Museum accessibility
We want everyone to enjoy what we offer. There is full physical access to all public areas of the building using lifts or stairs, including our galleries, shop and café. If you have any requirements, please ask the Visitor Hosts at the Information Desk on arrival.
Use the links below to skip to a section:
- At a glance
- Keeping you safe
- Getting to the museum
- Helping hosts
- Accessible toilets
- Quiet sessions
- Visitors with babies
- Visitors with physical disabilities
- Visitors with visual impairments
- D/deaf, deafened and hard of hearing visitors
- Visitors with autism spectrum conditions
- Visitors living with dementia
- Events calendar
- Access policy
- Contact us
At a glance
- Our floor plan and guide might help to plan your visit
- This visual story provides a photographic guide to our facilities
- Lifts go to all floors of the museum
- Accessible toilets are on the Ground and Third floors
- The museum has original floorboards which are uneven in places.
Keeping you safe
Visit this page to see our current safety measures and answers to some of the most commonly-asked visiting questions. If you have any questions about these changes, please get in touch with the museum team. Contact details can be found here.
Getting to the museum
Our address is:
Museum of London Docklands
No 1 Warehouse
West India Quay
London E14 4AL
Car: If you are driving to the Museum of London Docklands, please join the A1206 that leads to Ontario Way. Follow it to the left onto Hertsmere Road, where you will find a public car park (opens in a new tab). The museum entrance is on the quayside (waterside) of the building, which is not accessible for vehicles. Due to redevelopment in the area, we're afraid that the museum doesn't currently offer disabled parking.
Coach: The coach drop-off point is directly behind the museum on Hertsmere Road. Please note that parking is not permitted. For up-to-date details on nearby parking, please use Transport for London's interactive coach parking map (opens in a new tab).
If you require further assistance please contact us on 020 7001 9844 to discuss alternative arrangements.
There are PlantLock planters directly outside the museum front entrance that you can lock your bike to when you arrive:
There is also a bicycle rack directly behind the museum on Hertsmere Road, by the Cineworld cinema entrance. We've put together a map of all the nearest bicycle parks if you are cycling to the Museum of London Docklands.
Please note that bicycles are left at visitors’ own risk.
By public transport
The nearest Tube stations are:
- Westferry
- West India Quay
- Canary Wharf (10 minute walk)
Buses 135, 277, D3, D7, D8, N550 all stop near to the museum.
River buses RB1 and RB6 stop at Canary Wharf pier (5 mins walk to the museum entrance).
View a local map (external link).
For further information and journey planning, please go to the Transport for London website (external link). You may also find this step-free access Tube line map useful.
Helping hosts
Helping hosts is a service for all disabled visitors and their families which offers an extra pair of hands during your visit. A trained member of the museum’s Visitor Services team will be available to accompany you on your visit for up to two hours.
Please book at least two weeks in advance. When booking, please provide your contact details and we will get back to you to discuss your individual needs.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 020 7001 9844 (see Contact us for Box Office opening times)
Accessible toilets
Accessible toilets are on the ground and third floors.
In addition to our accessible toilets, we have changing places facilities on the first floor. This includes the following facilities:
- A wash and dry toilet
- Overhead room coverage hoist system
- Height adjustable changing bench
- Height adjustable basin
- Shower
- Privacy screen
If you need to use this facility, please let a member of our team know and they can allow you access.
Quiet sessions
We want all visitors to be able to enjoy their visit and have worked hard to make our museum as accessible to our neurodiverse friends as possible, whilst working within our listed building.
Our quiet hours run every Monday in term-time, between 3–4.40 pm.
Come and explore our galleries whilst all sounds are lowered. Take part in sensory object handling sessions (subject to availability) and feel free to use our quiet spaces. Ear defenders will also be available to visitors at the front desk upon request.
For visitors with babies
- Buggies can be brought into the museum
- We also have BabyBjörn® baby carriers available, which keep your hands free to explore our exhibits
- It has a fully adjustable seat width, suitable for newborns and above, with four front and back carry positions
- For more information, please speak to a member of staff at the information desk
- Please note that visitors are responsible for fitting carriers
For visitors with physical disabilities
- Wheelchairs and mobility scooters are available to borrow during your visit. Please book them in advance by calling 020 7001 9844 (see Contact us for Box Office opening times)
- Folding seats are available to borrow at any time.
For visitors with visual impairments
- Access guide dogs are welcome in all areas of the museum
- Magnifying glasses are available from the Information Desk
- Please note that the lighting in the Sailortown gallery is lower than in our other galleries.
For D/deaf, deafened and hard of hearing visitors
- Assistance dogs are welcome in all areas of the museum
- A portable induction loop is available at the Information Desk (you will need to switch your hearing aid to the 'T' position)
- Induction loop systems are in place in video rooms where film is shown (you will need to switch your hearing aid to the 'T' position)
- The theatre is fitted with an induction loop (you will need to switch your hearing aid to the 'T' position)
- There are a selection of subtitled films in the galleries
- There are 13 videos in British Sign Language available which take you on a self-guided tour of the museum and its key objects. You can watch on your own device by using a QR code to access, or you may borrow a tablet from the Information Desk. Please note that if you choose to borrow a tablet you will need to leave your contact details with the Information Desk.
- If you would like to book an interactive session for schools, you can contact our Box Office on 020 7001 9844 using a text relay service, or you can email us at [email protected]
For visitors with autism spectrum conditions
- Child-sized ear defenders are available at the Information Desk
- We run quiet sessions every Monday in term-time, between 3–4.40 pm.
- You can also download sensory maps of the museum sites below:
- Museum of London Docklands sensory map, ground and first floor (1MB, opens in new tab)
- Museum of London Docklands sensory map, second and third floor (1MB, opens in new tab)
For visitors living with dementia
- It is important to us that anyone with lived experience of dementia (at any stage) can fully access and enjoy everything our museums have to offer
- We currently offer a number of programmes specifically designed for those living with dementia and their companions
- This page explains what we offer visitors living with dementia.
Events calendar
We run a range of accessible events including guided walks in British Sign Language and audio described gallery tours. View our calendar of accessible events.
If you are interested in attending any of the events in the museum’s programme that are not flagged for visitors with additional needs, please contact us to discuss how we can help you.
Access policy
We have created a policy which lays out our commitment to maximising access for everyone. Read our access policy to learn more.
Contact us
For more information or to discuss in detail how we can assist you on your visit please contact us. We also welcome any suggestions about how we can become more accessible.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 020 7001 9844
Monday to Friday: 9.30am-1.30pm and 2.30pm-5pm
