Access at Young V&A

If you'd like to tell us about your accessibility needs or ask a question before your visit, get in touch at accessibility@vam.ac.uk

For information on how to get here, see our Visit page.

Our building is designed to provide full physical access to all public areas. The entrance is step-free and wheelchair accessible. There is buggy parking in the Welcome Area just inside the door.

When you enter the building, you'll see the Welcome Area and the Town Square. You'll find our Shop and Café on the ground floor. Our temporary exhibition space and permanent galleries, called Imagine, Play and Design, are accessible via a ramp and two lifts. The main lift is on the right as you enter the Town Square, another lift is at the back of the Imagine Gallery.

You'll find the accessible toilets and Reading Room, our designated quiet space, on the lower-ground floor.

There is plenty of visitor seating throughout the galleries. Ask a member of staff if you'd like to borrow a stool.

Mobility aids

You can book a wheelchair before you visit. We recommend booking at least 24 hours in advance. You can also ask for one at the Welcome Desk when you arrive.

Accessible toilets

Our accessible toilets are located on the lower-ground floor. We also have a Changing Places Toilet, which is larger than a standard accessible toilet – if you need to borrow a key, ask at the Community Room desk.

Assistance dogs

Access guide dogs are welcome in all areas of the museum. Where possible, dog owners should bring their Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK), Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) identification book and animals should wear the appropriate tabards or harness, but this is not a requirement for entry.​

Assistance dogs should be supervised and kept under your control throughout your visit, ideally on a lead. If your assistance dog is not registered with ADI, ADUK or IGDF, we reserve the right to deny entry to your dog if it does not appear to our staff to have been appropriately trained. If you have any concerns about this, please contact us in advance. If you plan to visit with an assistance animal other than an assistance dog, please get in touch: accessibility@vam.ac.uk

Gallery lighting and large print guides

Please note that the lighting in the Imagine Galley is lower than in our other galleries. If you require lighting adjustments, please speak to our staff.

Large print guides are available at the Welcome Desk.

Induction Loops are available throughout the building. You will need to switch your hearing aid to the 'T' position.

There are a selection of subtitled films in the galleries and temporary exhibition.

Breastfeeding is welcome in all areas of the museum; visitors seeking more privacy can use the Reading Room on the lower-ground floor, or the Common Room in the Clore Learning Centre during weekends or school holidays. Baby changing facilities are available in both men's and women's toilets on the lower-ground floor. Our Café offers a range of child-friendly lunchtime meal boxes as well as highchairs and bottle warming facilities.

Our visual story shows you pictures of the museum and how to access our spaces.

Ear defenders can be booked in advance by filling in this accessibility aid form.

If you need some quiet time, drop into our Reading Room on the lower-ground floor. This is our multi-use quiet space offering a calming environment for prayer, reading, breastfeeding or for visitors who may need a break from sensory stimulation. Access is first-come, first-served.