Access information
On this page, you will find useful information regarding access at the Design 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
If you need assistance booking exhibition tickets or a parking space, please email bookings@designmuseum.org or telephone 020386 25937
(10:00 – 17:00, Monday to Friday).
• We recommend that you pre-book your tickets for our paid exhibitions to avoid disappointment on the day. There are some tickets available to buy onsite, but these are limited and can sold out quite quickly.
• 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. You can pre-book tickets to our paid exhibitions here
• Visitors don't need to book tickets to see our free displays, including the Permanent Collection.
• For further assistance, please get in touch with the team via bookings@designmuseum.org
• Our staff located at the Ticket Desk (Ground floor) can assist you with purchasing tickets onsite if needed.
Assistance dogs are welcome.
A limited number of wheelchairs are available for use during your visit. Please request a wheelchair at least 24 hours before your visit via telephone +44 20386 25937 or email bookings@designmuseum.org
• Two disabled parking spaces are available, which must be booked at least 72 hours before your visit via telephone (+44 20386 25937) or email (bookings@designmuseum.org).
• Please note that the accessible parking bay is available for use from 10:00am, seven days a week. Please note that you must move your vehicle from there 15 minutes before the museum closes.
For drop-offs, it is recommended that wheelchair users stop after turning off Kensington High Street and onto Hollandgreen Place (next to Gail’s bakery).
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
The museum offers regular Exhibition and Architecture tours in British Sign Language for visitors using BSL, and Audio Described Sensory Tours for visitors who are blind or visually impaired. You can find new events on this page, and you can also sign up for our newsletter to be informed of upcoming tours.
To be notified when the museum has access tours available, please sign up to our Access list by clicking on the link below and selecting the checkbox option Access News.
Upcoming events
Join guide Edward Richards for a tour of the highlights of The World of Tim Burton exhibition delivered in British Sign Language for d/Deaf visitors and their companions using BSL.
Additional resources
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.
Delve into the fantastical world of Tim Burton in this major exhibition exploring his remarkable creations and key collaborations with designers.
Location: Floor G
A major exhibition exploring the design evolution of one of the world’s most famous dolls: Barbie.
Location: -1 Floor
Accompanying the retrospective exhibition 'Enzo Mari Curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist with Francesca Giacomelli', this free display showcases the work of London-based designers whose practices share an affinity with Enzo Mari's.
Location: Balcony Level 1
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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