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Disability Access Information Service

National Portrait Gallery

Venue Accessibility Profile

Address Details
Name National Portrait Gallery
Address St Martin's Place
Borough Westminster
Town/City London
Post Code WC2H 0HE
Within the congestion charging zone? Yes
Access summary There are two entrances in St. Martin's Place - the main, and the Cafe entrance + one ramped entrance is located in Orange Street. Everywhere is accessible to wheelchair users with the exception of one small gallery. Work can be viewed via the gallery's IT Explorer induction loops + neck loops. There are services and facilities for people with sensory impairments.

Area Map

This map is based on the venue's postcode, and so is not entirely accurate.
Please contact the venue if you require a precise location.

For information on disabled parking in the vicinity of this venue, view this area's Blue Badge parking map.

Further Details
Type of venue Art Gallery
General information Rest areas are available throughout the Gallery, IT Gallery, and Lecture Theatre. Hanging heights of texts and labels are generally quite good; disabled people and children have been taken into consideration. All the computers in the IT Gallery are touch screen operated, and images can be magnified. A personalized tour of specific artworks can be mapped out and printed up. It is also possible to zoom in on the pictures and there is always a staff member on duty to assist. The website has a special BETSIE facility for visually impaired people.
The learning and access department provides outreach programmes, workshops, lectures and talks; as well as working with disabled people and those with learning disabilities. The education room and Studio Gallery are accessible. Portable induction loops operate: bookshop cafe, restaurant, cloak room, IT Gallery, and Main Hall.
Venue leaflet available Yes
Accessibility guide available Yes

Contact Information
Switchboard/Enquiry Line No 020 7306 0055 BT Type Talk 18001
Fax 020 7306 0056
Website www.npg.org.uk

Getting To
Nearest BR station and approximate distance (metres) Charing Cross
350m
Nearest tube station and approximate distance (metres) Leicester Square
200m

Parking

Off site parking? N.C.P. car park in Whitcomb Street - 100m away, telephone 020 7839 5858. It is impossible to park in the streets.
Taxi services It is very easy to hail cabs in this area.
Blue Badge icon View the Blue Badge parking map for this area

Main Entrance

Level Access No
Steps to Main Entrance With 2 steps.
Door Type Single
Further Entrance Notes Rotating and single doors. There is always an attendant at the doors.

More Accessible Alternative Entrance
Level Access Ramped
Ramp Length Long
Door Type Double
Door Opening Outward - automatic doors
Further Entrance Notes 1.75m wide double swing doors. There is always an attendant at the doors.
Location of alternative entrance Orange Street (there is also another alternative - level access entrance to the cafe).
Image: National Portrait Gallery
Photograph: National Portrait Gallery

Access Inside

Venue has unavoidable steps Yes
Are the steps highlighted? Yes
Are there any handrails? Two side
Floors served by lift All served by stair lift except one small gallery on a mezzanine level.
Type(s) of lift Public
Stair
Location of accessible fire exits and refuges Orange Street and Cafe entrances.

Wheelchair Access
Wheelchair accessible screens/areas Most areas
Wheelchair inaccessible screens/areas The Royal Landing. However, the works from here can be viewed in the IT gallery with the Virtual Tour facility. There is a stair climber available for the Royal Landing, although this takes a while to set up.

Limited Mobility

Staff will assist Yes

Facilities for Hearing Impaired

Induction loop available Yes
Locations of induction loops / infra red systems In the Ondaatje Theatre and in the education room (Clore studio).
Details of Captioned/Subtitled/Signed screenings Telephone 020 7306 0055 BT Type Talk 18001 email. See NPG's quarterly publication, monthly e-mail bulletin, to subscribe go to www.npg.org.uk
Details of signed events Yes

Services for Visually Impaired

Are audio described tours available? CD Rom guide, some have descriptive recordings.
Are touch tours available? Monthly picture descriptions + bookable tours
Miscellaneous information Tactile drawings + braille from Tudor - late 20th Century.

Information Formats
General information An illustrated large print guide is available which highlights key paintings. Large print captions available.
Large print Yes
Tape On request

Guide Dogs
Are guide dogs welcome? Yes
Guide dogs can remain with owner Yes

Refreshments
Availability Restaurant: Yes
Bar: Yes
Café: Yes
Location The cafe is in the basement, and the restaurant is on the top floor.
Accessibility The cafe is self service, the restaurant has waitress service.
Can carrying assistance be provided? Yes
Refreshments service offered Self service
Movable seating available? Yes

Shops
Location Gift shop in the main foyer, book shop in the basement.
Staff will assist Yes

Toilets and Phones
Adapted toilets Male:
Female:
Unisex: Yes
Location of toilets By the Orange St. entrance and the theatre, by the bookshop, by the restaurant on the top floor.
Public telephone available Yes
Use of private phone available if necessary Yes

Seating, Concessions and Activities
Reserved seats Yes

Events

Current and future events taking place at this venue.

No events are currently listed.

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