Access information
On this page, you can find useful information regarding access prior to your visit to the museum.
We want everyone's visit to be enjoyable and work continuously to make the museum more accessible and inclusive to the widest possible audience.
We welcome your feedback and suggestions. You can contact the team via access@designmuseum.org
For advance bookings of exhibitions or facilities, please email bookings@designmuseum.org or telephone +44 20386 25937
(10:00 – 17:00, Mon-Fri)
• Pre-booking is recommended for our paid exhibitions. You don't need to book a ticket to see the free displays.
• Please note that tickets for our paid exhibitions are available at a concessionary rate for visitors with disabilities, and free entry is included for accompanying carers.
• href="https://designmuseum.digitickets.co.uk/tickets" target="_blank">You can pre-book your tickets here
• For ticketing enquiries, please get in touch via bookings@designmuseum.org
• Our staff members located at the Ticket Desk (Ground floor) are able to assist you with purchasing tickets onsite if needed.
• Assistance dogs are welcome.
• A limited number of wheelchairs are available for use during your visit. These should be requested at least 24 hours in advance via telephone +44 20386 25937 or email bookings@designmuseum.org
• There are two disabled parking spaces available. Use of these parking spaces should be requested at least 72 hours in advance of your visit via telephone +44 20386 25937 or via email bookings@designmuseum.org although bookings made after this time may still be possible.
• Please note that the accessible parking bay is available for use from 10:00am, seven days a week. You will be required to move your vehicle from the accessible parking bay 15 minutes before the building closes.
• For drop-offs, it is recommended that wheelchair users stop immediately after turning off Kensington High Street and onto Hollandgreen Place (next to GAIL’s bakery).
Plan your visit
The museum is located on the corner of Earl's Court Road and Kensington High Street at the entrance of Holland Park. The closest underground stations include Kensington High Street, Earl's Court and Holland Park plus Kensington/Olympia overground stations.
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea provide local alternative disabled parking bays in the surrounding area.
GUIDED TOURS
For each exhibition, the museum offers access tours in British Sign Language (BSL) for deaf and hard of hearing visitors as well as Audio Described Tours for those who are blind and partially sighted, providing opportunities to touch and discuss objects. Please sign up to the newsletter to be informed of upcoming tours or visit the What's On section of the website to learn about future events.
Large print guides
When you visit, ask a member of staff for a printed version of a large print guide or download a digital PDF document below on your phone using the museum's free wi-fi.
This major exhibition celebrates the life and work of one of the greatest Italian designers of the 20th century, Enzo Mari, whose designs have inspired generations of creatives around the world. In partnership with Triennale Milano.
Location: Ground Floor.
What's on each floor?
All areas of the Design Museum are accessible by lift.
Entrance to the museum and its High Street shop are at street level. All exhibitions and shops are wheelchair accessible.
There are four lifts serving all floors of the building (-2, -1, G, M, 1 & 2).
Lift 1: Situated by the Security desk on the Ground Floor.
Lifts 2 & 3: Situated in the Atrium on the Ground Floor, next to the museum's Atrium shop.
Lift 4: Staff-only lift located on the Ground Floor.
For access to: Gallery 2 (step-free), the Bakala Auditorium (step-free).
Facilities available on this floor: lifts and accessible toilet (right-hand transfer).
For access to: Gallery 2 (via stairs), public reading area, lockers, and the Bakala Auditorium (via stairs).
Facilities available on this floor: lifts, male and female toilets, accessible toilet (left-hand transfer), and baby changing facilities.
Please note: Step-free access to Gallery 2 and the Bakala Auditorium is available via level -2. Please take the lift to level -2 or ask a member of staff for assistance.
For access to: Gallery 1 (level access), Atrium displays (free, temporary), general seating areas, the Design Cafe, and our Atrium shop.
Facilities available on this floor: lifts, accessible toilet (left-hand transfer), and baby changing facilities.
For access to: Mezzanine display (free, temporary) and a general seating area.
Facilities available on this floor: lifts.
For access to: Balcony display (free, temporary), Common Room (open to the public on weekends).
The following rooms are used for pre-booked activities and events and are not otherwise accessible to the public: Creative Workshop, Swarovski Learning Corridor, Ulm & Bauhaus Rooms, Design Studio and the Library & Archives.
For access to: Designer Maker User (free, permanent collection display), Crowdsourced wall, Climate Clock, Future Observatory free display, Helene & Johannes Huth Gallery (free, temporary exhibition).
The following rooms are used for pre-booked activities and events and are not otherwise accessible to the public: Researchers in Residence Studio, Chumsri & Luqman Lounge, and the Design Kitchen.
Facilities available on this floor: lifts, unisex toilets, and accessible toilet (right-hand transfer).
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