Access and Facilities

We want the Museum to be a welcoming and friendly space for everyone who visits. We are committed to listening to our visitors and community and are continually looking for ways to improve. Please scroll down to see useful information about access and facilities at the Museum.

If you can’t find the answers you are looking for, please email us on [email protected] or call us on 020 8568 4757 (Wednesday to Sunday 9:30am to 4:30pm) and we’ll be happy to help you further.

Access Video with Speak Out in Hounslow

We invited Speak Out in Hounslow to be our Community Access Advisors, bringing lived experience to understanding our visitors’ journey through the Museum. Speak Out staff and members worked together to create a video exploring the Museum, highlighting different areas and how they feel about them. We hope it will help you prepare for your visit by knowing what you might expect to see and experience.

Visitors who are wheelchair users or who’s mobility is limited

  • Inside the Museum:
    • A step-free route is available throughout most of the Museum.
    • Seating is available throughout the Museum.
    • Unfortunately the Great Engine House (containing the 90 and 100″ engines), the beam floors and community exhibition do not have step free access.
  • Outside the Museum:
    • The Museum car park is level and mostly covered in tarmac. However, there are some uneven surfaces.
    • Access to the garden is up a sloped path. There are some uneven surfaces and gravelled areas.
    • Access to the Splash Zone is via ramp at the external door near the Boulton and Watt. There are some uneven surfaces and gravelled areas.
  • Disabled parking can be reserved by emailing [email protected]. Please note, we may not be able to reserve parking when the car park is closed or privately hired.

Visitors who are blind or partially sighted

  • Assistance dogs are welcome in all areas of the Museum
  • There are no barriers to the 100inch Engine, enabling visitors to get close and feel the engine. Please note, all the other engines are barriered off for safety and operational reasons.

Toilets

  • There is an accessible toilet next to the shop and café.
  • Male and female toilets are available in the Steam Hall.
  • We have baby changing facilities and potty training seats available in all our toilets.
  • Our nearest changing places toilet is available at Kew Gardens.

For families

  • There are activities throughout the Museum for families to enjoy.
  • We have baby changing facilities and potty training seats available in our male, female and accessible toilets.
  • There are spare changes of clothes to borrow, and nappies. Please ask at the front desk.
  • There is a small buggy park in our shop area. You are welcome to keep buggies with you; a step-free route is available throughout most of the Museum
  • Picnics are welcome in the Splash Zone and Museum garden.