Find out useful information about facilities at our museums including baby change and accessibility, and information for disabled visitors coming to any of our sites.

Includes information for D/deaf and disabled visitors.

Where are you going?
National Maritime Museum
Queen's House
Royal Observatory
Cutty Sark
I'm visiting multiple sites in Greenwich

Visitors can also contact RMGEnquiries@rmg.co.uk with specific questions.

Access across all our sites

Emergency evacuation 

Visitor and Sales Assistants are fully trained to support visitors who require step-free access during an emergency. Fire-refuge points and evacuation chairs are available on all levels.

D/deaf visitors 

We have an ongoing programme of D/deaf awareness and communication training for staff.

Assistance dogs

Access dogs Access Guide Symbol

Guide dogs, hearing dogs and assistance dogs are welcome throughout the Museum. A water bowl is available outside the Parkside Café. Please ask at the cafes or Information Desks if your dog requires additional water.

Free admission for companions to disabled visitors

Tickets Access Guide Symbols

Royal Museums Greenwich offers free admission to companions accompanying disabled visitors. This includes admission to special exhibitions. These tickets can be selected online with any paid ticket. Please contact the Bookings Team on 0208 312 6608 or email bookings@rmg.co.uk if you have any queries.

Our Visitor Assistants are also trained in disability awareness, so please ask a member of staff for any assistance you may need during your visit.

New: practising social skills

In collaboration with The Park College, a specialist college that provides training programmes for young people with autism and learning difficulties, Royal Museums Greenwich has produced three short films to assist visitors to the Museum who may find social situations challenging. Watch all the films here.

Accessibility at the National Maritime Museum

The National Maritime Museum is a dementia friendly site and a registered Safe Place.

Facilities

Toilets & baby change

Toilets and baby change Access Guide Symbol

Toilets, baby-change facilities and an accessible toilet are located opposite the ticket desk on the ground floor at the Stanhope entrance off Romney Road as well as in the Sammy Ofer Wing, accessed via our parkside entrance.

Additional facilities are located on the first floor at the rear of the Baltic Memorial Glass Exhibit and on the second floor inside ‘All Hands Children Gallery’.

All toilet and baby change facilities are wheelchair accessible.

Lockers and buggy park

Lockers are located on West St, near the Propeller on Level 0. There is a small charge (£1) for their use.

Buggy Park Access Guide Symbol

Free buggy parking is situated outside the ‘AHOY! Children’s Gallery’ on Level 0. Items are left at visitors’ own risk.

Lost property

To enquire about or hand in lost property, please go to the information desk in the Sammy Ofer Wing on the ground floor of the National Maritime Museum.

If you are retrieving an item you may be asked to fill in your details on our Lost Property forms. 

Multi-faith prayer room

Located above the Great Map, this room is open to all for prayer, meditation and reflection. Please remove shoes and respect others while using this quiet space, and ask staff if you would like directions or assistance.

Access

Wheelchair Access Guide Symbol

The National Maritime Museum has accessible toilets, and our cafés and gift shops are wheelchair-accessible. 

Download our full access documents (which are currently being updated) to help you plan a visit to the National Maritime Museum, from transport options to building entrances and lifts:

Find maps and floor plans

Neurodiversity 

We are committed to being an accessible venue for all neurodiverse visitors, including those with autism and dementia.

Our team have autism training and a SEND coordinator to help. 

The resources below provide information that we hope you will find useful, but should you have any specific enquiries please contact RMGEnquiries@rmg.co.uk and a member of the team with autism training will be happy to assist you.

Visual guide

Download our special National Maritime Museum Visual Guide created to help you understand the current changes put in place to ensure social distancing.

You can also download a sensory map of the National Maritime Museum to help you locate less crowded, quieter areas and multisensory experiences. This covers sound, light, smell and touch. 

Sensory Explorer backpacks which enable visitors to access the Museum in different ways are available on the Great Map.

These were created with families with children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Ear Defenders

Child or adult ear defenders are available to borrow at the Information Desks. Please return these at the end of your visit.

Ear Defenders Access Guide Symbol

Quiet Spaces

We can provide quiet spaces for visitors who might want to make use of them. 

We recommend the following spaces at the National Maritime Museum:

  • Voyagers Gallery
  • Forgotten Fighters Gallery
  • My Greenwich

You can also speak to a member of our Visitor & Sales team to request a quiet room.

Wheelchair access

Wheelchair Access Guide Symbol

All cafés and gift shops across the National Maritime Museum are wheelchair-accessible and accessible toilets are available. All floors of the National Maritime Museum have lift access.

Lift Access Guide Symbol

A limited number of manual wheelchairs are available to borrow free of charge from the Park Entrance Information Desk on Level 0. We recommend booking these in advance, due to limited availability, by emailing bookings@rmg.co.uk.

Seating

Seating Access Guide Symbol

Fixed seating is located throughout the Museum, in galleries and special exhibitions. A limited number of portable folding stools are also available on wall and standing racks on some galleries. Please ask a member of staff to help locate a stool.

Changing Places

A logo illustrating a Changing Places toilet, showing a changing table, hoist and wheelchair user

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Due to essential maintenance, the Changing Places facility is temporarily out of use. We are working to resolve this as quickly as possible.

A Changing Places facility is located near the shop in the Sammy Ofer Wing of the National Maritime Museum.

If you wish to use this facility, you will need to bring your own sling.

Find out more about Changing Places

Audio-described tours

A number of our staff are trained to give pre-booked audio-described tours at our museums.

Large print guides

Large Print Access Guide Symbol

Selected special exhibitions and galleries have large print guides which are available at the entrance of the exhibition or ay selected seating areas.

Magnifying glasses

Magnifying Glass Access Guide Symbol

Hand-held magnifiers are available to borrow from the Information Desks. Please return these at the end of your visit.

Tactility

Tactile Access Guide Symbols

There are many objects around the Museum that are on open display which visitors are welcome to touch. Sea Things, on level 1, has objects on open display that can be touched.

A team of volunteers run object handling in Sea Things, Pacific Encounters, Tudor and Stuart Seafarers and Polar Worlds. These sessions are pop up. If you would like information about when the volunteers are in, you can contact RMGEnquiries@rmg.co.uk

British Sign Language (BSL)

Sign Language Access Guide Symbol

A number of our Visitor and Sales Assistants are trained to British Sign Language Level 1 standard.

All films in exhibitions and galleries include British Sign Language and subtitles.

Hearing loops

Hearing Loops Access Guide Symbol

Hearing loops are fitted at all site information desks and at key locations across the sites.

Accessibility at the Queen's House

Facilities

Lockers

Lockers are available at the Queen's House costing £1.

Bags at the Queen’s House Please note that due to the delicate nature of some of the displays, visitors are not permitted to wear backpacks or carry large bags while in the galleries. 

Lost property

Any found items or enquiries can be directed to one of our visitor assistants at the Queen’s House.

Toilets & baby change

Toilets and baby change Access Guide Symbol

All the toilet and baby-change facilities at the Queen's House are wheelchair accessible. A Changing Places facility is available in the National Maritime Museum nearby.

Lift Access Guide Symbol

Toilets, baby-change facilities and an accessible toilet are located in the undercroft at the base of the Tulip staircase. For level access please use the entrance to the house at the base of the external horseshoe stairs.

Access

The Queen's House and all other Royal Museums Greenwich sites have accessible toilets, and our cafés and gift shops are wheelchair-accessible. 

Download our full access documents to help you plan a visit to the Queen’s House, from transport options to building entrances and lifts.

See maps and floor plans

Ear Defenders 

Ear Defenders Access Guide Symbol

Child or adult ear defenders are available to borrow at the Information Desks. Please return these at the end of your visit.

Quiet Spaces

We can provide quiet spaces for visitors who might want to make use of them

Visual guide 

Download our special Queen's House Visual Guide created to help you understand the current changes put in place to ensure social distancing.

Wheelchair access

Wheelchair Access Guide Symbol

All floors of the Queen's House have lift access.

Please note that if you are visiting the Queen’s House with a mobility scooter you may need to seek assistance from staff. This is because some models of scooter do not fit in the lift and ramps will be required if visiting the Great Hall and the Orangery. Ask at the information desk upon arrival.

Lift Access Guide Symbol

A limited number of manual wheelchairs are available to borrow free of charge from the Information Desk. We recommend booking these in advance, due to limited availability, by emailing bookings@rmg.co.uk.

Audio-described tours 

A number of our staff are trained to give pre-booked audio-described tours at our museums. 

British Sign Language (BSL) 

Sign Language Access Guide Symbol

A number of our Visitor Assistants are trained to British Sign Language Level 1 standard. 

Hearing loops

Hearing Loops Access Guide Symbol

Hearing loops are fitted at all site information desks and at key locations across the sites.

Accessibility at the Royal Observatory

Facilities

Cloakrooms

There are no cloakroom facilities at the Royal Observatory.

Lost property

Any found items or enquiries can be directed to one of our visitor assistants at the Royal Observatory.

Toilets & baby change

Lift Access Guide Symbol

All the toilet and baby-change facilities at the Royal Observatory are wheelchair accessible.

Toilets, baby-change facilities and an accessible toilet are located in the Astronomy Centre on the Lower Ground floor at the base of the central staircase, near the café and shop. For level access please use the lift adjacent to the staircase.

Toilets and baby change Access Guide Symbol

In the Historic Royal Observatory an accessible toilet and baby-change facility is located on the right-hand side after exiting the Admissions area. 

Additional toilets are located at the base of the external staircases in front of Flamsteed House.

Please note: Due to the narrow interior of the building, buggies are not suitable for either Flamsteed House or the Planetarium, but there are external Buggy Parks provided outside both areas.

Access

The Royal Observatory and all other Royal Museums Greenwich sites have accessible toilets, and our cafés and gift shops are wheelchair-accessible. 

See maps and floor plans

Wheelchair access

Wheelchair Access Guide Symbol

A limited number of manual wheelchairs are available to borrow free of charge from the Information Desk. We recommend booking these in advance, due to limited availability, by emailing bookings@rmg.co.uk.

Access at the Royal Observatory is limited to:

  • The Meridian line
  • Meridian building ground floor
  • Astronomer’s Garden
  • Camera Obscura

There is no disabled access to the older, Grade I listed buildings including Flamsteed House and Great Equatorial telescope. 

The Royal Observatory and Peter Harrison Planetarium are at the top of a steep hill in Greenwich Park. There are two routes through Greenwich Park to the Royal Observatory and Planetarium and these are signposted from the Sammy Ofer Wing park gates.

  • The main walking route follows the path directly up the hill and takes up to 13 minutes. This includes a short pause to take in the view of the city halfway up the path.
  • The less steep route, which we particularly recommend for wheelchair users, takes approximately 25 minutes. This timing is based on an adult pushing an adult wheelchair-user and taking a short break along the route.

The Astronomy Centre galleries and the Planetarium are fully accessible via lift.

Lift Access Guide Symbol

Mobility scooters may be too large for lift access and visitors are requested to ask a member of staff on duty for assistance.

Wheelchair spaces at the Planetarium are limited and pre-booking is recommended by emailing bookings@rmg.co.uk.

Some of the older parts of the Royal Observatory have restricted access.

The Octagon Room and Great Equatorial Telescope are only accessible via a staircase. 

Flamsteed House is not recommended for wheelchair-users due to its narrow interior. 

Wheelchair access to the Time Galleries is via an external lift in the Astronomer's Garden. 

Audio-described tours

A number of our staff are trained to give pre-booked audio-described tours.

British Sign Language (BSL)

Sign Language Access Guide Symbol

A number of our Visitor Assistants are trained to British Sign Language Level 1 standard. British Sign Language supported and subtitled film and touchscreens are available at selected points within the permanent galleries across all our sites.

Pre-booked groups visiting the Planetarium, accompanied by a British Sign Language interpreter, can request a low-level spotlight during the screening to allow for interpretation. Please contact our Bookings team for further information:

Email: bookings@rmg.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0)20 8312 6608

Hearing loops

Hearing Loops Access Guide Symbol

Hearing loops are fitted at all site information desks and at key locations across the sites.

Planetarium shows

Ear Defenders Access Guide Symbol

Ear defenders are available upon request. The planetarium shows do not feature flashing images but do contain occasional fast motion. 

We cannot allow re-entry or latecomers once the show has begun. 

Accessibility at Cutty Sark

Facilities

Cloakrooms and buggy parks

Buggy Park Access Guide Symbol

There are no cloakroom facilities at the Cutty Sark.

Buggy parking is available in the dry dock.  

Lost property

Any found items or enquiries can be directed to one of our visitor assistants at the Cutty Sark.

Toilets & baby change

Lift Access Guide Symbol

Toilets, baby-change facilities and an accessible toilet are located in the lower ground floor by the café and in the access tower across from the Main Deck.

Toilets and baby change Access Guide Symbol

Access

Cutty Sark and all other Royal Museums Greenwich sites have accessible toilets, and our cafés and gift shops are wheelchair-accessible. 

Download our access statement to help you plan a visit to the ship, from transport options to building entrances and lifts:

Find maps and floor plans

Neurodiversity and sensory processing difficulties 

A number of our staff are trained in autism awareness. 

Cutty Sark is a dementia-friendly site. 

Wheelchair access

Wheelchair Access Guide Symbol

For safety reasons, wheelchair access spaces for Cutty Sark are limited to three visitors at any one time.

Cutty Sark is wheelchair accessible with lifts providing access to all levels of the ship. Some areas of the Main Deck are not wheelchair accessible, but virtual access is provided to these spaces. 

The original ship structure restricts the size of the lift on board, so unfortunately mobility scooters cannot be accommodated on board.

Please also be aware that there are steps and gradients in Cutty Sark Gardens on the approach to the ship. There is a step-free route from King William Walk and Greenwich Pier.

Audio-described tours

A number of our staff are trained to give pre-booked audio-described tours at our museums.

Large print guides

Large Print Access Guide Symbol

Large print guides are available for visiting Cutty Sark.

Braille guide

A braille guide to Cutty Sark is available to download before a visit.

Tactility 

Tactile Access Guide Symbols

Tactile exhibits at Cutty Sark have braille and embossed labels.

British Sign Language (BSL)

Sign Language Access Guide Symbol

A number of our Visitor Assistants are trained to British Sign Language Level 1 standard. British Sign Language supported and subtitled film and touchscreens are available at selected points within the permanent galleries across all our sites.

BSL tours of the Cutty Sark take place quarterly and can be booked in advance. 

Hearing loops

Hearing Loops Access Guide Symbol

Unfortunately, it has not been possible to install a loop system inside Cutty Sark due to interference caused by the original wrought iron structure, but subtitles are included in all films with audio soundtrack. Hearing dogs and assistance dogs are welcome across all sites.

Cutty Sark is a registered dementia friendly site