Skip to main content

We’ve relaunched our website and would love to know what you think!

Accessibility

We want everyone to feel welcome, comfortable and confident when visiting Orleans House Gallery. We aim to make our spaces as accessible and inclusive as possible. This page brings together all the information you might need to plan your visit.

Our site includes historic and contemporary spaces, gardens, a café and family-friendly resources.

If you have any questions or require any assistance, please email us on info@orleanshousegallery.org or call us on 020 8831 6000.

 

Accessibility at a glance

Use our 360° tour to explore our spaces and grounds:

Planning your visit

Entry is free entry, no ticket is required.

We are open Tuesday–Sunday, 10am–5pm (last entry at 4.45pm).

We are closed Mondays (except Bank Holiday Mondays).

Our address is Orleans Road, Twickenham, TW1 3BL.

Access via Riverside and our driveway may be limited during high tides. Please check our tide times.

 

Getting here

Map showing walking routes through Marble Hill Park, with a photo of a park entrance

By Train

  • Twickenham: step-free access and taxis
  • Richmond: step-free access. Buses (20 mins) and taxis (8 mins)
  • St Margaret’s: no step-free access (14 min walk / 0.7 miles)

By Bus

  • Orleans Park School stop (10 minute walk / 0.5 miles)
  • From Richmond: 33, 490, H22, R68, R70.
  • From Twickenham: 33, 490, H22, R68, R70
  • Walk towards the Crown pub and turn down Orleans Road. Continue until you see the Orleans House Gallery driveway on the right.
  • Please be aware that Orleans Road has a very narrow pedestrian pavement.

By Car

  • We have 2 Blue Badge spaces (0.02 miles from entrance)
  • Additional spaces are available on request
  • There is a small incline on the driveway

 

On arrival

  • Step-free access is available via a ramp
  • Our door width is 41 inches
  • Our reception desk has lowered section
  • Volunteers are available to help
  • An accessible toilet is available close to the information desk
  • The space is well lit and has a solid parquet floor

Please ask our team if you would like support, directions to the lift or step-free routes through the gallery.

Historic brick building with ornate circular windows, curved entrance steps, and flower beds along a paved walkway
Entrance to Orleans House Gallery, a brick building with steps and handrails leading to the doorway
Museum reception desk with a staff member, donation collection box, plant, and signs directing visitors to the lift, Study Gallery, and Stables
Accessible door with wheelchair symbols, horizontal push bar, and an “Engaged/Vacant” no-touch opening device
Accessible restroom with toilet, grab rails, sink, emergency pull cord, and sanitary waste bin
Herringbone-patterned wooden floor planks

 

Entrance and exit

There are 3 different ways of getting to the gallery, depending on how you arrive:

  • From the Riverside pedestrian gate enter through the small gate and follow a gentle incline across the lawns to the main entrance.
  • From the driveway entrance on Orleans Road (near The Crown pub), follow the road downhill into the car park. Blue Badge spaces are available.
  • From the Orleans Road pedestrian gate walk through the woodland path to the gallery. This route can be muddy in wet weather, and you will need to cross the driveway near the end.

Riverside access may be affected during high tides. Please take care when crossing the driveway.

Entrance to Orleans House Gallery through a brick garden gate, with an “All The Things” exhibition poster
Park garden with trees, yucca plants, a gravel path, and an informational sign under a clear blue sky
A leafy garden with a winding path, woven wooden border, tall trees, and a red-brick house
Tree-lined gravel path winding through a sunlit park, with a stone wall and sign at the entrance
Woodland path winding through dense greenery, with metal bollards, wildflowers, and a litter bin
A tree-lined park path with wooden posts, dense greenery, and a lamppost

 

Inside the Gallery

Spaces include:

Octagon Room 

  • The floor is black and white checked marble.
  • The room is well-lit with natural light and additional lighting.
  • There is ornate architecture and a chandelier.
  • Artworks change in this space with every exhibition.
  • This room is sometimes closed to the public, please check our opening times.
Ornate white-and-gold room with a sculpted ceiling, chandelier, tall arched windows, and black-and-white checkered floor
Graham baker Photography
Black and white marble checkerboard floor tiles
Ornate gallery room with arched windows, a checkered floor, and colorful childlike sculptures displayed throughout
Photo credit Anne Tetzlaff

Main Gallery 

  • We exhibit 2-3 larger exhibitions a year.
  • We don’t use flashing lights. However, our exhibitions change so please check the exhibition page for specific advice and guidance.
  • There are 5 steps down into the space and ramp on the outside of the building leading to the bottom of the gallery.
  • Portable chairs are available in the gallery.
  • Exhibitions continue up the stairs or use the lift to access the mezzanine level.
Bright white gallery interior with herringbone wood floors, a staircase, skylights, and track lighting
Graham baker Photography
Wooden staircase with handrails leading to a bright upper landing
Graham baker Photography
Interior gallery walkway with wood flooring, glass railing, windows, track lighting, and exhibits displayed below
Black folding sling chair with a fabric seat and crossed metal frame on a wooden floor
Graham baker Photography
Orleans House Gallery exhibit sign: “All the Things,” exploring play and imagination across generations, March 28–August 31, 2026
Wooden staircase with handrails; wall signage directs visitors to the Study Gallery and stables

Study Gallery 

  • This gallery has local history and artwork on display.
  • There are seats available and a volunteer to showcase the display.
Doorway into an art gallery displaying framed paintings, wall text panels, and a table with art materials
Gallery room with framed paintings, bookshelves, and an interactive display table covered by a colorful map-like textile
Museum interior with a glass door beneath a green emergency exit sign, flanked by wooden display cabinets

Stables Gallery 

  • This is located across the courtyard, which has a fine gravel flooring.
  • It is a large, well-lit room.
  • The stone flooring is uneven underfoot.
Brick building with white-framed windows surrounded by trees, overlooking a gravel courtyard with wooden benches
Graham baker Photography
Entrance to the Stables Gallery in a brick building, with a blue-framed glass door and white barn-style doors
Gallery exhibition featuring four colorful artworks, a “What Moves You?” text panel, and a table with stools
Graham baker Photography

Coach House

  • This is located across the courtyard, which has a fine gravel flooring.
  • It is opposite the cafe.
  • It is a large, well-lit room with large natural light windows.
  • The floor is flat and smooth.
  • This room is often used for private and community events.
Building entrance with open white doors, glass automatic doors, and a sign reading “Automatic Door—Keep Clear.”
Building entrance with open white doors beneath a glass canopy
Empty modern interior with arched windows, a wood-paneled wall, white brick, tiled flooring, and a dark blue support column

Grounds

  • The woodland and gardens are uneven underfoot in places.
  • The courtyard is lightly gravelled and there is seating with benches.
  • Benches can be found throughout the gallery gardens.
  • The café is in the Stables building.
Brick building with chimneys and large windows beside a gravel courtyard, trees, and a curved wooden bench
Path through an open black metal gate toward a brick building and landscaped courtyard
Sunny garden path bordered by mature trees, shrubs, grass, and potted flowers

Stables café 

  • The café is open daily (9am–4pm).
  • There is step-free access.
  • There are indoor booths and outdoor seating.
  • Staff can assist you if needed.
  • The entrance is 55 inches wide.
  • Gravel and stone surfaces in the café may be uneven.
  • There is water available in the café for free.
  • There are water bowls available in the café for animals.
Entrance to Stables Cafe in a brick building, with open white doors and a sign beside the doorway
Courtyard café with outdoor tables and chairs beside historic brick stables under a partly cloudy sky
Refreshment station with potted trailing plants, a water pitcher, cups, plates, and jars of snacks
Fire extinguisher mounted above two stainless-steel pet bowls beside a building entrance

Shop 

  • This is in our reception area, accessible via a ramp.
  • There is a lowered desk suitable for wheelchair users.
  • Staff can give assistance if required.
  • The area is well-lit and the flooring is parquet.
Interior of a gift shop with wall displays, merchandise counters, and a central table marked “SALE!”
Museum reception desk with signs directing visitors to the lift, Study Gallery, Stables, and West Gallery
Graham baker Photography
Herringbone-patterned wooden floor planks

Lift Access 

  • Our lift serves all floors.
  • The lift is 31.5 inches wide and 54 inches deep.
  • There is an emergency alarm available upstairs.
Closed elevator doors with a floor 0 indicator; nearby directory lists galleries and offices on floors 0–2
Open elevator displaying floor 0, with a sign directing visitors to galleries, training room, programmers’ office, and toilets
Glass elevator doors with a wood-floored elevator visible behind them

 

Facilities

  • There are step-free toilets in the Main Gallery and the Stables Block.
  • There are 3 accessible toilets.
  • Baby changing is available in all main toilets.
  • The Stables Café has seating both indoors and outdoors.

Our accessible toilets

  • All our accessible toilets feature lever taps, grab rails and an alarm cord.
  • The doorways are 37 inches wide and 18.5 inches high.
  • There is a 31 inch transfer space.
  • The toilets are well-lit, and the floor is laminate.

The nearest Changing Places toilet is in the Bentall Shopping Centre, Kingston.

White-paneled entryway with a central door, side doors, wood herringbone floor, and ceiling light
Accessible door with wheelchair symbols, horizontal push bar, and an “Engaged/Vacant” no-touch opening device
Accessible restroom with toilet, grab rails, sink, emergency pull cord, and sanitary waste bin
Accessible restroom with a toilet, sink, grab bars, and an emergency call panel
Open blue doors marked “TOILET” lead to a tiled restroom corridor
Accessible restroom with toilet, grab bars, sink, changing table, and emergency pull cord

Gallery Routes

Our Main Gallery has push-button foors and ramps on the front and rear of the building.

Brick courtyard with a glass-covered walkway beside a historic building on a sunny day
Entrance to the West Gallery with a sign directing visitors inside and a press-to-open accessible door button
Glass entrance door in a brick wall, with a sign directing visitors to Reception and the Octagon

 Building Exits, Fire Exits and Fire Evacuation points

 We have 4 Fire Exit points in our Mian Gallery:

  • 2 in the Lower Gallery space, one on either end
  • 2 in our Reception area

We have 2 Fire Evacuation points in the Gallery, on the ground floor and the first floor.

White exit door beneath a green emergency exit sign, with an evacuation notice and fire extinguishers nearby
Interior entrance with an illuminated emergency exit sign above glass doors and an accessible push-button door opener
View through a glass door of a tree-lined outdoor area with notices posted on the door
Museum doorway with emergency exit sign; signs direct visitors right to Study Gallery and left to Stables and West Gallery
Building hallway with fire extinguishers, informational posters, and a glass-paneled entrance door
Building hallway with fire extinguishers, a blue evacuation chair, emergency signage, and an exit door

 

Families and SEND

  • We are a family-friendly venue.
  • You can use a buggy in any part of our gallery.
  • Buggy parking is available, but is not attended
  • Breastfeeding is welcome.
  • Baby changing facilities are available in in the women’s, men’s and accessible toilet nearest the café.
  • Spare nappies are available from the front desk.
  • If you would like somewhere private, please ask at our friendly front desk
  • See our access for families for more information.
Baby changing station beside a yellow nappy bin; sign offers free nappies in sizes 2–5
Baby changing station with safety straps, disposal bin, and a sign offering emergency nappies
Cream cloth decorated with botanical illustrations, leaves, flowers, birds, and a red book, layered over colorful abstract shapes

Available resources

Please ask at the front desk to borrow any of these:

  • Sensory toys
  • Weighted blankets
  • Ear defenders
  • Pillows & fleece blankets
  • Blackout tent
  • Large print guides
Black over-ear headphones viewed from above on a white surface
Orleans House Gallery exhibit sign: “All the Things,” exploring play and imagination across generations, March 28–August 31, 2026
Person holding a clear resin dish containing dried flowers and plants

Sensory bags

We offer sensory bags that support playful, exploratory visits. You can:

  • Explore textures (touch activities)
  • Build and balance objects
  • Match colours and shapes
  • Use mirrors and filters to see differently

There is no right or wrong way to use the materials. Family art trail cards for guided activities are also available.

 

Visual Guides

We provide visual resources and guides to help you prepare for your visit. Our available guides are:

 

Our digital access statement

We are continuously reviewing and improving both our website and on-site experience to make them as accessible as possible. We update this page regularly.

If you experience any barriers, need information in a different format, or would like support planning your visit, please get in touch.

We also welcome your feedback. Your suggestions help us improve access for everyone and ensure this information remains clear, useful and up to date. For comments or ideas about accessibility at Orleans House Gallery or this page, please get in touch.

Email us on info@orleanshousegallery.org or call us on 020 8831 6000.

Sign up to our newsletter to find out about upcoming events, exhibitions and the latest goings on at Orleans House Gallery.