Accessibility

Your guide to accessibility at the National Galleries of Scotland

Everyone is welcome at the National Galleries of Scotland. 

Find out how we make our buildings, services and programmes as accessible and inclusive as possible.

Parking and drop off

 

National

There is no car park, but there is a drop-off point on the mound precinct which is the large, paved area just off the mound in the front of the historic National Gallery building. There is parking close by including for those with a blue badge.

Portrait

Cars (but not larger vehicles) with blue badges are permitted to park in the back lane of the Portrait as long as they avoid access points and fire exits (which are marked with double yellow lines). The Highway Code applies.

The nearest designated parking bays for blue badge holders are on West Register Street and St James Place. These are a 5-8 min walk to the Portrait. 

The drop off point for disabled visitors is in the one-way lane (North St Andrew Lane) behind the Portrait. This is accessed from North St David Street. Visitors are requested to press the buzzer on the second door along the back of the building (labelled Groups Entrance) and a member of staff will come and greet you.

Modern

You can find accessible parking spaces at both Modern One and Modern Two for blue badge holders. Parking is free for disabled visitors. 

At Modern One, there are four disabled parking bays at the front of the building beside the step-free main entrance, and two disabled parking bays in the main car park to the rear of the building next to the Changing Places toilet. There is a drop-off point at the main entrance. Modern One is equipped with two electric car charging points, trickle charge only (as opposed to fast charge). 

At Modern Two, there are four disabled parking bays at the rear of the building directly beside the accessible (step-free) entrance. The drop-off point is also to the rear of the Modern Two building adjacent to the accessible entrance and accessible parking. 

 

Photograph of the parking bays outside the front on Modern One

Accessible parking at Modern One

Entrances

National

 

The main entrance of the National is situated in East Princes Street Gardens. From the paved area of the mound precinct, it is accessed via a step-free, gentle winding pathway measuring approximately 200 metres, or via a flight of 29 steps.

There are two smaller, ramped entrances on the mound precinct itself. The accessible rear entrance of the Academy building has a lift that can take you directly down to level 1 information point and facilities. The mound entrance leads directly into the historic National Gallery building on Level 3. The partial Changing Places toilet is located on this level.

 

Portrait

 

The main entrance of the Portrait is accessed by 4 steps or a permanent ramp. During opening hours, a member of our gallery team is always at the entrance to welcome you and open the front door.

 

Modern

 

The main entrance of Modern One is accessed by a permanent ramp or flight of 3 steps. The front door is manually opened. During opening hours, a member of our gallery team will be happy to open the front door. There is also a doorbell which visitors may use.

The main entrance of Modern Two is accessed by a flight of 5 steps, leading to a manually opened door, or you can use the step-free/accessible entrance to the rear of the building adjacent to the disabled parking bays. This door is manually opened. If you require assistance, please press the buzzer.

Tickets

Entry to the galleries is free. For paid exhibitions, concessions are available for disabled visitors. Carers accompanying visitors with disabilities can enter exhibitions free of charge.

Information desks

There are information desks at the National, Portrait and at Modern One.

Visitors to Modern Two who are in need of assistance will find a member of staff near the front entrance or may ring a bell for assistance at the (step-free) accessible rear entrance.

The information desk at the Portrait

Toilets and Changing Places toilet

There are accessible toilets at all our sites. Maps showing the location of our toilets can be found on each of the venue pages.

At Modern One there is a full Changing Places Toilet in the rear car park that is open every day from 9.45am–5.30pm, a key is not required.

At the National there is a partial Changing Places Toilet on level 3. This is open 10am-5pm, a key is not required. This facility has all the required facilities and floorspace (13.54m2), but as its in a listed building, it is a few inches too narrow to be a full Changing Places toilet. The room width is 1.9m at the narrowest point. A wood ramp leading to the Changing Places Toilet in the car park behind Modern One

Changing Places toilet (exterior)

The interior of the Changing Places Toilet showing a toilet, sink, shower head, bin and bed

Changing Places toilet (interior)

Lifts

 

The lift at the Portrait is currently out of order. There is no step-free/wheelchair access to the upper floors. We hope to resolve this issue soon.

There are lifts at the National, Modern One and Modern Two with audio announcements, step-free and wheelchair access. 

Wheelchairs and mobility scooters

Wheelchairs are available to borrow free of charge. For questions or assistance, please approach any staff member.  

We have an area to charge mobility scooters and battery powered wheelchairs at each gallery. Please ask a member of staff and they will be happy to assist you. 

Seating

There is seating throughout the galleries. We also provide portable stools which are situated on racks on every floor of the gallery.

Lockers and buggy parks

Coin operated lockers are available at all sites to store your bags. Buggies are welcomed as are baby carriers. There are buggy parks at all sites. At the National, the buggy park is coin operated. Tokens for both lockers and buggy parks are available from the information desks at all sites. 

Staff

Most staff have received equalities awareness training, dementia awareness training, visual impairment awareness training, and Deaf awareness training. Most front of house staff at the Modern have also received training from PAMIS on disability awareness and on Changing Places Toilets.

Guide and assistance dogs

Guide dogs, hearing dogs and assistance dogs are welcome at all of our galleries. Emotional support dogs with an identifying lead or harness, are also welcome.

Outdoor toilet areas for assistance dogs have been identified each gallery. Please ask a member of staff. Please ensure that any animal waste is disposed of in nearby dustbins.

Photograph of a fenced and paved area next to the portrait gallery. The area contains some benches and small trees

The area to the side of the Portrait that can be used for dog toileting.

A path through grassy areas with mature trees and a sculpture

The grassy areas in the grounds of the Modern can be used for dog toileting.

Visually impaired access

Guide and assistance dogs are welcome at all our galleries.

There are lifts to all floors. All lifts in the galleries have audio announcements.

At the National - large print labels are available for displays on levels 2 and 4 and for all special exhibitions.

At the Portrait and Modern One - large print labels are available for all displays and special exhibitions.

At Modern Two - large print labels are available for all special exhibitions.

Download Smartify to access audio descriptive tours, large print labels and get more information about artworks during your visit. Users who have set their phone accessibility settings to display large text or text to speech will be able to access information about the collection using the app.

Enjoy audio described introductions to the National as well as Modern One, Modern Two and the Modern sculpture park, featuring descriptions of the buildings and their layout, information about artworks on display and the facilities available.

 

 

Events and resources:

To find out about events and art resources that have been created specifically with and for people with a visual impairment, please follow this link below

Visual Impairment | National Galleries of Scotland 

or contact the Learning and Engagement Team on [email protected]  or  0131 624 6410.  

Deaf and hearing loss access

Portable hearing loops are available for public talks and lectures. These are free of charge and do not need to be booked.

All in-gallery videos are subtitled. Where this is not possible, e.g. for some art films, transcripts will be provided.

Download Smartify to access our filmed BSL tour and get more information in BSL about selected artworks at the National. 

You can also watch these short videos in BSL that introduce our venues to help you plan your visit to the National, Portrait, Modern One and Modern Two.

National

 

 

Portrait

 

Modern One

 

 

Modern Two

 

 

Events and resources:

To find out more information about our Deaf-led tours in British Sign Language (BSL) as well as resources created for visitors with BSL as a first or preferred language, please visit.

British Sign Language | National Galleries of Scotland 

or contact the Learning and Engagement Team on [email protected].  

Dementia-friendly access

We have received special recognition from Alzheimer Scotland as a dementia friendly venue. The majority of front of house staff have received training in dementia awareness and are ‘dementia friends.’

Please speak to a member of the gallery staff if you need help finding a calmer space during your visit.

Events and resources: 

We programme a range of inspiring tours, workshops, concerts and more, designed with and for people living with dementia. To find out more information please visit  

Dementia-friendly | National Galleries of Scotland 

or contact the Learning and Engagement Team on [email protected]  or  0131 624 6410. 

Autism, learning disability and sensory-friendly access

Please speak to a member of the gallery staff if you need help finding a calmer space during your visit.

Child and adult-sized ear defenders are available at the information desks at National, Portrait and Modern One, and at both entrances of Modern Two. They are also available on the art trolleys. 

You will find art trolleys available at the National (Main Entrance Gallery), Portrait (Main Entrance) and Modern (Art Space 2). Here you will find drawing materials, books, cushions, ear defenders (adult and child-sized), sketchbooks and sensory materials to help you make the most of your visit – help yourself!

We provide sensory maps of the NationalPortrait, Modern One and Modern Two to help visitors identify areas with changes in light, smells and noise. They locate permanent seating areas and less crowded, quieter spaces. 

These short videos introduce our venues to help you plan your visit to the National, Portrait, Modern One and Modern Two.

National

 

Portrait

 

Modern One

 

Modern Two

 

Events and resources:

To find out more information about sensory-friendly events and resources created for and with autistic visitors, visitors with learning disabilities and those with additional sensory needs in mind, please visit 

Sensory-friendly | National Galleries of Scotland 

or contact the Learning and Engagement Team on [email protected]  or  0131 624 6410. 

Group visits

We welcome group visits to the gallery including schools, students, and adults. Community and access groups are invited to explore Scotland’s national collection for free through guided or self-led visits and free entry to all ticketed exhibitions (restrictions apply). For more information, please visit our group visits page.

A woman in an apron standing in from of a painting by James Guthrie. The painting depicts a red-headed girl and a boy, the girl in placing an apple in the boy's basket. Gathered around the painting are a small group of wheelchair users listening to another woman describing the painting

A guided tour and workshop

A group of visually impaired visitors listening to a talk given in the photography gallery. Two guide dogs are lying obediently on the floor.

Visually impaired tour

Contact us

If you would like additional information about access at the National Galleries of Scotland, please contact 

[email protected] or 0131 624 6200. We will respond within five working days. 

To receive information or regular updates about our access events and activities, please contact Meg Faragher and Maro Psyrra on [email protected]  or  0131 624 6410.

Accessibility statement for our website

Learn more about our Accessibility statement for National Galleries of Scotland website: 

Accessibility statement | National Galleries of Scotland website