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.
| Where are you going? |
|---|
| National Maritime Museum |
| Queen's House |
| Royal Observatory (historic site) |
| Peter Harrison Planetarium (Royal Observatory South Building) |
| 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
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
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.
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, 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.
Free buggy parking is situated outside the Voyagers gallery in the Sammy Ofer Wing. 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.
Access
The National Maritime Museum has accessible toilets, and our cafés and gift shops are wheelchair-accessible.
Download our full access document to help you plan a visit to the National Maritime Museum, from transport options to building entrances and lifts:
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.
Please note that due to renovation works on the Museum's roof, ongoing until summer 2025, these sensory maps are not accurate. We are working on updating these to reflect the Museum's new visitor route.
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.
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
Wheelchair access
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.
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
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 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
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
Hand-held magnifiers are available to borrow from the Information Desks. Please return these at the end of your visit.
Tactility
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)
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. The Museum audio guide is also available with British Sign Language.
Hearing loops
Hearing loops are fitted at all site information desks and at key locations across the sites.
Accessibility at the Queen's House
The Queen's House is an autism friendly site
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
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.
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.
Ear Defenders
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.
You can also download a sensory map of the Queen's House to help you locate less crowded, quieter areas and multisensory experiences. This covers sound, light, smell and touch.
Wheelchair access
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.
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)
A number of our Visitor Assistants are trained to British Sign Language Level 1 standard. The Queen's House audio guide is also available with British Sign Language.
Hearing loops
Hearing loops are fitted at all site information desks and at key locations across the sites.
Accessibility at the historic Royal Observatory
Access
Wheelchair access
The Royal Observatory and all other Royal Museums Greenwich sites have accessible toilets, and our cafés and gift shops are wheelchair-accessible.
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 or by calling +44 (0)20 8312 6608 (the office is open Monday-Sunday, 9am-5pm).
In the historic buildings there is no step-free access to:
- The upper floor of Flamsteed House (the Octagon Room)
- The Time and Society Gallery
- The Great Equatorial Telescope.
- The Camera Obscura. (there are two steps, one 8cm high and one 17cm high, which may be possible to navigate with some wheelchairs).
Additional information:
- Step-free access to the gallery 'Time in Greenwich’ (Floor -1) is via an external lift in the Astronomer's Garden.
- Step-free access to the gallery ‘Time and Longitude’ (Floor 1) is via an external lift in the Astronomer’s Garden. When you leave the lift on floor 1 please ring the bell for assistance in opening the door to access the gallery.
- You can request step free access the rest of Floor 0 (Flamsteed House), but please note that this Grade 1 listed building has narrow entrance-ways (narrowest point approximately 70 cm) and may not be suitable for all wheelchairs.
- The Meridian Galleries also contain some narrow entrance-ways (narrowest point is approximately 67 cm) and may not be suitable for all wheelchairs.
- Mobility scooters may be too large for lift access and visitors are requested to ask a member of staff on duty for assistance.
The Royal Observatory is 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. This route includes steps and a steep hill.
- 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.
British Sign Language (BSL)
British Sign Language supported and subtitled film and touchscreens are available at selected points within the permanent galleries across all our sites.
The Royal Observatory audio guide is also available with British Sign Language.
Hearing aid loops
Induction loops for hearing aids are fitted at all site information desks.
Access guide
General facilities
Getting here
The Royal Observatory is 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. This route includes steps and a steep hill.
- 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.
Site maps
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.
Changing Place
The nearest Changing Places facility is down the hill from the Observatory, at the National Maritime Museum.
Toilets and baby change
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.
Pushchairs
Due to the narrow interior of Flamsteed House pushchairs are not suitable unless required for children with disabilities or additional needs, but an external parking area is provided.
Pushchairs also aren’t suitable for:
- The Time and Society Gallery
- The Great Equatorial Telescope
- The Camera Obscura.
Other questions
Please contact our Bookings team.
- Call: +44 (0)20 8312 6608
- Email: bookings@rmg.co.uk
The office is open Monday-Sunday, 9am-5pm.
Accessibility at the Peter Harrison Planetarium
Choosing and booking a show
How to book
Our shows are very popular, so to prevent any disappointment, we recommend booking your tickets in advance. Planetarium shows are available to book online or via phone by calling +44 (0)20 8312 6608 (the office is open Monday-Sunday, 9am-5pm).
Wheelchair tickets
Four wheelchair spaces are available for each planetarium show. Pre-booking is recommended by selecting the relevant ticket option when booking online, or by contacting our Bookings team: email bookings@rmg.co.uk or call +44 (0)20 8312 6608 (the office is open Monday-Sunday, 9am-5pm).
Neurodiversity
For those who would benefit from a more relaxed environment, we recommend attending one of our Morning Stars planetarium shows
Visual impairment
For those with a visual impairment, we recommend attending one of our Audio Universe planetarium shows. The soundtrack and narration take a lead role in this show so it can be enjoyed irrespective of level of vision.
For some live-narrated planetarium shows, you can request for the presenter to include some audio description. We recommend enquiring a week in advance of your visit but please note that this won’t be possible for every show, even if it is live narrated. Please contact our Bookings team for further information or to arrange this by emailing bookings@rmg.co.uk or calling +44 (0)20 8312 6608 (the office is open Monday-Sunday, 9am-5pm).
Tickets for companions and carers
Companions to disabled visitors are entitled to free admission. Pre-booking is recommended by selecting the relevant ticket option when booking online or by contacting our Bookings team: email bookings@rmg.co.uk or call +44 (0)20 8312 6608 (the office is open Monday-Sunday, 9am-5pm).
British Sign Language (BSL)
If you plan to bring a British Sign Language interpreter, the planetarium has a low-level spotlight to allow for interpretation to be visible during the screening if booked in advance. Please contact our Bookings team for further information or to arrange this by emailing bookings@rmg.co.uk or calling +44 (0)20 8312 6608 (the office is open Monday-Sunday, 9am-5pm).
For some planetarium shows, you can request a narration script to be provided in advance. We recommend enquiring a week in advance of your visit. Please contact our Bookings team for further information or to arrange this by emailing bookings@rmg.co.uk or calling +44 (0)20 8312 6608 (the office is open Monday-Sunday, 9am-5pm). Due to the live nature of our shows, scripts will vary according to the show date as well as each presenter’s style and expertise. This also means we cannot guarantee that every script will be available.
Hearing aid loops
Induction loops for hearing aids are fitted at all site information desks and inside the planetarium.
For some planetarium shows, you can request a narration script to be provided in advance. We recommend enquiring a week in advance of your visit. Please contact our Bookings team for further information or to arrange this by emailing bookings@rmg.co.uk or calling +44 (0)20 8312 6608 (the office is open Monday-Sunday, 9am-5pm). Due to the live nature of our shows, scripts will vary according to the show date as well as each presenter’s style and expertise. This also means we cannot guarantee that every script will be available.
Babies and children under 5
Children under 5 will only be admitted to Ted’s Space Adventure or certain community shows. Babies who cannot walk and must be held can be admitted for free: please book a free ticket for your baby by selecting the relevant ticket option when booking online or by contacting our Bookings team: email bookings@rmg.co.uk or call +44 (0)20 8312 6608 (the office is open Monday-Sunday, 9am-5pm).
All children except babies must be allocated a seat and require a child’s ticket. Please note there will not be an opportunity to leave the planetarium theatre once your show begins, so please ensure you use the toilet facilities beforehand.
Getting to the Planetarium
General information
The planetarium is part of the Royal Observatory site, located at the top of a steep hill in Greenwich Park.
There are two routes through the park to the Observatory and these are signposted from the Sammy Ofer Wing park gates next to the National Maritime Museum.
- 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.
Please allow enough time to get to us and aim to arrive at least 15 minutes before the show’s start time, as latecomers cannot be admitted (except for our Morning Stars relaxed shows where late entry is allowed due to the lighting being kept at a higher level inside the planetarium).
Maps
The Peter Harrison Planetarium is located in the South Building of the Royal Observatory site.
Wheelchair access
The Royal Observatory and all other Royal Museums Greenwich sites have accessible toilets, and our cafés and gift shops are wheelchair-accessible.
Two manual wheelchairs are available to borrow free of charge. We recommend booking these in advance, due to limited availability, by emailing bookings@rmg.co.uk or calling +44 (0)20 8312 6608 (the office is open Monday-Sunday, 9am-5pm). Please speak to a member of staff on arrival to obtain your pre-booked wheelchair, or to request to borrow one on the day if available.
The planetarium is fully accessible via lift. Mobility scooters may be too large for lift access and visitors are requested to ask a member of staff on duty for assistance
Queuing
If you are unable to queue for prolonged amounts of time, please make yourself known to a member of the planetarium foyer staff before the show and they will be able to assist you.
Inside the planetarium
General information
Our planetarium shows do not feature flashing images but do contain occasional fast motion.
No eating or drinking is permitted inside the planetarium theatre. Photography or recording of any sort is forbidden during our shows.
Seat types
Each seat in the front two rows of the planetarium theatre have a chair width of 45cm, chair depth of 50cm, and chair back height of 64cm. These seats recline slightly when weight is applied.
All the remaining seats have a chair width of 43cm, chair depth of 47cm, and a chair back height of 67cm. These seats are fixed in a very slightly tilted back position.
If you require a specific one of these seat types, please make yourself known to a member of the planetarium foyer staff before the show.
Wheelchair spaces
Four wheelchair spaces are available for each planetarium show. Wheelchair users are welcome to transfer into a seat if they wish.
Hearing aid loop
The planetarium is fitted with an induction loop for hearing aids. If you would like to make use of this, please make yourself know to a member of the foyer staff before the show so they can ensure you get the best seats for it.
Ear defenders
We have a small number of ear defenders available to borrow for the duration of the show. Please request them from either the planetarium foyer staff or the show’s presenter.
Pushchairs
Due to the narrow interior of the building, pushchairs are not suitable for the planetarium theatre, but an external parking area is provided.
Latecomers and re-entry
You are welcome to leave the planetarium at any point during the show, but for most of our shows, we cannot allow re-entry or latecomers once the screening has begun. Re-entry and late entry for our Morning Stars relaxed shows is allowed as the lighting is kept at a higher level inside the planetarium.
General facilities
Maps
The Peter Harrison Planetarium is located in the South Building of the Royal Observatory site.
Toilets and baby change
Toilets, baby-change facilities and an accessible toilet are located in the South Building on the Lower Ground floor at the base of the central staircase. For level access please use the lift adjacent to the staircase.
Changing Place
The nearest Changing Places facility is down the hill from the Observatory, at the National Maritime Museum.
Hearing aid loops
Induction loops for hearing aids are fitted at all site information desks and shops.
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.
Other questions
Please contact our Bookings team.
- Call: +44 (0)20 8312 6608
- Email: bookings@rmg.co.uk
The office is open Monday-Sunday, 9am-5pm.
Accessibility at Cutty Sark
From Monday 24 February through to Tuesday 22 April, lift maintenance is taking place. For step-free access to the Dry Berth, visitors will need to enter via an alternative route - please speak to staff for information. During the lift works, the capacity for Cutty Sark is limited to two wheelchair users at any one time.
Facilities
Cloakrooms and buggy parks
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
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.
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:
Neurodiversity and sensory processing difficulties
A number of our staff are trained in autism awareness.
Cutty Sark is a dementia-friendly site.
Wheelchair access
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, but mobility scooters can be accommodated on board providing they fit in our lifts. Measurements for the lifts are included in the Cutty Sark access statement. No e-scooters or e-bikes are permitted on board as per our visitor regulations.
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.
Large print guides
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 exhibits at Cutty Sark have braille and embossed labels.
British Sign Language (BSL)
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.
The Cutty Sark audio guide is available with British Sign Language.
Hearing loops
Hearing loops are in place at both the admissions and retail desks. 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