which provide access to all upper levels of the V&A London building). Be careful though, not every lift goes to every floor, but the V&A museum staff know the lift routes well and are very happy to advise you (they might even escort you to the nearest lift which will take you to where you want to be).
Prior to your visit to the V&A Museum in London, you should have a look at the interactive map of the V&A London. This will let you visualise the route you need to follow when you later visit the museum, and the locations of any facilities you might use during your visit.
The V&A have also created a series of of online self-guided trails of the V&A to help guide your visit (these self-guided trails explore highlights from the collection, the building’s architecture, and a selection of family favourites).
There are platform lifts in both Gallery 40 and in the Jewellery Gallery. These platform lifts provide wheelchair access to the upper levels of these galleries.
Should your assistant need a seat during your visit, stools are available in a range of galleries in the V&A London (simply ask a member of staff for any assistance – the V&A staff are easily recognisable).
Free Tours and Talks:
V&A volunteer guides give introductory tours to the V&A daily (at 10.30, 12.30, 13.30 & 15.30).
There is also one tour a day in the Europe 1600–1815, Medieval & Renaissance Britain and Theatre & Performance galleries.
Guiding Service:
The V&A London also offers a free “Guiding Service”. If you require a guide to assist you around the building during your visit, you should definitely book this service in advance (Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 2000; Email: accessibility@vam.ac.uk).
The Guiding Service may be available if you just request it on the day. However, assistance cannot be guaranteed to visitors who do not book in advance (so if you require this service, and to ensure that it is available to you, it should most-definitely be requested in advance).
Wheelchairs are also available for use during your visit (if you’d like to reserve a wheelchair, email the V&A at hello@vam.ac.uk – at least 24 hours in advance of your visit).
Luggage with wheels, and bags larger than 56 × 45 × 21cm, are not allowed in the galleries at the V&A London museum though. All rucksacks, large bags and suitcases should be left in the cloakrooms.
Cloakrooms are open 10.00 – 17.30 daily (10.00 – 21.30 on Fridays). And luggage is charged per item:
£3 – Coats, small bags (smaller than an average cabin bag), umbrellas, child scooters
£5 – Cabin bags (56 × 45 × 21cm)
£7 – Larger bags, folding bikes and adult scooters
As part of the V&A’s security procedures, your bags may be searched.
Accessible Parking at the V&A Museum in London
There are six Blue Badge parking spaces at the V&A Museum in London – on Exhibition Road. Theses blue badge parking spaces are just 40 level metres from the step-free Exhibition Road entrance to the V&A .
Due to traffic congestion and the high demand for parking space though, the standard entitlements of the Blue Badge do not apply in parts of central London – including Kensington and Chelsea (where the V&A London museum is located). However, Blue Badge holders still enjoy up to 4 hours of free parking in Kensington & Chelsea (including the Blue Badge spaces on Exhibition Road) during controlled hours, and for as long as you want outside of these hours. See the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea website for more details (they also provide a very handy interactive map which shows the locations of all other Blue Badge parking spaces in the Kensington and Chelsea area).
Getting to the V&A Museum in London using Public Transport
Getting to the V&A Museum by Underground (Tube):
Neither of the closest Underground stations to the V&A London museum are accessible (South Kensington – 5-minute walk, and Gloucester Road – 10-minute walk).
The closest Underground station to the V&A London museum which IS accessible is Earl’s Court – over 1 mile away!
Getting to the V&A Museum by bus:
Several bus routes stop at or near the V&A museum in South Kensington though. Taking bus 14 to the V&A from the Green Park exit on Piccadilly will allow you to visit the V&A London (and also the Natural History Museum London) as a side-trip on the very accessible London West End DIY Walking Tour.
All buses in central London are wheelchair accessible – and are equipped with a retractable ramp (automatically controlled by the bus driver).
Plus, bus travel in London is free for wheelchair users (your companion has to pay the correct fare though). I recommend that you use the official TfL Journey Planner to find the best route for yourself.
Getting to the V&A Museum by taxi:
All of London’s famous black taxis are fitted with retractable wheelchair ramps.
Accessible Entrance to the V&A Museum in London
There are 3 entrances to the V&A Museum in London. Just two of the three entrances are wheelchair accessible though.
Cromwell Road Entrance:
A gradual slope leads to a wheelchair accessible door located between the revolving doors.
Exhibition Road Entrance:
An automatic door is located at the bottom of a gently sloping ramp.
[The Tunnel entrance from South Kensington underground station is not wheelchair accessible though – but as South Kensington Underground station itself is not wheelchair accessible, wheelchair users won’t be anywhere near the Tunnel entrance to the V&A anyway].
Accessible Toilets at the V&A Museum in London
There are 13 accessible toilets available in the V&A Museum in London (all toilets are indicated on the official Interactive Map – and also on this (slightly dated) PDF museum leaflet map of the V&A in London).
The accessible toilets in the V&A Museum in London have step-free access and doors wide enough for both manual and powered wheelchair. All accessible toilets are fitted with grab rails and easy turn taps and locks.
Accessible Cafe/Restaurant at the V&A Museum in London
The main V&A Café is open from 10.00 – 17.00 every day.
The Garden Café is a hidden oasis in the centre of the V&A building and is open all year round (it’s only open on weekends during winter though).
The café staff at the V&A are really excellent, and will help carry your tray to your table.
More....
For details of other accessible visitor attractions, accessible events, and accessible eating and drinking options, see The Access Map 2023
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Thank you – and happy travels!
V&A London News
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