Social Story – Education

Find out what to expect at your workshop and/or self-guided visit at Orleans House Gallery with this visual Social Story: a guide with words and pictures. This guide is aimed at school audiences.

You can find our full access statement on our access page.

Orleans House Gallery is open Tuesday – Sunday 10am-5pm. The public can drop-in for free anytime during our opening hours. The last entrance to the gallery is 4.45pm. Your workshop and/or self-guided visit will have been booked in advance with our team. You can find out about our workshops and how to book here: Orleans House Gallery School Visit.

If you have any questions or would like to chat about your visit before coming, please email us at artsinfo@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk or you can phone us on 020 8831 6000.

Arriving at Orleans House Gallery

You will enter the site through one of our three entrances:

1. Orleans Road Entrance: you will enter the site through a gate in the wall. There is a pathway that leads to Orleans House Gallery.

At the end of the path, you will need to cross the loose shingle driveway. This driveway leads to our car park, so watch out for cars before crossing.

Tree-lined lane beside a brick wall with a gated entrance and sign for Orleans House Gallery: “Come and Explore! FREE ENTRY.”

Gate signs announce The Stables Café is open and warn visitors to beware the main road and close the gate

The third way to enter the site is through the iron gate that is situated on Orleans Park Road – the gate is always open

Park path winding through a leafy garden with trees, bollards, a lamppost, and a trash bin

At the end of the path, you will need to cross the loose shingle driveway. This driveway is quiet but is used so watch out for cars before crossing.

Tree-lined gravel paths divide around a grassy garden, with flowering plants and a white van near brick buildings

Cross the driveway and turn right. You will then reach the gallery entrance.

Paved walkway beside a brick building, with trees, greenery, and an A-frame sign

Orleans House Gallery entrance in a brick building, with steps, railings, and surrounding greenery

The Driveway Entrance: On riverside road, opposite Orleans Gardens and play park, you will see a driveway covered in loose shingle. If you are on foot, please be aware of cars.

A gravel path winding through a wooded park with leafless trees and low stone posts

At the end of the driveway there is a car park.

Wet, mostly empty parking lot with yellow painted markings, trees, hedges, and a parked car

The gallery is just in front of you, a few steps away. Head towards the gallery building.

Visitors walk along a path beside a historic brick building and landscaped garden

Riverside entrance: On riverside road there is another entrance for pedestrians. Here there is a steep incline as you walk through the gate.

Entrance to Orleans House Gallery through a brick garden wall, with gallery signs and an outdoor exhibition board

Walk over the lawn to the entrance of the gallery.

Red-brick building with tall arched windows beside a grassy, tree-lined field

Follow the pathway until you reach the gallery entrance.

Paved walkway beside a brick building entrance, with trees, hedges, and grassy areas

Exterior of Orleans House Gallery, a brick building with steps and a sign identifying the gallery

Finding Your Way Around the Site

Depending on what you have booked, there are five spaces that you might explore with your class:

The Coach House

The West Gallery

The Octagon Room

The Stables Gallery

The Gallery Grounds

You will most probably start your day at the Coach House. You will find the Coach House by going through the small gate in front of you to the central courtyard.

Turn right underneath the archway. The Coach House will be at the end of the path on your right.

Open black gates beneath a brick archway lead to the Stables Court courtyard

The Coach house: The Coach House is our main education space. You will either have your workshop here, or you will be able to drop off your bags here before your self guided visit.

Open white barn-style doors lead into a glass-fronted building with tables and stools inside

The door is heavy, so an adult should open this door.

There are benches on the side for you to leave your bags and coats.

Long wooden bench against a white brick wall beneath two windows

If you are having a workshop, the room will be set up a little like this and the artist leading the workshop will be here to greet you.

Bright dining hall with white tables and stools, arched windows, dark wood floors, and red kitchen cabinets

There is a sink in this room, should you need water or to wash your hands.

Deep white utility sink with faucet, paintbrushes, soap bottles, and colorful cups on a workbench

Once you have dropped off your things, you will either start your workshop or visit the site. This will have been decided by your teacher in advance of your visit.

If you need the toilet these can be easily accessed from the Coach House.

From the Coach House to the toilets:

You will see the café across the courtyard.

Courtyard of a historic brick building with outdoor café seating and blue umbrellas

Turn to your left and walk under the glass canopy.

Brick courtyard entrance with a covered walkway, gallery information board, and sign directing visitors to toilets

Open gray toilet door beside a blue entrance door; wall sign reads “TOILET.”

Hallway with a closed wheelchair-accessible restroom door and another door

Accessible toilet:

Accessible restroom with grab bars, raised toilet, accessible sink, and adult changing table

Female toilet:

Restroom with three sinks, privacy stalls, a trash bin, and a frosted window

Male toilet:

Public restroom with three wall-mounted urinals and two sinks

From the Coach House to the West Gallery and the Octagon Room:

Turn left from Coach house door and head through the archway into the round courtyard.

Open black gates in a brick archway lead to a paved courtyard surrounded by historic brick buildings and trees

Walk straight ahead and either use the ramp or the stairs to enter the door to the gallery.

Gravel path beside a brick building leading to a covered entrance, surrounded by a grassy courtyard

Head through the doors into the gallery reception area and the shop.

Museum gift shop interior with glass display cases, souvenirs, and a central table of merchandise

Toilets are through the shop.

White hotel hallway with a closed door, herringbone wood flooring, and wall-mounted fixtures

The male toilets:

Public restroom with two wall-mounted urinals and a closed stall door

The female toilets:

Open stall in a public restroom with gray partition doors and a tiled wall

The accessible toilet:

Accessible restroom with a raised toilet, wall-mounted sink, grab bars, and a sanitary waste bin

Next to the shop is the main gallery entrance and front desk. Our friendly Front Desk Volunteer will greet you when you enter. Please do let our volunteers or staff know if you require any additional support or if you have any questions.

Reception desk with a staff member seated behind a glass partition in a modern building lobby

The Octagon Room is next to the left of the reception desk. You might spend some time visiting this grand room before visiting the exhibition in the Main Gallery.

Historic interior with an open paneled door, checkerboard-tiled room, exposed brick, and herringbone wood flooring

Grand historic room with ornate columns, tall arched windows, a wooden doorway, and black-and-white checkered floor

To enter the Main Gallery exit the Octagon room through the far doors on the right and walk down a few steps into the gallery. Alternatively, for step free access exit out of the back door where a ramp will lead you to the West Gallery.

Covered walkway beside a brick building, leading to an entrance with a colorful abstract mural on the far wall

The gallery space changes with each exhibition and is split over two floors. The top floor can be accessed by stairs or by a lift which is next to the gallery reception.