Accessibility - Whitechapel Gallery

Lift access

Please note: Unfortunately due to an unforeseen issue with our passenger lift Galleries 4, 5 & 6 are currently not accessible step-free. We apologise, and are working to fix this as soon as possible. For further information please contact us or speak to a member of staff.

Our passenger lift gives step-free access to all floors of the gallery. All of our current exhibitions can be reached through using the lift.

Borrowing wheelchairs & seating

Wheelchairs are available on request at the Information Desk.

Portable folding chairs are available from the Cloakroom Desk.

Assistance Animals

Guide dogs, hearing and assistance dogs are welcome. Staff can provide a bowl of water. If you want to bring your guide or hearing dog to an event in the Zilkha Auditorium, please call +44 (0)20 7522 7888 in advance to reserve a seat next to the aisle.

Parking

Free parking for Blue Badge holders is available at the top of Osborn Street in the pay and display booths for an unlimited period. Spaces are available on a first come, first served basis.

Toilets and baby care facilities

Accessible toilets and baby changing facilities are available on the ground and basement levels.

Separate Mens’ and Ladies’ toilet facilities, and a single all-gender cubicle can be found on the basement level.

The Gallery actively supports transgender, nonbinary and gender-noncomforming visitors and staff in their right to use our facilities without facing discrimination. If you experience behaviour which makes you feel uncomfortable when using our facilities, please let a member of staff know.

If you would like to share any feedback about how our facilities could be improved, you can contact info@whitechapelgallery.org

Blind & Partially Sighted Visitors

Audio Descriptions

Free, guided audio described tours of our exhibitions are available each season. For more information and to book a free place, please email access@whitechapelgallery.org or call +44 (0)20 7522 7888.

Free, guided audio descriptions of artworks are available for blind and partially sighted visitors. These can be accessed via the links below.

It All Starts With a Thread (Galleries 5 & 6)

Informal introductions and tours can be given to blind and partially sighted visitors. These must be booked in advance.

Large Print

Large print information about exhibitions, events and facilities can be collected from the Information Desk and cloakroom. Large print exhibition labels and interpretation texts are kept with gallery assistants.

Current Exhibitions:

Gallery 4 – Somali Exhibition: Any – Space – Whatever

Galleries 5 & 6 – It All Starts With a Thread

For alternative formats please email access@whitechapelgallery.org

Easy Read Guide

Our Easy Read Guide has been created in an accessible way to help you understand what to expect when visiting the gallery.

Subtitles and transcripts

Transcripts are available for selected exhibitions. Please contact the Information Desk in advance on 020 7522 7888 or email info@whitechapelgallery.org

British Sign Language (BSL) and hearing induction loops

The Zilkha Auditorium, Study Studio and Creative Studios are equipped with induction loops.

Speakers giving talks in the galleries wear portable induction loops. There are 4 portable receivers, which can be borrowed from the Information Desk.

Transcripts can be prepared for some film content. Please contact the Information Desk in advance on 020 7522 7888 or email info@whitechapelgallery.org

BSL Tours

Free, guided BSL tours of exhibitions are available each season.

To book a free place, please email access@whitechapelgallery.org or call +44 (0)20 7522 7888.

To keep up to date with our Audio Description tours and BSL tours please sign up to the Whitechapel Gallery newsletter on the bottom right of this page and select “British Sign Language and Audio Description”

Deaf Messaging Service (DMS)

The gallery uses the DMS to alert users by text message when the fire alarm sounds. Users who wish to use the system should text ‘wghfas’ to 078600 35999. To leave the system, please text STOP wghfas to the same number.