Science Museum Accessibility Guide

Overview

The Science Museum is one of London's most accessible attractions. Entry is free, and the building has lifts reaching all seven floors. Many of the interactive exhibits were designed with accessibility in mind, including buttons and screens at wheelchair height. Corridors are wide, and the open floor plans make it easy to move around. Free wheelchairs are available for loan, and staff are trained to assist disabled visitors.

Getting There

• Tube: South Kensington (Piccadilly, District, Circle lines). The station has step-free access via lift. Follow the museum tunnel from the station, which is level and leads directly toward Exhibition Road. The tunnel walk takes about 5 minutes.
• Bus: Routes 14, 49, 70, 74, 345, 360, 414, and C1 stop nearby on Cromwell Road and Exhibition Road.
• Accessible entrance: The main entrance on Exhibition Road is level with no steps. Automatic doors open into the ground floor galleries.

Wheelchair Accessibility

• Level access through the main Exhibition Road entrance. No ramp needed.
• Free wheelchair loan from the cloakroom on the ground floor. No booking required.
• Lifts connect all seven floors. There are multiple lift banks throughout the building, so you are never far from one.
• Corridors and gallery spaces are wide. The Wonderlab interactive gallery has lowered exhibits and touch-screen displays at wheelchair-accessible heights.
• The IMAX cinema has wheelchair spaces with good sightlines and companion seating.

Accessible Toilets

Accessible toilets on every floor. Each has grab rails, emergency pull cords, and enough turning space for a wheelchair. The accessible toilet on the ground floor near the shop is the largest.

Tips for Visitors with Disabilities

• Free entry to permanent galleries. For ticketed exhibitions and experiences, a companion enters free when the disabled visitor has proof of disability or an Access Card.
• The Wonderlab gallery (ticketed, around 10 GBP) is particularly good for wheelchair users. Many exhibits use touch, sound, and light rather than requiring physical movement.
• BSL-interpreted events and tours are scheduled regularly. Check the events page on the website for upcoming dates.
• The cafe on the ground floor and the Picnic Area on the lower ground floor both have step-free access and seating with space for wheelchairs.
• The Science Museum, Natural History Museum, and V&A are all on Exhibition Road within a few minutes of each other. The street is flat and wide, making it easy to visit more than one in a day.