The Official Residences of The Queen
The Official Residences of The Queen are opened to the public by the Royal Collection. The Royal Collection is responsible for the conservation and display of the works of art, and ensuring public understanding of and access to the Collection is increased through exhibition, publication, and education programmes.
Resources for the blind and partially-sighted are available in London and Windsor.
The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace
The Queen's Gallery is a permanent space dedicated to changing exhibitions of items from the Royal Collection, the wide-ranging collection of art and treasures held in trust by The Queen for the Nation.
Verbal description events and staff led tours are available during each exhibition. Visit the Queen's Gallery website.
The Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace
One of the finest working stables in existence, The Royal Mews houses the State vehicles, both horse-drawn carriages and motor cars, used for coronations, State Visits, the State Opening of Parliament and official engagements. Visitors can see the Gold State Coach which was first used in 1762.
Blind and partially-sighted visitors can follow a verbal description audio tour to explore the Royal Mews. Visit the Royal Mews website.
The State Rooms of Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is one of the few working royal palaces remaining in the world today. The State Rooms are used extensively by The Queen and Members of the Royal Family to receive and entertain their guests on State, ceremonial and official occasions. During August and September when The Queen makes her annual visit to Scotland, the Palace is open to the public.
Blind and partially sighted visitors can follow a verbal description audio tour to explore the Palace's nineteen state rooms. Visit the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace website.
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle, the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world, encapsulates 900 years of British history. It covers an area of 26 acres and contains, as well as a royal palace, a magnificent chapel and the homes and workplaces of a large number of people.
Blind and partially-sighted visitors can explore the Castle and its State Rooms with a verbal description audio tour all year round. Visit the Windsor Castle website.
More information
For more information about access, large-print labels, tours and resources for the blind and partially sighted, at the Official Residences of The Queen, call the Learning bookings team on: 020 7766 7323 or email: learning@royalcollection.org.uk.
All tours and events are free with the venue's standard admission price.
Visitors who require a companion for their visit are entitled to a complimentary Access Companion ticket.
Ham House and Gardens
Ham House and Garden is a Stuart mansion on the river Thames near Richmond, run by the National Trust. A rare survival of original seventeenth century furniture and sumptuous interiors, plus peaceful, formal gardens, Ham House is a treasure trove waiting to be discovered.
There are large print short guides for the property, plus a braille short guide and large print touch list is available for the house. Guided and described visits are provided by volunteers and can be tailored to your needs and interests. These can be booked by calling 0208 940 1950 or emailing sarah.mcgrady@nationaltrust.org.uk.
The grounds and gardens are open Saturday to Thursday 11:00-5:00. The house is open 12:00-4:00. The property can be fully accessed by wheelchair or a mobility scooter can be booked in advance. A lift provides access to all floors of the house.
Geffrye Museum, London
The Geffrye Museum explores the home over the past 400 years, from around 1600 to the present day. The focus is on the living rooms of the urban middle classes in England, particularly in London. The museum shows how such homes have been used and furnished over this period, reflecting changes in society and patterns of behaviour as well as style, fashion and taste.
Visitors can tour the Museum's period rooms with a free audio guide, or you can attend one of the monthly object handling sessions or talks. These multi-sensory sessions provide participants with the opportunity to explore aspects of the Museum's collections, gardens and themes in more detail. The sessions are free but book in advance, as places are limited.
For more information or to book your place please contact bookings@geffrye-museum.org.uk or telephone 020 7739 9893.
More information
Access information
All main displays are located on the ground floor. Entrance and gardens are ramped and accessible to wheelchairs.
Group visits
Handling sessions and craft workshops for groups of six or more people can be arranged separately at a time convenient to your group, Tuesday to Fridays subject to availability.
Cost
Admission free.
Opening hours
-
Open: Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm
Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays 12 noon to 5pm
-
Closed: Mondays (unless Bank Holiday), Good Friday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day.
Facilities
-
Restaurant: open until 4.45pm
-
Shop: open during Museum hours.
-
Gardens: walled herb garden and period garden rooms open April to October during museum opening hours.
-
Other facilities include:
-
accessible toilets
-
lift
-
audio guide
-
induction loop in all education rooms
-
lecture room and other areas available for hire.
Contact details
Address
Geffrye Museum
Kingsland Road
London
E2 8EA
Travel information
-
Buses: 67, 149, 242, 243, 394
-
Underground: Liverpool Street, then bus 149 or 242 from Bishopsgate Old Street (exit 2) then bus 243 or 15 minutes walk.
-
British Rail: Liverpool Street or Dalston Kingsland.
-
Parking: Limited meter places available in neighbouring streets.
-
Parking for disabled drivers: Limited bays on Kingsland Road red route outside the museum for up to three hours between 10am to 4pm.
Historic Royal Palaces
Historic Royal Palaces is responsible for the conservation and presentation of the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, the Banqueting House, Kensington Palace and Kew Palace.
Historic Royal Palaces use VocalEyes trained personal room describers. Staff will be delighted to guide blind and partially sighted visitors around:
-
the White Tower and Jewel House at the Tower of London
-
Hampton Court Palace
-
Kensington Palace
-
Kew Palace.
Each palace has its own arrangements for when the service is available so please look at the Historic Royal Palaces website and select the palace of your choice to find dates and details of how to book.
All room describer escorts must be booked a minimum of 14 days in advance to ensure availability (there is no additional charge - this is included in normal admission tickets).
To book a personal room describer, please telephone 0844 482 7777 and specify which palace you want to visit.
Museum of London
The Museum of London has new gallery guides for people with sight problems. The guides will provide introductory information and large print maps to the following galleries:
-
London Before London Gallery
-
Roman Gallery
-
World City Gallery.
The guides are available free of charge from the Front Desk. For access information, call 0870 444 3850 or email access@museumoflondon.org.uk.
Museum of London also provides guides trained to deliver audio descriptive tours for visitors with visual impairments. This is a free service but those wishing to attend are advised to contact the Box Office to organise this, telephone: 020 7001 9844.
National Portrait Gallery, London
Portrait descriptions for blind and partially sighted visitors
Portrait descriptions take place on the last Thursday of each month 2pm to 3.30pm. Each session takes place in the Gallery, seated in front of a painting. There will be a detailed verbal description of the work including large-scale images and tactile resources. Sighted escorts and guide dogs are very welcome.
The sessions are free. To book a place please contact the Access and Outreach Assistant on 020 7306 0055 ext 387 or email
outreach@npg.org.uk
Please meet at the Information Desk in the Main Hall.
Touch tours are also available - to book a place, please give three weeks notice.
Find out more - Picture description sessions at the National Portrait Gallery.
National Gallery, London
Each month, the National Gallery holds a free "art through words" session for blind and partially sighted visitors. Each session begins with a description of the painting and ends with a visit to the gallery.
To guarantee a place, telephone 020 7747 5855 or email caroline.marcus@ng-london.org.uk.
Please meet at the Sainsbury Wing Information Desk at 11.30am on the day. Sessions end at 12.45pm.
Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich
Tactile Resource at the Old Royal Naval College
An intricately handcrafted rug has been specifically designed to help blind and partially sighted visitors experience Sir James Thornhill's magnificent painted hall ceiling.
In tailored sessions, the characters of the ceiling are brought to life through different materials, textures and tales.
Every three months, the Old Royal Naval College will be running workshops using the unique tactile rug, followed by a tour of the buildings.
Sessions are free of charge but booking is essential. You can bring a sighted escort and guide dog to these sessions. If you would like to book a session for yourself or a group, please contact the Education Department on 020 8269 4715 or email education@greenwichfoundation.org.uk.
Find out more about future tours and events on the Old Royal Naval College website.
The Royal Academy of Arts, London
The Royal Academy of Arts, founded in 1768 under the patronage of George III, is an independent institution led by distinguished artists and architects and dedicated to the wider understanding of the visual arts and architecture through exhibitions, education and debate.
The Royal Academy of Arts is housed on two separate sites, the RA main building in Burlington House on Piccadilly and also 6 Burlington Gardens which is behind the main RA building.
You can keep up to date with events on the RA access Facebook page.
Listen to previous audio description and handling sessions.
Access for People who are blind and partially sighted
Audio descriptions
Audio descriptions accompany every temporary exhibition at the Royal Academy. They take place on a Monday either from 9am to 11am or from 11am to 1pm. Each session takes place in the Gallery and in the Fine Rooms accompanied by tea and coffee. There will be a detailed verbal description of the works in the exhibition including the opportunity to use tactile resources. Sighted escorts and guide dogs are welcome.
The sessions cost £3 and are free of charge for friends, escorts and guide dogs. There is a maximum of 15 places. To book please contact the Access Officer on 020 7300 5732 or email access@royalacademy.org.uk
Please meet at the Education Desk in the Front Hall.
Plan your visit - Royal Academy access guide
-
Guide dogs are welcome.
-
Large print lists of works and gallery guides are available for exhibitions.
-
Descriptive audio guides are also available for most exhibitions, free of charge.
-
A trained volunteer can offer a one-to-one descriptive tour of the exhibition, but please book this volunteer service two weeks in advance of your visit.
-
To book call 020 7300 5732 or email access@royalacademy.org.uk
Summer exhibition
Every year a number of sculptures in the Summer Exhibition are available to be explored by touch. They are identified by braille labels and a large print list.
Permanent collection
The Royal Academy has an album of thermoform images from our permanent collection available to borrow during your visit. Please book in advance and bring your own tape player and headphones.
Getting to the Royal Academy
-
There is a triple arch into the courtyard with vehicular and level access in the middle and footpaths either side.
-
The entrance to the Royal Academy of Arts is straight across the courtyard. There are two ramped entrances with hand rails. There are two revolving doors into the building and one wheelchair accessible door.
Underground
The closest tube stations are Piccadilly Circus and Green Park.
Buses
Five bus routes stop on Piccadilly: numbers 9, 14, 19, 22 and 38
For more information visit the Transport for London website.
Restaurant and Café
The restaurant and cafe are located on the ground floor. During the summer months, the café relocates to the courtyard. Both the restaurant and the café can be very busy during peak times.
Phones
There are two red public phone boxes under the arch in the courtyard.
For people who are unable to access these phones, staff on reception will be happy to make important phone calls.
Address
Royal Academy of Arts
Burlington House
Piccadilly
London
W1J 0BD
For general enquiries please call 020 7300 8000.
Opening Hours
Open daily 10am to 6pm, Fridays until 10pm. Last admission 30 minutes before closing.
Ticket Booking
-
For temporary exhibitions, tickets can be purchased on the day or in advance on 0870 848 8484.
-
Visitors with disabilities are eligible for concessions and may bring a companion free of charge.
-
For group bookings please call: 020 7300 5635 (concessionary rates are available for groups of people on low incomes).
Tate Britain, London
Explore the collection displays at Tate Britain with picture description sessions for visitors with visual impairments. Free picture description sessions take place on every third Monday of the month from 11.00 to 12.30.
Audio described tours
Tate Britain offers free descriptive tours of Gallery displays that will be planned to suit your interests. These can be organised for individuals or groups. To book a tour please telephone 0207 887 8888 or email visiting.britain@tate.org.uk.
Tours are often available for visitors without booking - please ask at an Information Desk for details.
Free audio described tours of exhibitions can be booked for individuals or groups (exhibition ticket required). Contact Ticketing to book: 0207 887 8888 or email visiting.britain@tate.org.uk
Large print and braille
Large print and braille maps with gallery information, and large print exhibition guides are available from the Information Desks, and large print captions can be found in the display rooms.
Large print versions of the Tate What's On guide can be sent to you by calling 020 7887 8888.
Mailing list
If you would like to go onto the Tate Britain mailing list or have any suggestions about how they can improve their offering to visitors with sight problems, please contact:
Nora Razian
Curator Adult Programmes (Access) Monday to Thursday
Tate Britain
Millbank
London
SW1P 4RG
Tel: +44 (0)20 7887 8978
Fax: +44 (0) 207887 8762
Tate Modern, London
Tate Modern's i-Map project is an online art resource designed for blind and partially sighted people.
Tate Modern also offers free touch tours of works from the collection displays. These tours, which are for blind and partially sighted visitors, last about an hour (or longer, if you would like). Typically a selection of sculptures and paintings is introduced, using handling gloves to touch the sculptures and tactile resources to assist our descriptions of paintings.
Tours work best one-to-one or in very small groups. Companions and guide dogs are welcome. Tours are also available for deaf-blind visitors.
It is always best to book these services by phoning ahead, please call on 020 7887 8888.
Large print wall captions are available from the Information Room and from the Level 4 exhibition entrance doors.Tactile maps are also available from the Information Room.
Find out more about Tate Modern's Programme for blind and partially sighted visitors.
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Touch objects, large print and tactile books are available in a number of galleries. Screen readers and other magnification technology are available on computer terminals in the National Art Library.
All V&A events are accessible to people with disabilities, including BSL interpretation and other support as required. A carer can accompany visitors with disabilities free of charge. All assistance dogs are welcome.
Anyone requiring assistance should arrange this in advance by calling 020 7942 2211 or emailing bookings.office@vam.ac.uk.
An Access Guide of the museum is available in accessible formats. For more information visit V&A - Facilities for People with Visual Impairment.
Call the V&A on 020 7942 2211 if you would like to be added to their database or email them at disability@vam.ac.uk if you prefer to receive their events programmes by email.
Entry to the Museum is free and people with disabilities are entitled to free admission to Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) exhibitions with up to two friends.
Wallace Collection, London
The Wallace Collection is a national museum in a central London townhouse. It is situated just behind Oxford Street so is easily accessible by bus and tube.
The Museum offers audio-description and /or sensory events relating to artworks in the Wallace Collection every three months. A previous event was about discovering the personality of Henry VIII through his letters, music and armour. They also like to work with other museums and galleries in London to offer joint events that will help you to see their collections in a wider historical, art historical or musical context. Events are free to attend but prior booking is necessary.
Visitors not wishing to attend an event can listen to audio-descriptions of paintings and objects on their audio-guide, which is available at the Front Entrance of the Museum. Torches and magnifying glasses are also available at the Front Entrance.
For more information on Events please phone 020 7563 9577 or 020 7563 9552 for general visiting information - and please let them know if you'd like this information in large format, braille or audio format.
To join their email list for updates on events for blind and partially sighted visitors, please email community@wallacecollection.org
Nearest tube stations are Bond Street and Oxford Circus. Marble Arch is the nearest with escalator free access.
Catherine Chastney
Acting Head of Learning
The Wallace Collection
Hertford House
Manchester Square
London W1U 3BN
Tel: 020 7563 9577
Fax: 020 7224 2155
The Hunterian Museum, London
Scalpels, skulls and giant squid: a collection of curiosities uncovered
The Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons has worked with Vocaleyes to produce an audio-described tour of its free, public collection. The guide is designed to help blind and partially sighted visitors to find out more about the museum, its collections and history.
The tour, which features the actor John Sessions, explores the curious collection of the eighteenth century surgeon and anatomist John Hunter. An assortment of preserved specimens in pots, dried preparations, skeletons and teeth from over 500 species types, including human, his collection forms the stunning centrepiece of the museum.
Through the tour, visitors can explore John Hunter's collection of paintings and sculpture by artists such as George Stubbs, William Hodges and Louis François Roubiliac. There is an opportunity to learn more about the growth of the museum as an outstanding collection of medical and natural history specimens in the nineteenth century under curators such as Richard Owen. The tour details the catastrophe that befell the collection on the night of the 20/21 May 1941, and how the museum was rebuilt after the Second World War.
Moving up to the second floor, the tour uncovers the history of surgery and medicine from the late eighteenth century to the present day. On show are items belonging to Edward Jenner, the pioneer of smallpox vaccination; Joseph Lister, who revolutionised surgery with his antiseptic principles; and Harold Gillies and Archibald McIndoe, the surgeons behind modern plastic surgery techniques. Surgical technology from the 1950s onwards shows how advances in materials, engineering, pharmaceuticals and computing have all contributed towards modern surgical techniques.
The audio-described tour is informative, entertaining and produced to Vocaleyes' high standards. The tour is available from the museum reception desk or to download to your MP3 player from the Hunterian museum's website.
For further information please contact Jane Hughes, Head of Learning and Access on 020 7869 6561 or email jhughes@rcseng.ac.uk
In addition to the audio-described tour, the museum is happy to offer tours of the museum for individuals and small groups (up to 10 people) including touch objects, subject to staff availability. The tours can focus on aspects of the museum collections such historical instruments or zoological osteology (bones and teeth). These are free and should be booked by contacting Jane Hughes.
White Chapel Gallery, London
The gallery runs picture description sessions for blind and partially sighted visitors. These sessions take place every first Wednesday of the month from 11.30 - 12.45am.
For more details or to book, contact:
Sarah Barrett
White Chapel Gallery
London
E1 7QX
Telephone: 020 7522 7888
Email: sarahbarrett@whitechapelgallery.org
Handel House Museum, London
Handel House Museum at 25 Brook Street, London was home to the great baroque composer George Frideric Handel. He lived here from 1723 until his death in 1759, and composed some of the greatest music in history, including Messiah, Zadok the Priest and Music for the Royal Fireworks.
Since 2003 RNIB have had a close working with the museum. This has developed into an exciting programme of events throughtout the year for blind and partially sighted people of all ages.
In 2012, RNIB's partnership with the Handel Museum was the subject of short film. Find out more about the project by watching the Untold Stories video.
More information about events at Handel House are available from the Music events page alternatively please contact RNIB's Music Advisory Service by emailing mas@rnib.org.uk or calling 020 7388 1266.
Southampton City Art Gallery
Free workshops and touch tours of the Gallery for blind and partially sighted visitors.
The sessions are inspired by the works of art on show, either from the amazing collection at Southampton or from the superb exhibitions mounted by the Gallery. Looking at art in the Gallery can include handling the art, drawing, making new work in different media, discussion, and insights into the history, context and techniques of the works of art chosen for the day. Friendly and informal the sessions aim to create a relaxed atmosphere and lively discussion.
As regular visitor, Keith Hatter from Winchester says: "Losing my sight to retinitis pigmentosa did not mean losing my interest in art. Ideas expressed in art can be communicated by touch and description, especially with the expert help of committed galleries and curators."
These events are free but please book in advance by calling the Gallery Education Officer on 023 8083 2758 or, for more information, please email art.gallery@southampton.gov.uk.