From world-best museums and galleries to royal palaces, cathedrals and theatres, London strives to make its attractions open to all visitors.
1. British Museum
Visit the world-famous British Museum to see extraordinary artefacts from all over the world, from prehistoric to modern times. Highlights include the Rosetta Stone, Parthenon sculptures and ancient Egyptian mummies.
The British Museum is wheelchair-friendly, with lift-assisted access at the Montague Place entrance and step-free access throughout most of the building via lifts. Other accessibility features include accessible toilets, British Sign Language guides and audio descriptive guides. Call the museum in advance to hire a wheelchair for your visit.
Find out more about accessibility at the British Museum.
2. National Gallery
Be amazed by the National Gallery’s stunning collection of western European paintings from the 13th to the 19th centuries. Highlights include masterpieces by Botticelli, da Vinci, Titian, Van Gogh and Renoir.
Enter the National Gallery from the step-free Getty entrance. You can borrow a wheelchair, and British Sign Language painting discussions and audio-guide transcripts are available.
Find out more about accessibility at the National Gallery.
3. Buckingham Palace
Visit Buckingham Palace during its summer opening. Buckingham Palace is one of the few remaining working royal palaces in the world, so don't miss the opportunity to see it!
Prebook for wheelchair- and step-free access through a separate entrance at the front of the palace. Manual wheelchairs are free to borrow for the time of your visit and must be reserved in advance. Use your mobility scooter or wheelchair in the Quadrangle and the garden and throughout the palace if it's compatible with the lifts.
Find out more about accessibility at Buckingham Palace.
4. Madame Tussauds London
Get closer to the world’s greatest personalities, from Taylor Swift to Star Wars characters, at Madame Tussauds London.
For safety reasons, only three wheelchairs can be hosted at a time, so book a slot at least 24 hours in advance. All of the museum's galleries are accessible to wheelchair users via lifts, except the Spirit of London ride. Helpers can visit Madame Tussauds London for free, as long as they provide the necessary documentation.
Find out more about accessibility at Madame Tussauds London.
5. Tate Modern
Head to Tate Modern to see some of the most famous artworks in the world for free. Britain’s national gallery of modern and contemporary art hosts amazing works by renowned artists such as Picasso, Rothko, Matisse and Dalí.
Enter Tate Modern’s imposing building from the step-free main entrance near the river Thames into the Turbine Hall or Park Street for the Blavatnik Building. Borrow a wheelchair or walker for free and explore all floors via the lifts.
Find out more about accessibility at Tate Modern.
6. Tower Bridge
Discover the secrets behind one of London’s greatest landmarks: Tower Bridge. Retrace the history of the famous bridge and soak up the views from the panoramic walkways 45 metres (147ft) above the river.
Both the bridge and the engine room's entrances are fully accessible and are connected by a lift, so you can start your visit from either part of the exhibition. Ask a member of staff if you’d like to borrow a wheelchair.
Find out more about accessibility at Tower Bridge.
7. London Zoo
Learn more about the world’s most curious animals at London Zoo. Get closer to magnificent lions, cute little penguins and another 750 species as you enjoy a fun family day out in London.
Most of the zoo is accessible to wheelchair users. Don’t miss wheelchair-friendly Tiger Territory, with a lift to the viewing platform, and the aquarium, accessible via the disabled entrance next to the main doorway. Wheelchairs are available to borrow with advance booking.
Find out more about accessibility at London Zoo.
8. Natural History Museum
Admire the Natural History Museum’s spectacular building and be amazed by its enormous collection of all types of specimens and artefacts, from full-scale dinosaurs to giant whale models.
Borrow a wheelchair for free inside the entrances on Cromwell Road and Exhibition Road and start exploring. The Darwin Centre and all floors in the Green, Red and Blue zones are accessible via a lift. Other accessibility features include audio-descriptive guides, tactile and braille guides, and fun events for children with autism.
Find out more about accessibility at the Natural History Museum.
9. Kensington Palace
Discover Kensington Palace’s wonders and visit the magnificent King’s and Queen’s State Apartments. Catch royal-themed temporary exhibitions alongside the permanent display, and learn more about iconic figures such as Queen Victoria and Princess Diana.
Access Kensington Palace from beautiful Kensington Gardens and reach all floors via a lift. Visitors with disabilities may borrow manual wheelchairs and folding stools, and transcripts of the audio guide tours are available.
Find out more about accessibility at Kensington Palace.
10. London Eye
See many of London’s top attractions from the London Eye, as you rotate over the river on a half-hour ride.
The London Eye is fully accessible. Each pod can fit two wheelchairs, and a total of eight wheelchairs can be on the London Eye at one time. Book your slot in advance to guarantee entry.
Find out more about accessibility at the London Eye.
11. Victoria and Albert Museum
A trip to London isn’t complete without a visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum. Discover the immense collection of arts, crafts, design and fashion, and relax with a cup of tea in the beautiful cafe.
Head to either entrance on Cromwell Road or Exhibition Road for step-free access to the museum. Wheelchairs, walking frames and walking sticks are available to borrow at the information desk in the Grand Entrance. The museum has a regular programme of talks in British Sign Language and with live subtitles, as well as large-print and tactile books.
Find out more about accessibility at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
12. Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
Be transported back in time to Elizabethan London at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Visit the faithful reconstruction of the 1599 open-air playhouse and catch a performance of one of the Bard’s acclaimed plays.
The theatre, exhibition and tour are wheelchair accessible, and recorded commentaries and braille panels are placed around the exhibition. Make the most of your visit and see a show at the Globe. Audio-described, British Sign Language and captioned performances take place throughout the year, as well as relaxed performances for visitors with autism.
Find out more about accessibility at Shakespeare's Globe.
13. Science Museum
Interact with some of the major scientific advances of the last 300 years at the Science Museum. Experience human discoveries and inventions first-hand, from space travel to psychology.
Borrow a wheelchair on the day or book one in advance, and explore the Science Museum’s displays through fully wheelchair-accessible galleries. Find tactile map booklets and large-print gallery books at the entrance to the Information Age and Medicine Galleries. The museum hosts British Sign Language events and object-handling sessions throughout the year.
Find out more about accessibility at the Science Museum.
14. St Paul’s Cathedral
Visit St Paul’s Cathedral, one of London’s most iconic landmarks, and learn about its intriguing history.
The North Transept entrance has ramp access for visitors and leads directly to the cathedral floor. Use a lift to access the quire and the crypt. Wheelchairs are available on request. Guides run touch tours and multimedia British Sign Language tours. Note that the Whispering Gallery, the Stone Gallery and the Golden Gallery do not have step-free access.
Find out more about accessibility at St Paul's Cathedral.
15. National Portrait Gallery
Discover the world's largest collection of faces and personalities from Tudor times to the present at the National Portrait Gallery. See amazing portraits of kings and queens alongside photographs of celebrities and politicians, and pay a visit to the panoramic restaurant.
All entrances are step-free, and lifts provide access to all floors. Reserve a wheelchair in advance if you need to borrow one. The museum provides a wide range of accessibility features, including accessible toilets and induction loops. The gallery's regular programme has free monthly Deaf-led tours and British Sign Language interpreted talks.
Find out more about accessibility at the National Portrait Gallery.
16. Somerset House
Be amazed by the variety of cultural events hosted at Somerset House throughout the year, from open-air concerts to art and photography exhibitions.
Somerset House is fully wheelchair-accessible. Visit the stunning Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court via the Strand, where flat pavement surrounds the cobblestones.
Find out more about accessibility at Somerset House.
17. SEA LIFE London
Venture into an underwater world filled with beautiful creatures at the SEA LIFE London aquarium. Discover more than 500 species, from rays to green sea turtles, and don’t miss the famous Shark Walk.
Enjoy full wheelchair access on all of the aquarium’s levels, plus accessible toilets throughout. Assistance animals are permitted.
Find out more about accessibility at SEA LIFE London.
18. Kew Gardens
Did you know London has a World Heritage Site botanic garden? Wander through the immense green spaces of Kew Gardens and discover tropical glasshouses, serene waterlily ponds and stunning flower displays.
The gardens are flat, and most of the buildings and all cafes are wheelchair accessible. Enjoy the fabulous view from the Treetop Walkway, accessible via a lift, and travel from one side of the garden to the other with the Kew Explorer land train, which can fit one manual wheelchair. Wheelchairs are available for hire from all entrance gates, and mobility scooters are provided at the Brentford, Victoria and Elizabeth gates with advance booking.
Find out more about accessibility at Kew Gardens.
19. National Maritime Museum
Relive the fascinating history of Britain’s explorations at sea at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich and discover a host of naval-themed objects and relics.
All floors of the National Maritime Museum have lift access, and the cafe and the gift shop are wheelchair accessible. Book in advance to borrow a wheelchair. Companions and carers are entitled to free admission to ticketed exhibitions.
Find out more about accessibility at the National Maritime Museum.
Visit AccessAble for comprehensive access information on attractions, venues and parks in London.
Find more information on where to hire a wheelchair and check out the full guide to accessible London.
