Victoria and Albert Museum: Making the arts accessible for everyone

The Victoria and Albert museum doesn't cut corners when it comes giving disabled people every possible opportunity to get involved in art and design.

Providing visual, audio and physical support to its visitors, the museum also holds a selection of tours and events each month, specifically catering to visually impaired people and individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Considered one of the world’s greatest museums of art and design, this historic building houses some of the most amazing collections of fashion, architecture, and illustration ever created.

Read on and discover all the need-to-know information on accessibility, as well as the exciting tours the V&A is holding over the coming months...

Getting there

Transport for London provides detailed information to explain the different ways people with accessibility issues can get to the museum using public transport.

Tube

From Liverpool Street Station, the best way to visit the V&A is via the Circle Line to Westminster. At Westminster use the accessible lift to get to the Jubilee Line and take the tube going to Green Park. Getting off at Green Park, the last part of the journey is by bus. The number 14 stops directly in front of the museum.

*Wheelchair users must enter via the Cromwell Road entrance as the Exhibition Road doors are not accessible

Bus

From Liverpool Street, visitors to the museum will need to take two buses; the number 23 to Piccadilly Circus, then the number 14 to the front of the V&A.

*Wheelchair users must enter via the Cromwell Road entrance as the Exhibition Road doors are not accessible

Arriving by road

If arriving by car, taxi, Dial-a-Ride or minibus, a drop off point is located by the main entrance on Cromwell Road.

Blue Badge Parking

There are twelve blue badge parking spaces on Exhibition Road managed by the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and are on a first-come-first-served basis.

Museum facilities

The Victoria & Albert prides itself on having good accessibility facilities for a wide range of disabilities.

Entry to the museum is free and people with disabilities are entitled to a discounted rate for exhibitions, with free admission for up to two carers or friends. Assistance dogs are also welcome.

Many of the events at the V&A are held in the museum’s dedicated theatres, auditioriums and seminar rooms, all of which have different accessibility information. The Lecture Theatre and the Sackler Centre Auditorium are easily accessed by lift and can accommodate six wheelchairs. Seminar rooms one, two and three are also considered accessible and located near the museum lift.

Audio support

For individuals that are deaf or hard of hearing, the V&A has a number of options to help you get the most out of your visit.

• A fire pager system is available from the information desk on arrival, which alerts deaf visitors if an alarm is activated. The pagers vibrate, flashes and beeps.

• Regular talks are given for deaf people in British Sign Language (BSL) and Sign Supported English.

• All the events in the museum are listed as being BSL interpreted.

• Sound enhancement equipment is used on talks and tours and can be collected from the information desk at the Grand Entrance.

• Induction loops – are available in the following areas: information desks, gallery information points, retail points, and the lecture theatre, auditorium and seminar rooms. You will need to switch your hearing aid to the "T" position in order to use these.

• Subtitled videos can be found within all galleries.

Visual support

For visitors who are blind or have sight impairments, the Victoria and Albert have a number of services on offer to make your visit even more enjoyable.

• A guiding service is offered by the museum for those who wish to use it. This can be booked in advance by calling 020 7942 2211, text phone 020 7942 2002 or emailing: bookings.office@vam.ac.uk

• Talks programmes are regularly held for visually impaired people, some providing the chance to handle objects in the V&A.

• Large print label books are available in all galleries, and tactile books can be found in the following galleries; RIBA Architecture, Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art, Medieval and Renaissance, Photography, and Stained Glass.

• JAWS and MAGIC screen-reader software is available on computer terminals in the National Art Library and the Prints and Drawings Study Room

• Magnification Systems (CCTV) can be found in the National Art Library and the Prints and Drawings Study Room

Physical support

If you have a physical disability, the museum is dedicated to helping you get the best out of your time and is happy to discuss individual requirements.

• The V&A is a Grade 1 listed building, which means some areas were not built with the needs of individuals with physical constraints in mind.

• Wheelchairs and walking frames are available at Information Desks and a guiding service can be booked in advance.

• Gallery stools are available in a range of galleries, visitors will be advised of the exact details of this by members of staff.

Learning disability support

Individuals with learning disabilities will find that the devices and services on offer at the V&A can help make your visit both interesting and engaging.

• Hand-held text to speech scanners allow visitors to get the most out of gallery guides and read object text labels around the museum. The device also provides meanings for individual words. Speech scanners can be picked up at the Information Desks.

• Screen readers and other magnification technology - JAWS and MAGIC software is available on computer terminals in the National Art Library and the Print Room.

Upcoming Tours

BSL Interpreted

The New Medallists – BSL Tour, Friday 20th July

Natasha Ratcliffe, Petra Mills, Sara Richards, Chloe Shaw, Phoebe Stannard and Heidi Hinder are the New Medallists whose work breathes new life into the centuries-old art of the medal. This BSL Tour will take you on a journey of discovery, looking at a variety of items made for pleasure and contemplation.

Key Information: Where? Meeting Point, Grand Entrance
When? Friday 20 July, 18.30

Click here to book your place.

Touch Tours

Fashionable Living in the British Galleries Touch Tour, Tuesday 19th June

Visitors to this tactile tour will be given the opportunity to touch objects and hear stories on Fashionable Living, a key theme of the museum’s British Galleries.

Key information: Where? Meeting Point, Grand Entrance
When? Tuesday 19th June, 11.00 – 12.00

To book a place on this tour, simply click here

Carving, Casting & Cuir Bouilli Touch Tour, Tuesday 17th July

Individuals who have booked a place on this tour with be able to touch objects and hear fascinating stories about the artefacts found in the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries.

Key information Where? Meeting Point, Grand Entrance
When? Tuesday 17th July, 11.00 – 12.00

To book a place, simply click here

If you’ve visited the V&A and can provide even more information about the museum, the collections, or issues of accessibility, then please get in touch with us here at Dancing Giraffe or leave a message in the comments box below.